What defines the core principles of Process Theology?

Definition and Context

Process Theology is a modern theological perspective that focuses on the idea that all reality, including the divine, is in a state of ongoing change or “becoming.” It draws heavily on the philosophical work of Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) and Charles Hartshorne (1897–2000), who emphasized that process and relation are foundational to the nature of existence itself. In this school of thought, God is not seen as static or unchangeable but as ever-evolving in a reciprocal relationship with creation.

At its core, Process Theology holds that God and the world are intertwined in relational “processes.” This contrasts with classical theism, which typically views God as immutable, eternal, and sovereign over the created order in every respect. Process theologians argue that God exerts influence rather than coercive power, persuading creation toward love, goodness, and increased complexity.

Philosophical Underpinnings

Process Theology’s intellectual roots lie in process philosophy, which posits that existence is dynamic and relational rather than fixed. Whitehead’s metaphysics introduced a vision of the universe as a web of interrelated events. Applying this to theology, Process thinkers assert that God interacts with these events in a way that is continually creative and responsive.

Within this framework, the universe is viewed as a series of actual occasions or experiences, each one influencing subsequent occasions. The key idea is “becoming”—an ongoing formation of reality in which every moment is shaped by the previous but remains open to new possibilities. God, in turn, is the ultimate source of possibilities. God and creation share in an ever-deepening dialogue, where both are affected in real time.

Key Tenets of Process Theology

1. God’s Relational Nature

• God is not deemed a distant, impassible deity but is intimately related to the cosmos.

• God experiences the trials and triumphs of creation with genuine emotional responsiveness.

2. Divine Persuasion over Coercion

• Rather than exerting unilateral power, God influences creatures through invitation, possibility, and persuasion.

• God’s power is presented as a gentle lure toward the good, enabling genuine freedom and moral responsibility.

3. Ongoing Creation and Creativity

• The creative act is understood to be continual; each moment is part of an ever-expanding tapestry.

• God’s role is to offer the best possible “initial aim” or potential for every new occasion, guiding toward growth.

4. Mutability of God

• God changes in certain respects in tandem with the changing universe.

• While maintaining that God has an unchanging character of love, Process theologians see God’s experience as enriched or affected by the changing realities of creation.

Historical Development

The formal development of Process Theology within Christian thought occurred mainly in the mid-20th century, spearheaded by thinkers like John B. Cobb Jr. and David Ray Griffin. They synthesized Whitehead’s process philosophy with theological concerns, hoping to address questions about evil, suffering, and divine action in ways that classical theism, in their view, struggled to explain.

This movement gained momentum among some theologians and denominations exploring more progressive or revisionist forms of theology. It also found resonance among those seeking a framework that responded to scientific developments and emphasized ecology and relationality.

Comparison with Classical Doctrines

Much of traditional (or classical) Christian teaching upholds the belief that God is immutable, omnipotent, omniscient, and transcendent. For instance, references such as Malachi 3:6 (“I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O descendants of Jacob, are not consumed.”) are often cited as strong indicators that God’s nature and essence do not alter. Process Theology, though acknowledging passages speaking of God “relenting” or “repenting” in Scripture (e.g., Jonah 3:10), interprets these as evidence that God is truly open to influence and change, rather than anthropomorphic language or a demonstration of God’s relational condescension.

From a classical perspective, God’s unchanging nature provides a foundation for complete sovereignty (Isaiah 46:9–10: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I declare the end from the beginning…”). Process Theology, however, mitigates certain attributes of divine foreknowledge and absolute sovereignty, allowing for genuine future contingencies not fully known or determined in advance.

Biblical Examination

Several passages are central to the debate:

1. Immutability vs. Relational Change

• Passages such as Numbers 23:19 (“God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind…”) strongly suggest an unchanging divine nature.

• However, some note passages like Genesis 6:6 (“And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth…”), positing that God can respond dynamically to events.

2. Sovereignty vs. Persuasion

• Ephesians 1:11 highlights the One “who works out everything by the counsel of His will,” indicating supreme divine determination.

• Process Theology balances such texts with examples of apparent human and even cosmic freedom, emphasizing scriptural narratives where God invites or persuades rather than unilaterally forces compliance.

