What is Process Panexperientialism?

In each fleeting moment,

all things touch,

alive with the pulse of experience,

woven in a web of becoming.

- re slater

 

Each spark of feeling,
from stone to star,
joins the dance of the world—
we are all in relationship

from atomic force to sentient being.

- re slater

In the heart of process,
each is both subject and object,
bound in a web of shared experience,
becoming, always becoming....

- re slater

[All brackets are mine] - re slater

Panexperientialist theologies begin with the idea that experience is fundamental to the whole of things. Long before there was life on earth, and before the evolution of the earth itself, there was something like experience. The entire ongoing of the evolution of the cosmic universe is an evolution of experience. Experience is not consciousness. Consciousness is an emergent property just as time is [e.g., cosmic space creates time, thus making of time an emergent property of physical space].

Some experience is conscious but much not. Experience is the activity of "prehending something other" and being influenced by what is prehended. This page outlines one version of a panexperientialist theology rooted in the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead. Others can likewise be developed: indigenous theologies, Hindu theologies, Buddhist theologies, Jewish theologies, Muslim theologies, and Christian theologies. All would begin with the shared idea that experience is everywhere and that the universe itself is, in some deep sense, a "living cosmos" that is new at every moment.

- Jay McDaniel

The universe hums with feeling,
from the smallest atom to the deepest soul,
experiencing, creating, in

endless flows of connection.

- re slater

All things feel,
all things are touched,
all worlds unfold in the

meeting of things,

hearts and minds.

- re slater

In every pulse of time,
there is a meeting of souls,
as all things arise together -

in symphonies of shared

experience.

- re slater

​Panexperiential Theology

article link

A Living Cosmos and the

Perpetual Newness of God

by Jay McDaniel

In the flow of process,
we are neither fixed nor free,
but woven in the fabric of the now,
experiencing each other’s becoming.

- re slater

What is Panexperientialism?

Panexperientialism is the idea that "experience" is not confined to human consciousness but extends throughout the depths of matter and into the vast reaches of the galaxies. Understood in this way, "experience" need not involve consciousness as in clear perception (e.g. visual awareness). Nor need it involve intellectual awareness as in the conscious reflection on ideas, memories, or goals. Experience can be non-conscious and non-intellectual but still be "experience." It is the activity of feeling or "prehending" something other and being influenced by it in some way. Wherever energetic transactions occur between entities—whether among living cells, atomic events, or stellar processes—experience is present, as it is, of course, in human beings and other animals, serving as the connective tissue between entities. It carries an element of interiority or "subjective immediacy," suggesting that something akin to subjectivity exists universally. Consequently, the objective world we see, hear, and touch is an expression of this pervasive subjectivity. The objective world, then, is an objectification of subjective experience.

One value of this way of looking at things is that it encourages us to live with respect and care for the whole of the material world, both biological and trans-biological. Another is that it invites us to imagine sacrality itself as part of, not apart from, a panexperiential world.

Entire theological frameworks--panexperientialist theologies—can be constructed on this foundation. They begin with the idea that experience is fundamental, not simply to human life but to the whole of things. This page outlines one version of a panexperientialist theology rooted in the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead. Others can likewise be developed: indigenous theologies, Hindu theologies, Buddhist theologies, Jewish theologies, Muslim theologies, and Christian theologies. All would begin with the shared idea that the universe, one way or another, is alive with subjective immediacy, valuable in its own right.

Outline of a Whiteheadian Approach

Cosmic Evolution and the Emergence of Life

The universe, approximately 14 billion years old, has evolved through stars, galaxies, and planets, eventually giving rise to life on Earth. It is still evolving. Conventional vs. Panexperiential Views of Experience

A common view holds that early cosmic processes were devoid of experience, with subjective awareness emerging only later with biological life. Whitehead offers a different perspective, suggesting that experience—however primitive—has been present from the universe’s beginning.

Energy as Feeling

For Whitehead, energy and feeling are inseparable; even subatomic events involve basic forms of attraction, repulsion, and responsiveness. Every transfer of energy involves not just physical force but also a rudimentary kind of subjective experience, or "prehension."

