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Henry Neufeld

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Henry Neufeld

Process Theology Books

These books are selected from my aer.io store on the topic of process theology.

What is Process Theology?

I like to draw out the extremes and a few points on a spectrum of views on any topic, particularly in theology. There rarely are just two sides. Process theology sees God as both active and interactive. Often you can tell a great deal about a theological position by what they take most literally (questionable term) or directly. If a process theologian reads “The LORD regretted that he had made human beings …” (Genesis 6:6), she has no reason to question that the Lord really did regret. An orthodox theologian might well be trying to explain how this explains the situation in human terms, or something similar, but in process theology, God can regret. To see how this applies, read Jonah: When God Changes, a look at the book of Jonah in which God changes (or seems to change) God’s mind. For a more complete, yet accessible and short definition of process theology, try Process Theology: Embracing Adventure with God. (Both books are in the collection below.)

Points on the Spectrum

I like to identify four points on the spectrum to help understand what process theology is. These are Calvinism, Arminianism, Open Theism, and Process Theology. There is a danger in this spectrum in that it only deals with how each approach deals with God’s sovereignty and relationship to the universe. There are, of course, many other differences between these positions, but many grow out of this basic difference.

Calvinism

Calvinism emphasizes the sovereignty and unchangeability of God. While Calvinism has free will as a doctrine, to those looking from outside this theology it looks like this free will lacks a practical manifestation. What happens is planned absolutely by God. From this we get predestination.

Arminianism

Arminianism still sees God as the planner, but God allows the decisions of people to have impact on what happens. God still predestines, but he does so as he foresees that people will choose. Thus God could not, in the human sense, regret making humanity in the view of the Arminian, any more than in the view of the Calvinist.

Open Theism

In Open Theism, God is seen as creating the universe with freedom and giving up foreknowledge so as to interact with humans in an interactive way. God does not know what God chooses not to know, but God could know everything, should God choose to work in that way.

Process Theology

God does, in fact interact with the universe, and can be surprised by the things that happen in it. Creation is made a characteristic of the creation as well as of the creator.

Short Definitions

These are very short statements and doubtless miss a great deal of what each group would say about their own theology. I recommend reading an introductory text by a proponent of each view. I may at some time provide collections for each of these positions, but I don’t want to recommend single books. Search for introductory books on Google, and you’ll find a number of them.

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  • At the center of Henry’s Web . . .
    • Energion Publications
    • Everything
    • The Jevlir Caravansary
    • Neufeld Computer Services
    • Threads from Henry’s Web
  • All My Books
    • Revelation: A Participatory Study Guide
      • Revelation Study Guide – Front Cover
      • Revelation Study Guide – Back Cover
    • Stories of the Way: Table of Contents
    • Tales from Jevlir: Oddballs – Table of Contents
    • Not Ashamed of the Gospel
    • What’s in a Version?
      • Bible Version Selection Tool
      • Catalog Page
      • Reviews
    • When People Speak for God
      • Preview
      • Front Cover
      • Back Cover
      • Where to Buy
  • Essays
    • Book Reviews
      • Book Review: How to Lie with Statistics
      • Faith, Form, and Time
      • The Text of the New Testament in Contemporary Research
      • Review: Leviticus by Jacob Milgrom
    • Christian Experience
      • Dance Floor Worship
      • Principle and Compromise
      • His Deeds Keep Following Him
      • Thoughts on Revival
    • Politics and Society
      • Make Education a Priority
      • Moral Person – Moral Nation
      • Media Bias
      • Justice and Truth
    • God Does Things Backwards
    • Personal Statement of Beliefs
    • The Bible: Inspiration, Inerrancy, and Authority
      • Inerrancy FAQ
      • Inspiration, Biblical Authority, and Inerrancy
      • Bible Translations FAQ
    • Stand on the Mount before the Lord
      • The Danger of Assurance
      • The Hand of God
      • The Hand of God: Prayer
      • The Hand of God: Miracles
  • Bible Passages
    • Bible Stories, Story Series, and Histories
    • Hebrew Scriptures
      • Hebrew Transliteration Table
      • Problems in the Genealogies of Genesis 5 & 11
      • Ezekiel 1: A Glimpse of the Glory of Yahweh
      • Genesis Creation Stories – Form, Structure, and Relationship
      • The Two Flood Stories
      • PSALM 104: GOD — CREATOR AND SUSTAINER
        • Psalm 104: Appendix, Translation, and Notes
    • New Testament
      • A New Look at the Seals of Revelation
      • Hebrews Translation
    • Resources for Study
      • Resources for Studying Paul
      • Resources for Dating the Book of Daniel
      • Commentaries on Torah
      • Reading Job Video Collection
      • Resources for My Knowing God Series
  • Books
    • Books by Author
      • David Alan Black
      • Bruce G. Epperly
      • Dorothy L. Sayers
    • Process Theology Books
    • Stewardship Books
    • Book Review: The Jesus Quest: The Third Search for the Jew of Nazareth
  • Misc Essays
    • Construction for the New Year
      • The Proverbs 31 Woman Is Real
      • Holiness or Sanctimony
      • A Passion for the Passion
      • Obedience and Waiting
      • Live It!
      • You Have Been Rebelling
    • God Does It, But You Do It
      • A Fruitful Faith
      • Was Paul an Exegete?
      • Of Trees and Saplings
      • I Know That My Redeemer Lives
      • Are Seventh-day Adventists Christians
  • Henry and Jody Neufeld
    • Monday Morning Devotion
    • A Personal Testimony
  • Contact