Process Theology. A Short Course Michael A. Soderstrand Wellspring UCC Wednesday Morning Group June 11 August 20, 2010, 10:30am

Transcription

1 Process Theology A Short Course Michael A. Soderstrand Wellspring UCC Wednesday Morning Group June 11 August 20, 2010, 10:30am Based on the textbook: C. Robert Mesle, Process Theology A Basic Introduction, Chalice Press, St. Louis, MO, 1993 (final chapter by John B. Cobb, Jr.) 1

2 Lecture 4 Ch 6: A World of Experience Ch 7: How God Acts in the World Modern Science now confirms that the interaction between the observed and the observer is what REALLY IS. How does this relate to our experience of God? 2

3 A World of Experience Traditional Theology states that human souls are supernatural beings injected into matter that makes up our bodies. 1. This model has been very comforting to people over the ages, particularly with regard to death: What is "rising"? In death, the separation of the soul from the body, the human body decays and the soul goes to meet God, while awaiting its reunion with its glorified body. God, in his almighty power, will definitively grant incorruptible life to our bodies by reuniting them with our souls, through the power of Jesus' Resurrection. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 997) 2. This model makes humans feel special and to the extent that this specialness motivates us to love and responsibility for other humans and for the environment the model is very useful. 3

4 A World of Experience Traditional Theology states that human souls are supernatural beings injected into matter that makes up our bodies. 3 However, the Catholic Church warns of what can happen if this dominion is misunderstood : Basic scientific research, as well as applied research, is a significant expression of man's dominion over creation. Science and technology are precious resources when placed at the service of man and promote his integral development for the benefit of all. By themselves however they cannot disclose the meaning of existence and of human progress. Science and technology are ordered to man, from whom they take their origin and development; hence they find in the person and in his moral values both evidence of their purpose and awareness of their limits. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2293) 4 This model needs to stress humility if it is not to be misuesed. 4

5 A World of Experience Traditional Theology states that human souls are supernatural beings injected into matter that makes up our bodies. 5 The most serious misinterpretation of our dominion over the world is to assume that humans are not of this world but rather set in this world and the resources of the world were somehow put here by God for us to use as we please without any responsibility for preservation of those resources. 6 This misinterpretation of the model has led to terrible misuse of technology creating such things as the hole in the ozone layer and global warming to mention just two. 5

6 A World of Experience Process Theology sees human souls as evolved from lower animals in a model that stresses the process of becoming: 1. The Catholic Church states this very clearly: But why did God not create a world so perfect that no evil could exist in it? With infinite power God could always create something better. But with infinite wisdom and goodness God freely willed to create a world "in a state of journeying" towards its ultimate perfection. In God's plan this process of becoming involves the appearance of certain beings and the disappearance of others, the existence of the more perfect alongside the less perfect, both constructive and destructive forces of nature. With physical good there exists also physical evil as long as creation has not reached perfection. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 310) 2. While the Catholic Church does not endorse any particular theology, it certainly allows for and often quotes concepts from Process Theology. 6

7 A World of Experience Process Theology sees human souls as evolved from lower animals in a model that stresses the process of becoming: 3. Process Theologians see experience as something every entity in the universe experiences. a. Apes, whales and dolphins seem to share with humans at least some of the higher thought processes. b. Dogs, cats and monkeys may not share with humans the ability for abstract thought, but they do share emotions of pain, fear, hunger and affection. c. One-celled animals and plants may not have the ability for rich experiences, but they too have experiences. d. Even inanimate objects and basic particles experience forces such as gravity. 4. However, It does appear that some kinds of thought appear in human minds that do not appear in other animals. 7

8 A World of Experience Process Theology sees human souls as evolved from lower animals in a model that stresses the process of becoming: 5. Process Theologians believe that there is compelling evidence that as we move down the animal kingdom, the experiences of living creatures become less and less complex. a. Abstract thinking disappears first. b. Certain emotions associated with the ability to see far into the future or remember and interpret the past also disappear. c. As we move further down in the animal kingdom, other emotions and intentionality are lost. d. Probably consciousness depends on a central nervous system, so as we move down to lower animal forms, consciousness is lost. e. Below this level, there is unconscious experience. 6. However, even non-living things have some experiences. 8