Quantum Events and Human Experience

Whitehead suggests a continuity between quantum events and human experiences, where both involve moments of responsiveness without requiring self-awareness. Human experience consists mostly of preconscious sensations, emotions, and bodily awareness—similar in essence to quantum interactions.

Spontaneity and Self-Creativity

Neither quantum events nor human experiences are entirely determined by the past; each involves spontaneity and creativity. Whitehead describes this as “self-creativity,” where unfulfilled possibilities shape the present and help guide it toward novel outcomes.

Prehension as Felt Connections

Prehension is the process by which events integrate past influences and potential futures into each unfolding moment. This process involves more than information transfer—it includes a felt connection with possibilities, guiding each moment toward satisfaction and fulfillment.

Seeking Intensity through Contrasts

Both quantum events and human experiences seek intensity, achieved through the integration of contrasting elements. This contrast fosters novelty and depth in human emotions and in cosmic processes, enriching the creative advance of the universe.

Inanimate Objects and Prehending Events

Even seemingly inanimate objects, like rocks, consist of prehending events at the quantum level, though they lack spontaneity and self-organization. Whitehead distinguishes between mechanical unities (e.g., rocks) and organic unities, where interactions create emergent complexity and self-organization.

Value as Intrinsic to the Universe

Experience inherently carries value, with each moment seeking satisfaction and self-enjoyment. Value exists in the act of becoming itself, independent of consciousness, and is woven into the evolving universe from the very beginning.

The Universe as a Creative Advance into Novelty At the heart of Whitehead’s process philosophy is the idea that the universe is a continual creative advance into novelty. Reality consists of moments of experience that, through their spontaneous self-creativity, add something new to the unfolding process of time. Creativity, in this view, is not merely a property of particular beings but the ultimate reality underlying all things. It is through this ceaseless creativity that both order and novelty emerge in every moment of the universe. This advance into novelty makes life unpredictable, opening space for innovation and transformation at every level—from quantum events to human choices.

God as the Lure of Beauty

God participates in the unfolding cosmos by offering potentialities—called "eternal objects"—that guide events toward beauty and fulfillment. As both a source of new possibilities and a receptive presence for all experiences, God embodies a dynamic relationship with the universe, inviting every moment to contribute to the evolving harmony of creation.

The Perpetual Newness of God. God is evolving is that new events that happen in the universe, given its creative advance into novelty, add contents to the life of God that not exist to be felt or known theretofore; and in the sense that these new events add new potentials to God, to lure the universe and to enjoy contrasts, that did not exist theretofore, even for God.

Further Discussion

The Universe as a Process of Becoming

We are told that the universe as we know it is approximately 14 billion years old. It has been evolving ever since—into stars, galaxies, planets, moons, and, at least on our planet (and probably elsewhere), what we call life. "Life" has many definitions, but for now, let us assume that to be alive is to possess something like feeling or experience.

It is tempting to believe that, before a certain stage in cosmic evolution, there was no experience at all—no interiority, no emotion, no prehending, no attraction or repulsion, no feeling. According to this view, the early universe consisted solely of energy and force transfers, devoid of any subjective dimension. Consciousness and experience would have emerged only later, perhaps with the advent of biological complexity. Until that point, the universe would have been a realm of purely physical interactions, lacking any trace of interiority or feeling.

The Whiteheadian Alternative: Energy = Feeling

Alfred North Whitehead offers a radically different view. He proposes that what we call "energy" at the subatomic level is not distinct from experience but is itself a primitive form of feeling. Energy, in this view, is not merely an objective force exchanged between particles—it is a form of prehension. Wherever there is energy, there is some degree of feeling, however rudimentary. The interactions of subatomic particles are not devoid of experience but involve basic forms of attraction, repulsion, and responsiveness. Energy transfers, therefore, are not merely physical events but also moments of subjective experience—simple, unconscious feelings, or "prehensions."