3. Prayer and Divine Interaction

• Many have questioned how prayer works if God’s knowledge and will are unchanging. In process thought, prayer is a genuine conversation in which God both receives from and influences creation.

• Classical teaching maintains prayer is effectual but not because God is incomplete in knowledge or power, but because God sovereignly ordains prayer as a means of relationship and action.

Common Critiques

1. Undermining Divine Omnipotence

• Critics argue that Process Theology reduces God’s power in a way that Scripture never suggests, as it places God more as a co-journer than the omnipotent Lord.

• This critique often returns to biblical passages emphasizing God’s unrivaled sovereignty over creation (Psalm 115:3: “Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.”).

2. Challenging Immutable Holiness

• Traditional views maintain that God’s holiness and character cannot waver (James 1:17: “…the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.”).

• Process theology’s insistence on divine mutability raises the question of whether God’s moral perfections could evolve or adapt in undesirable ways.

3. Tension with Historic Creeds

• Classic creeds and confessions—for example, those from the early councils of the church—emphasize God’s eternal being.

• Process Theology, while offering dynamic interpretations, finds itself at odds with core statements about God’s nature that Christian traditions have long held.

Potential Appeal to Process Theology

While it faces critiques, Process Theology has gained some supporters for the following reasons:

• It proposes a view of divine empathy that resonates with individuals seeking a God deeply involved with the suffering of creation.

• It grapples with the problem of evil and pain by suggesting that God is ever-laboring for good outcomes but will not override creaturely freedom or natural processes.

• It captivates those who value environmental theology, positing that God and creation are intimately related in ecological flourishing.

Ethical and Practical Implications

Those inclined toward a process viewpoint often emphasize:

• Social justice: A God who “feels” the world is seen as motivating compassionate engagement.

• Ecological responsibility: Since creation and the divine are interdependent, caring for the environment is a spiritual imperative.

• Human cooperation with God: Believers are called to cooperate with the divine persuasive influence to bring about healing in society, personal sanctification, and communal transformation.

Broader Theological Assessments

1. Reconciliation of Immutability and Relationality

• Some theologians attempt to bridge Process insights about a relational God with classical affirmations of immutability by distinguishing between God’s essence (unchangeable) and God’s actions in temporal reality (responsive).

• Others maintain a strict reading of immutable sovereignty, rejecting the claim that God could be shaped by creation.

2. Role of Divine Knowledge

• Questions about whether God can know future free acts remain a central contention. Many process thinkers propose that the future simply does not exist yet to be known exhaustively, whereas classical theism views the future as fully known by God.

3. Significance of the Incarnation

• In mainstream Christian teaching, the Incarnation of Christ (cf. John 1:14: “The Word became flesh…”) reveals both humanity’s need for redemption and God’s unchanging love.

• Process theologians might emphasize that it also demonstrates how deeply God can be immersed in the evolving narrative of creation.

Relevant Biblical Citations

• Malachi 3:6: “I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O descendants of Jacob, are not consumed.”

• Numbers 23:19: “God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind…”

• Genesis 6:6: “And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”

• Ephesians 1:11: “…He works out everything according to the counsel of His will.”

• Isaiah 46:9–10: “I am God, and there is no other… I declare the end from the beginning…”

• Psalm 115:3: “Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.”

• James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above… with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.”

Conclusion

In summary, Process Theology defines its core principles around God’s ongoing, reciprocal interaction with creation. It envisions a deity whose persuasive power and relational nature guide the cosmos in progressive unfolding. While this perspective emphasizes divine empathy and the shared drama of God and world, it also diverges from classical Christian teachings about God’s unchanging essence, omnipotence, and exhaustive wisdom.

Whether or not one adopts Process Theology often hinges on how a person interprets biblical texts regarding God’s nature. The tension centers on whether the passages describing God’s regret, sorrow, or relational actions should be read figuratively to communicate God’s intimate care (yet unchanging essence) or literally to show that God genuinely changes in knowledge and experience. The conversation continues among scholars and believers who weigh these theological perspectives in light of Scripture, longstanding creeds, and concerns about the nature of divine power and love.