9 A World of Experience Process Theology sees human souls as evolved from lower animals in a model that stresses the process of becoming: 7. Process Theologians believe that everything has experiences. a. Even a basic particle (quarks and leptons) experience spatial/temporal relationships with other basic particles. b. Basic particles experience physical fields (bosons). c. Basic particles have a range of possibilities for the future that are NOT fixed or completely determined by the past. d. The wave function provides a mathematical description of the possibilities for each elementary particle and what the probability is for each possibility. e. And, as we saw in Lecture 3, the Free Will Theorem proves that if humans have free will, everything in the universe has free will right down to the quarks, leptons and bosons! 8. In summary everything in the universe has some sort of experience and in Process Theology, this experience IS reality. 9

10 Time for Some Humor Battle of the Church Signs 10

11 Time for Some Humor Battle of the Church Signs 11

12 Time for Some Humor Battle of the Church Signs 12

13 Time for Some Humor Battle of the Church Signs 13

14 Time for Some Humor Battle of the Church Signs 14

15 Time for Some Humor Battle of the Church Signs 15

16 Time for Some Humor Battle of the Church Signs 16

17 Time for Some Humor Battle of the Church Signs 17

18 Time for Some Humor Battle of the Church Signs 18

19 A World of Experience Process Theology and Human Relationships: 1. Humans are finite 2. Because humans are emotionally limited, we find it hard to sustain relationships of love with those who hate us or those who are far away. 3. Because humans are finite in intelligence and security, we find it difficult to understand and acknowledge the vast range of relationships that form our life. 4. However, these relationships are all there whether we know it or not! 19

20 A World of Experience Process Theology and GOD: 1. When we impoverish others, we also impoverish GOD. 2. GOD is continually sharing the lives of all. 3. GOD s life is infinitely rich because GOD shares the life of the world. 4. If we make better decision, we contribute to greater richness of GOD. 5. Our better choices give GOD more with which to work in GOD s ongoing effort to bring about good. 20

21 A World of Experience Process Theology and GOD: 6. What is true about our relationships with other people is true of our relationships with all creatures and GOD. Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. (Matt 25:40) 7. We create ourselves out of relationships with others and relationship with GOD. 8. As a result, we had better have a care about the world in which we live! 21

22 How God Acts in the World GOD is the foundation of freedom: 1. To be free, an individual must have a range of possibilities to choose from. 2. The Process Theology Model speaks of two natures of GOD: a. Primordial Nature (GOD s eternal experience of all possibilities) as the foundation of all freedom in the world. b. Consequent Nature (GOD s record of all achieved acts and lure toward some of those possibilities ) which is the persuasive part of GOD s nature. 3. Every creature at every moment experiences the possibilities due to GOD s primordial nature and the lure due to GOD s consequent nature. 22

23 How God Acts in the World GOD is the foundation of freedom: 4. Process Theology provides for a wonderful symmetry between GOD and every entity in the universe. 5. The Process Theology Model speaks of two natures of BOTH GOD and EVERY ENTITY IN THE UNIVERSE: a. GOD s Primordial Nature is mirrored by every entity having a set of possibilities (GOD and nature have a Physical Pole ). b. GOD s Consequent Nature is mirrored by every entity having ability to prehend or respond to its environment including the lure of GOD (GOD and nature have a Mental Pole ). 6. Every creature at every moment experiences the possibilities due to GOD s primordial nature and the lure due to GOD s consequent nature and GOD experiences or prehends each entities Mental and Physical Poles. 23

24 How God Acts in the World Can GOD Overrule freedom? 1. Traditional Theology states that GOD gives us our freedom, but has the power to overrule our freedom. 2. Traditional Theology states that freedom is a GIFT of GOD. 3. Traditional Theology states that GOD refrains from overruling our freedom because freedom is worth all the suffering in the world. 4. Traditional Theology may even state that GOD has made a blanket decision to never overrule our freedom. 5. The above is called the freewill defense of GOD s failure to prevent suffering. 24

25 How God Acts in the World Can GOD Overrule freedom? 1. Process Theology states that GOD is the source of our freedom, and DOES NOT have the power to overrule our freedom. 2. Process Theology states that freedom is an unchanging aspect of GOD. 3. Process Theology states that GOD hates suffering and does everything within his power to avoid suffering. 4. Process Theology states unequivocally that GOD CANNOT OVERRULE OUR FREEDOM. 5. The moral differences between Process Theology and the freewill defense of suffering now become clear. 25

26 How God Acts in the World Why GOD Cannot Overrule freedom 1. Freedom is an inherent feature of reality. 2. The universe is the becoming of events that are selfcreative, from quarks to human minds. 3. Freedom IS NOT a gift of GOD no freedom means no universe and no GOD. 4. Freedom is simply a FACT something that no one can overrule. 5. But GOD does want to eliminate suffering but he must do this through the evolutionary process and persuasion. 26