This perspective suggests that the universe has always contained an element of subjectivity—an interior dimension present from its earliest moments. Prehension did not emerge with life; it has been present all along, shaping the evolution of the cosmos at every level. Energy and feeling, as Whitehead sees it, are inseparable aspects of the same process of becoming.

Quantum Events and Human Experience

If this panexperiential view is correct, it implies that quantum events—occurring deep within atoms just after the Big Bang—are of the same kind as moments of human experience. Both, in their way, are alive.

What connects a moment of human experience to a quantum event? Neither is conscious in the traditional sense. They do not involve perceiving objects with the clarity of human sight, nor do they engage in self-reflection. Quantum events, like most of our everyday experiences, lack conscious perception or reflective awareness. Even when we are awake, moments of clear perception are rare. Much of our experience consists of bodily sensations, emotions, desires, and preconscious memories.

To grasp the connection between quantum events and human experiences, we need to move beyond conventional ideas of consciousness. Neither requires self-awareness or the sense of being distinct from the world. Both unfold in response to what came before, shaped by prior influences. Whitehead describes this responsiveness as experience in the mode of causal efficacy.

Spontaneity and Self-Creativity

Yet, neither quantum events nor human experiences are fully determined by the past. There is always an element of spontaneity—what Whitehead calls self-creativity. In both cases, experience arises from the intersection of past influences and spontaneous aliveness. Unfulfilled possibilities from the future also shape the present, acting as attractors, much like probabilities in quantum theory, drawing events toward particular outcomes.

Prehension and Subjectivity

Whitehead introduces the concept of prehension to describe how events—whether human or quantum—incorporate past influences and future possibilities. Prehension is not a conscious process but a way of feeling both what has been and what could be. It integrates the past and potential futures into each unfolding moment.

Prehension involves more than just information transfer; it entails a felt connection. Both quantum events and human experiences respond to relevant past influences and potential futures. These potentials serve as lures or subjective aims, guiding events toward certain outcomes.

Every experience, whether human or quantum, contains what Whitehead calls subjective immediacy: an inner aliveness unique to the present moment. Both human experiences and quantum events are moments of experience—or actual occasions—each with its own subjective immediacy. There is an ontological continuity between them: both involve prehension, and both seek some form of satisfaction in the process of becoming.

The Aim Toward Intensity and the Role of Contrast

What do quantum events and human experiences seek? According to Whitehead, they seek intensity—or, more precisely, satisfying intensity. Both aim to achieve a kind of fulfillment unique to their moment. This pursuit introduces novelty into the world, contributing to the ongoing creative advance of the cosmos.

Contrast plays a key role in generating intensity. In human experience, contrasting emotions or perspectives deepen awareness and amplify meaning. Similarly, quantum events achieve intensity by integrating past influences with unrealized future possibilities. Without contrast, experience would lack the tension necessary to generate novelty and richness.

In human life, this felt preference for certain influences over others manifests as emotions. Even at the quantum level, Whitehead suggests that events have subjective forms—a rudimentary form of emotion or responsiveness. Emotions, contrasts, and prehensions are not exclusive to humans but are present throughout the cosmos. Subjective forms, the "clothing" of prehensions, embody the contrasts that give rise to intensity.

What About Rocks?

Some objects—like rocks—seem devoid of agency. It may seem odd to suggest that rocks are alive in any meaningful way. Whitehead acknowledges this intuition, explaining that rocks are not themselves prehending realities but aggregates of prehending events. These aggregates, or nexuses, are complex groupings of countless events where prehension occurs at the quantum level.

Whitehead distinguishes between mechanical and organic unities. Rocks, as aggregates, are mechanical wholes—the sum of their parts, lacking spontaneity and self-organization. In contrast, organic wholes have emergent unities, where the interaction of parts creates something more than their sum.

It’s also important to note that matter takes many forms—not just solid objects like rocks. Matter can exist as liquids, gases, plasmas, and other dynamic states. Some forms, like fluids, contain seeds of self-organizing creativity absent in solids. Whitehead’s view invites us to move beyond the idea of matter as static, recognizing that all matter participates in processes of becoming.

