Building understanding of process theology in action for everyone
I am a prophet of process theospirituality: the affirmation that spirituality and theology emerge in dynamic interdependence.
Bruce Epperly, Process Theology and Mysticism, p. 8 (pre-order)
These three books by Dr. Bruce Epperly are scheduled to ship about December 5, 2023. Due to a combination of pre-order and Black Friday/Cyber Monday pricing, each book is $4.24 with quantity discounts available.
Jay McDaniel posts ten reasons poetry is superior to philosophy and theology.
Of course we need philosophy, too. And theology as well. But wouldn’t it be nice if, sometimes, philosophers and theologians alike thought more poetically?
Open Horizons
Check out the rest of his post. It’s fascinating!
This book provides an introduction to open and relational theology which includes process theology. Robert D. Cornwall reviews.
You can buy the book here.
This article is not precisely about process theology, but I think it is valuable to hear the perspective. There are different ways of thinking of the relationship between various faiths. On Energion author, Herold Weiss, in his book Finding My Way in Christianity, discusses exclusivism, inclusivism, and pluralism. In summary, exclusivism says that only those in your faith tradition are saved, inclusivism acknowledges that others may be saved, but it’s because of the events described in your faith. In Christianity, this refers to the death and resurrection of Jesus providing salvation to those who may not know or accept this for themselves. Pluralism says that various religions may bear truth.
Letter to My Christian Friends is written by a pagan, and discusses how his faith is viewed by others, as well as his own pluralistic approach to faith. It is well worth reading.
The traditional exclusivism that has characterized Christian history must not be replaced by an inclusivism that is patronizing or imperialistic. Pluralism is a way of escaping the horns of the dilemma posed by exclusivism and inclusivism. According to exclusivism, Christ is the only savior, and those who do not confess his name will not participate in life. According to inclusivism, all those who are saved, and there may be among them many who have never heard of Christ, are saved by Christ. One of the notable contributions to theological discourse by Karl Rahner was the designation of those who are saved by Christ without their knowing as “anonymous Christians.” This notion was received, at the time of its first appearance, as a great step away from exclusivism. It was not long before several voices objected to it as condescending and imperialistic. Pluralism provides a way of escaping the pomposity of exclusivistic claims and the paternalism of inclusivistic “generosity.” It admits that in other cultures and religious traditions there are also savior figures who work effectively on behalf of the members of those cultures and traditions.
Herold Weiss, Finding My Way in Christianity, p. 193
A short introduction to the impact process theology can have on biblical interpretation. On pre-order now and shipping the first week of March, 2021.
Bruce Epperly is the author of Process Theology and Politics in the Topical Line Drives series from Energion Publications.
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I might hope that Process could become far more widely espoused, given that when it comes to application, I find…
thanks for the response, Chris, I am in full agreement....some people the "or" when presented with either-or options....absolutism or atheism...
What Childers is putting forward is both a "slippery slope" and an "excluded middle" argument. The trouble is, what Bruce…