27 How God Acts in the World GOD and Evolution 1. Process Theology sees GOD working patiently through the evolutionary process to bring into existence new kinds of creatures with greater levels of freedom. 2. It has taken GOD billions of years to draw the world through an evolutionary process capable of sustaining human beings. 3. The differences between us and GOD. a. We have hands that can pull a trigger (evil) or whisk a child out of danger (good) GOD does not. b. GOD is everywhere and everytime we are here and now. c. Our power is ours, not GOD s and GOD s power is GOD s, not ours. 27

28 How God Acts in the World Other Differences between Traditional and Process Theology: 1. Process Theology does not assume humans are the center of the universe. 2. Process Theology does not assume that humans are the end of the evolutionary process. 3. God s world and plans do not begin and end with us. 28

29 How God Acts in the World Other Differences between Traditional and Process Theology: 4. Process Theology sees GOD as a co-creator with all entities in the universe in the evolutionary process hence, GOD cannot control the evolutionary process. 5. God and the universe have been engaged in a continuous dance in which GOD must take the decision of creatures and work with them. 6. God s works to make something GOOD out of this dance. 29

30 How God Acts in the World Other Differences between Traditional and Process Theology: 7. Evolution is an on-going adventure for GOD as it is for the world. 8. God may not even have any specific species, social structure or universe as a goal. 9. Hence, it is very unlikely that GOD had humans in mind or American Capitalism as a goal. 30

31 How God Acts in the World The Rev. Michael Dowd, United Church of Christ 31

32 How God Acts in the World Other Differences between Traditional and Process Theology: 10. Process Theology demands that we stop seeing the happiness of humans as the sole purpose of GODS s existence. 11. We must respect all of creation and all of the other creatures of GOD s creation. 12. The pain of animals in a laboratory, the misery of life in a small wire cage, and the agony of a fox in a steel trap are shared by GOD just as much as the misery of human beings. 32

33 How God Acts in the World Other Differences between Traditional and Process Theology: 13. Process Theology acknowledges a special status for humans. 14. Humans have crossed a crucial boundary into consciousness, into abstractions, into the ability to anticipate the distant future and consider a wide range of complex possibilities Hence, moral freedom becomes possible and our experience of GOD becomes crucial. 15. There may be more advanced creatures somewhere in the universe and certainly more advanced creatures will evolve here on earth but we as humans have a special responsibility to the universe and to GOD 33

34 How God Acts in the World The Interweaving of God and the World 1. Process Theology states that our experience of GOD is interwoven with our experience of the entire universe. a. Our own decisions and immediate environment affect us the most even more than GOD. b. GOD provides us with possibilities and his lure toward what is good. c. But it is difficult for us to identify GOD s lure in the complex environment of the universe. 2. Process Theology states that we can best find GOD s lure if we work together hence, Process Theology gives new life to the Church! 34

35 How God Acts in the World The Interweaving of God and the World 1. Process Theology on disease and healing. a. Disease cells have no feelings of sympathy; hence, GOD s influence on them is limited. b. God, however, has more influence on us and can influence us in such a way that our immune cells are better able to stave off disease Prayer may be helpful in this. c. GOD also has influence over doctors and others who may assist us in healing. 2. God has no supernatural power to coerce the world but GOD does work in the world for health and healing. a. GOD calls people to learn how to prevent disease and heal themselves. b. Process Theology does not rule out the possibility of individual cells (both disease and immune) responding to GOD. c. But GOD has more influence on us to get our mind and body to work 35 together for healing.

36 How God Acts in the World The Interweaving of God and the World 1. Process Theology on sin. a. Sin is anything that works against the direction of God s lure. b. Some sins have little or no evil consequence while others may cause great suffering and thus be very evil. c. Process Theology would identify original sin with the fact that our evolution is slow and some of our genetic heritage is not well suited for the world in which we live. 2. Process Theology on natural disasters. a. Natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, earth quakes, etc.) are part of the evolutionary process on earth. b. Suffering of humanity in natural disasters is the result of a complicated interaction of natural forces and human choices. c. God does everything within his power to minimize or eliminate such suffering but many factors influence the suffering and GOD can only be partially held responsible. 36

37 NEXT WEEK Chapters 8 and 9 of the text Now time for discussion Class Web Page: 37