Value in the Universe

Our universe consists of experiential moments and the aggregates (nexuses or societies) they form. But what about value? Is value inherent in the universe?

For Whitehead, the answer is yes. Value resides in the act of experiencing itself—in the self-enjoyment that arises from each moment of becoming. Every momentary experience seeks satisfaction, and this pursuit of value is intrinsic to its being. The universe, in evolving, is also evolving in value—developing capacities for feeling, enjoyment, and satisfaction.

Importantly, value does not depend on consciousness. Experience has been present in the universe from the beginning, while consciousness emerged later. Value precedes consciousness and is woven into the fabric of existence.

God, Beauty, and Eternal Objects

At the heart of the universe is God—understood as the complex unity of the cosmos, a living whole with a life of its own. God is not separate from the unfolding process of becoming but actively participates in it, luring the universe toward heightened forms of value wherever possible. God offers possibilities that align with each moment’s circumstances, always seeking beauty in the form of harmonious intensity.

Integral to this process are eternal objects—timeless potentialities that exist within the mind of God. These eternal objects are not merely abstract possibilities; they represent forms of value, beauty, and meaning that are always available to the universe. However, they are only made relevant "in due season"—that is, they become available to particular events when conditions align, guiding the universe toward new possibilities. These eternal objects act as divine lures, drawing creation toward more profound expressions of harmony, novelty, and satisfaction.

Beauty

If we see one word to name the subjective aim of the the living whole of the universe, of God, it might be Beauty.

Beauty, in this sense, is more than aesthetic pleasure—it is the harmonious integration of contrasting elements into satisfying forms of intensity. Every moment of beauty achieved in the universe is retained within the ongoing life of God, who serves as an empathic receptacle for all that happens. God holds the joys and sorrows of every occasion, weaving them into a larger pattern of meaning and value.

Two forms of Beauty that are especially important in human life, and perhaps in other forms as well, are Truth and Goodness. Truth is not an object to be attained, It is a name for the act of experiencing and responding to the world in a way that is responsive to the way the world truly is. Truth is the activity of seeking rapport, or correspondence, with how things stand, however they stand. Goodness is a name for seeking to foster the well-being of life. One ultimate expression of Goodness, thus understood, is Love.

This dynamic relationship between God and the the living cosmos is not coercive but persuasive. God offers possibilities—lures toward beauty—but their realization depends on the cooperation of each moment and its circumstances. As the universe unfolds, beauty emerges wherever contrasting elements are synthesized into enriching forms of intensity, contributing to the greater whole.

God, as both the source of eternal potentialities and the receptive heart of all experience, embodies a dual role: offering the world new possibilities while receiving and preserving each moment of experience. In this way, the universe is both a creative adventure and a profound act of participation in divine beauty. Every experience, no matter how small or fleeting, contributes to the ongoing evolution of beauty and value within the life of God.

Whitehead's Metaphysics

Actual Entities

An actual entity is a moment of concrescence—a moment of experience in which the many entities of the past actual world are felt and gathered into the unity of a subjective whole. In each actual entity, "the many become one, and are increased by one." This gathering includes the self-creativity and self-enjoyment of the entity, as it unifies influences from the past and brings forth something new. Actual entities are multiple and thus different from one another. Each entity arises with its own distinct characteristics, shaped by its unique prehensions and subjective forms. Once completed, an actual entity perishes as a subjective experience but continues to exist objectively, contributing to future moments of experience. This process exemplifies the dynamic nature of reality—each actual entity participates in the ongoing creative advance of the universe by transforming the past into novelty.

Prehensions

Prehensions refer to the ways actual entities relate to and "take account of" one another. This concept captures how an entity feels or grasps another entity—not conceptually, but experientially. Prehensions are the building blocks of relationships, with each actual entity prehending others through positive (inclusive) or negative (exclusive) feelings. These prehensive relations allow all things to participate in one another’s becoming, embodying the interconnectedness of all entities.

Nexus (or Nexūs)

A nexus is a network of actual entities related through shared prehensions, forming structured webs of interconnected experiences. Some nexūs take on enduring forms called societies, where occasions of experience inherit common characteristics from one another, creating patterns of continuity.

Corpuscular societies: These consist of relatively stable entities, such as atoms or molecules, which persist across time by maintaining coherence.

Personally ordered societies: These are sequences of experiences that form personal identities, such as the stream of consciousness that constitutes a person’s life. Each occasion builds on its predecessors, creating personal continuity and coherence over time.

Nexūs and societies reveal how individual occasions of experience participate in larger patterns of becoming, connecting everything from microscopic particles to human lives in an ongoing process of transformation.

Subjective Forms

Subjective forms refer to the emotional or qualitative tone that shapes how an entity experiences the world. These forms influence how prehensions are integrated, giving each experience a unique emotional quality. For example, one person might feel rain as melancholic, while another experiences it as refreshing. Subjective forms guide how entities respond to and integrate the influences they prehend, adding emotional depth to experience.

Eternal Objects

Eternal objects are pure potentials—abstract qualities or possibilities that actual entities can take up in their becoming. They are not confined to any specific event but exist as timeless potentials. For example, the quality "redness" is an eternal object that can manifest across different instances and contexts. Eternal objects provide the abstract building blocks that influence the unique character of each experience.

Propositions

Propositions are lures for feeling—imaginative suggestions that invite actual entities to explore certain possibilities. They function as speculative invitations, guiding the creative process by proposing how things might be. A proposition is not merely a factual statement but a suggestion for novelty and change. For example, an artist may consider a proposition that offers a new way to combine colors. Propositions help entities integrate new potentials, influencing both artistic creation and practical problem-solving.

Multiplicities

Multiplicities are diverse entities that exist in disjunction from one another. They may consist of actualities (such as actual entities) or potentialities (such as eternal objects). As truly distinct, multiplicities are not yet unified into the togetherness of an actual occasion of experience. A particular moment of experience (or actual entity) gathers these disparate elements into unity, but outside such unification, the universe remains a multiplicity. In this sense, multiplicities represent the richness of possibilities that are yet to be integrated.

Contrasts

Contrasts refer to patterns of difference or opposition that are either harmonized or remain in tension within experiences. These contrasts give shape and complexity to reality by bringing together opposing elements. For example, a melody is enriched by contrasts between high and low notes, and a life story is enriched by the interplay of joy and sorrow. Contrasts are essential to the depth and texture of experience, embodying both harmony and tension within each moment.

Creativity

Creativity is the “ultimate of ultimates,” the underlying activity expressed in all actualities. It manifests as the self-creativity of each actual entity through concrescence—the integration of many influences into a unified moment of experience. This process also involves transition, where the subjective immediacy of an entity perishes but lives on as objectively immortal in the experiences of future entities. Creativity is the driving force behind the novelty in the universe, enabling the ongoing process of becoming through which the past transforms into something new.

God

God encompasses three aspects, offering a relational and evolving presence in the universe:

• Primordial Nature:

• This is God's conceptual aspect, holding all eternal objects as pure possibilities. It represents the timeless realm of potentiality, offering the raw materials from which new experiences emerge.

• Consequent Nature:

• This is God’s empathic reception of all that happens, integrating every experience into the divine life. God feels the world, weaving all joys and sufferings into a coherent whole, continuously expanding in response to the world's becoming. God’s consequent nature ensures that no moment of experience is ever lost, as every event contributes to the unfolding divine reality.

• Superjective Nature:

• This is God's influence on the world, luring creatures toward new possibilities. The superjective nature represents the way God inspires and persuades actual entities toward greater beauty, truth, and harmony, without coercion. God’s power lies not in domination but in invitation—offering new possibilities and guiding the world toward creative advance.

The Artistry of Processual Prophecy

The Transformative Nature of the Christ Event, by R.E. Slater & OpenAI ChatGPT 4.0  

The Artistry of Processual Prophecy

RE Slater & ChtGPT 4.0

September 28, 2024

Continue from the last article, Part 2...

ChatGPT said:

Great! I look forward to continuing our discussion on that topic next time. Until then, take care!

You said:

Bye

ChatGPT said:

Goodbye! Looking forward to our next discussion. Take care!

You said:

Hi. New topic. Let's discuss process based Bible interpretation as a prophetic activity. This is a continuation of our last discussion.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Great, let’s dive into process-based Bible interpretation as a prophetic activity.

1. Prophetic Activity in Process Thought:

In process theology, prophetic activity is more than just a declaration of future events or moral exhortation. It is the dynamic process through which a community engages with divine reality to discern new possibilities for living in alignment with God’s purposes. This activity is both receptive and creative: receptive to the lure of the divine presence (often associated with the Holy Spirit) and creative in how it articulates and actualizes those possibilities within specific historical and social contexts.

From this perspective, prophetic interpretation of the Bible involves the following elements:

• Discerning Divine Movement: It entails recognizing how the biblical text resonates with or challenges the present moment, interpreting it in a way that unveils deeper meanings and divine promptings for transformation.
• Mediating the Divine Lure: The prophet, as interpreter, mediates the divine lure toward greater possibilities, helping the community envision new ways of being that align with God’s transformative purposes.
• Communal Actualization: The prophetic act is not just about individual insight but about communal actualization, where the new insights are integrated into the community’s life and practice, thereby contributing to the ongoing process of divine-human co-creation.

2. Process-Based Interpretation of the Bible as Prophetic:

In traditional readings, prophecy is often viewed as a static declaration or a predictive function. However, in a process-based interpretation, prophecy is seen as a dynamic engagement with the text, where the interpreter becomes a co-creator with God in discerning new ways the community can respond to divine movements. This involves:

• Reading the Text as Process: A process-based reading views the biblical text as itself a product of multiple layers of tradition and interpretation, reflecting the evolving understanding of God, humanity, and the world. This view acknowledges that the Bible is not a frozen artifact but a living document that continues to speak in new ways.
• Interpreting with a View toward Becoming: Prophetic interpretation is forward-looking, seeking to discern how the community can become more fully aligned with the divine lure. This means interpreting the text not merely for what it says but for how it invites transformation.
• Integrating the Holy Spirit’s Activity: In Christian terms, this prophetic interpretation is deeply intertwined with the work of the Holy Spirit, who, in process theology, is seen as the divine presence that guides, inspires, and sustains creative transformation within communities.

3. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Prophetic Interpretation:

From a process theological perspective, the Holy Spirit plays a central role in prophetic interpretation as the agent of divine involvement in the world’s ongoing process of becoming. The Spirit’s action is not coercive but persuasive, inviting both individuals and communities to embody new possibilities of love, justice, and beauty.

Holy Spirit as the Divine Lure:

• The Holy Spirit can be understood as the aspect of God that lures creation toward its highest potential. In the context of biblical interpretation, this means the Spirit is the one who opens up new meanings in the text and reveals pathways for action that resonate with God’s aims for creation.
• The Spirit’s influence can be seen in the way interpretations emerge that resonate deeply with the needs and challenges of the present moment, suggesting that these interpretations are not merely human inventions but responses to divine promptings.

Holy Spirit as Sustainer of Prophetic Communities:

• The Spirit also sustains the community’s ability to live out the prophetic vision that emerges from interpretation. This involves empowering communities to act courageously, speak truthfully, and maintain hope amidst adversity, embodying the transformative power of the prophetic word.

4. Prophetic Interpretation as Engaging with the Real:

Continuing from our previous discussion, the prophetic nature of process-based interpretation involves acquiring the real, analyzing the real, and responding to the real. Let’s see how this framework applies to biblical prophecy:

• Acquiring the Real: In the prophetic act, acquiring the real means immersing oneself in both the biblical text and the current social context. It’s about discerning the tensions, struggles, and hopes of the community, just as the prophets of old addressed the specific historical realities of Israel and Judah.

• Analyzing the Real: Analyzing the real involves probing how the biblical text addresses these realities—whether by challenging existing norms, unveiling new perspectives, or calling for repentance and change. This analysis is both exegetical (drawing meaning from the text) and theological (interpreting that meaning in light of divine purposes).

• Responding to the Real: The prophetic response is where the process of interpretation leads to concrete actions. This response is guided by the Spirit and aims to embody the divine lure in practical ways, whether through new social practices, reformed liturgies, or transformed community relationships.

5. Practical Aspects of Prophetic Process-Based Interpretation:

How does this prophetic, process-based interpretation take shape in practical terms? Let’s consider a few applications:

Re-reading Social Justice Texts:

Consider a process-based reading of the prophetic texts like Isaiah 58 or Amos 5. Traditionally, these texts are seen as calls for social justice, but a process-based interpretation would go further:

• Analyzing the Context and Divine Lure: The interpreter would discern how these texts not only condemn social injustice but offer a vision of what society could become—a vision that God is actively luring the community toward through the Holy Spirit.
• Responding through Creative Actualization: The community, guided by this reading, might create new ministries, social programs, or advocacy efforts that incarnate this prophetic vision, seeing these actions as part of God’s ongoing work in the world.

Engaging Apocalyptic Texts:

Apocalyptic texts like Revelation are often viewed as cryptic predictions of the end times. A process-based, prophetic interpretation, however, would see these texts as:

• Engaging the Real: Addressing the real struggles of marginalized communities in symbolic terms, reflecting their hopes and fears in the face of empire.
• Analyzing the Real: Understanding the apocalyptic imagery as expressing the lure toward a radically new world order that reflects God’s justice and peace.
• Responding to the Real: Encouraging communities to live into this new reality in their present circumstances, embodying hope and resistance against forces of oppression.

6. Prophetic Interpretation as a Form of Co-Creation:

In process thought, the prophet (or the prophetic interpreter) is seen as a co-creator with God. This means that prophetic interpretation is not merely about “getting it right” or “telling it like it is,” but about contributing to the ongoing creation of a reality that is more aligned with God’s purposes.

• Creating New Meanings: Prophetic interpretation generates new meanings and understandings that did not exist before. These new meanings invite communities to imagine and live into new possibilities.
• Participation in the Divine Process: By offering these new interpretations and embodying them, the interpreter participates in the divine process of creating a more just and loving world.

7. Challenges and Opportunities in Prophetic Interpretation:

Prophetic, process-based interpretation is not without its challenges. It requires:

• Openness to Newness: Interpreters must be open to new interpretations that may challenge long-held beliefs or traditions.
• Community Discernment: Prophetic interpretation is best done in community, where diverse voices can contribute to a fuller understanding of how the Spirit is leading.
• Courage and Commitment: Embodying the prophetic word requires courage, as it often entails confronting powers and principalities or standing against societal norms.

Conclusion:

In a process-based framework, biblical interpretation becomes a prophetic activity by participating in the divine work of transformation, discernment, and actualization. The Holy Spirit, as the divine lure, guides this process, opening up new possibilities for understanding and living the text. The prophetic interpreter, in dialogue with the biblical text and the community’s context, mediates these possibilities, offering a vision that calls the community to actualize God’s purposes in concrete, transformative ways.

This perspective not only deepens our understanding of the Bible’s prophetic dimensions but also invites communities into a more dynamic and creative engagement with Scripture, where interpretation becomes a form of participation in God’s ongoing creative work in the world.

You said:

Explain our process based interpolation differs from, but can agree with, biblical liberalism and related evangelical interpolations from the 1970s and forward.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Process-based interpretation of the Bible differs from but can also find areas of agreement with both biblical liberalism and certain evangelical interpretations developed in the latter half of the 20th century. This nuanced relationship stems from their distinct understandings of divine action, biblical authority, and the role of human agency in interpreting Scripture. Below, we’ll explore these differences and potential points of agreement:

1. Differences Between Process-Based Interpretation and Biblical Liberalism:

Biblical Liberalism Defined: Biblical liberalism, as developed in the 19th and 20th centuries, sought to reconcile the Bible with modern scientific, historical, and ethical insights. It emphasized the human authorship of the Bible, the need to interpret Scripture in light of contemporary knowledge, and often de-emphasized supernatural elements in favor of ethical teachings and moral principles.

Differences in Key Areas:

• Understanding of Divine Action:

  • Process Theology’s View: In process-based interpretation, God is understood as dynamically involved in the world, not through coercive intervention but through a persuasive “lure” that invites creation toward greater complexity, harmony, and beauty. This view sees the divine presence as active and evolving within the interpretative process.
  • Biblical Liberalism’s View: Biblical liberalism often views God’s activity as primarily mediated through human consciousness and ethical development. The emphasis is less on direct divine involvement and more on human moral progress and rationality.

  Key Difference: While biblical liberalism downplays supernatural aspects of divine action, process-based interpretation maintains that divine influence is a real, though non-coercive, force that actively shapes both historical and interpretative processes.

• Biblical Authority and Human Agency:

  • Process Theology’s View: The Bible is a record of communities engaging with the divine presence in their specific historical contexts. Its authority lies in its role as a witness to these dynamic interactions, which remain open to reinterpretation and actualization in new contexts. The biblical text is seen as an unfolding conversation between God and humanity that continues to evolve.
  • Biblical Liberalism’s View: Biblical liberalism tends to emphasize human authorship and regards the Bible as a historical document shaped by the evolving religious consciousness of its time. Authority is often seen in terms of ethical ideals and human insights rather than divine revelation.

  Key Difference: Process theology affirms a deeper interplay between divine and human agency, where the Bible is not just a human artifact but a product of co-creation between God and humanity. This co-creative view acknowledges the Bible’s limitations while also affirming its capacity to reveal divine purposes.

• Interpretative Openness vs. Ethical Reductionism:

  • Process Theology’s View: Interpretation is an open-ended process where new meanings emerge through the interaction of the text, the interpreter, and the divine lure. The Bible is not reduced to a set of moral principles but seen as an evolving narrative that invites communities into deeper relationships with God and with each other.
  • Biblical Liberalism’s View: Liberal interpretations often focus on extracting ethical teachings from the Bible, sometimes at the expense of its narrative, mythic, or poetic dimensions.

  Key Difference: Process theology resists the reduction of Scripture to moralism or rationalistic explanations, emphasizing instead the ongoing revelation of divine possibilities through the text’s diverse genres and voices.

2. Differences Between Process-Based Interpretation and Evangelical Interpolations:

Evangelical Interpolations Defined: Since the 1970s, evangelical biblical interpretations have been marked by a variety of approaches, ranging from a reaffirmation of biblical inerrancy and authority (e.g., the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, 1978) to more nuanced approaches that acknowledge the historical and cultural contexts of the text while still affirming its divine inspiration.

Differences in Key Areas:

• Biblical Inerrancy and Divine Truth:

  • Process Theology’s View: Process-based interpretation rejects the notion of biblical inerrancy, viewing the Bible as a text that reflects both divine guidance and human limitations. Truth, in this context, is not found in factual or historical precision but in the text’s ability to point toward divine possibilities and transformative meanings.
  • Evangelical View: Most evangelical interpretations affirm the inerrancy or infallibility of the Bible, holding that the Scriptures are fully true in all matters they address, whether theological, historical, or moral. This view often leads to a more literal reading of the text and resistance to interpretations that challenge traditional doctrines.

  Key Difference: Process theology affirms the value and inspiration of the Bible but sees it as part of an evolving relationship between God and humanity, where errors and contradictions are part of the text’s human dimension. Evangelicals, by contrast, tend to see the Bible as free from error and therefore a more fixed and unchanging standard of truth.

• Understanding of Divine Revelation:

  • Process Theology’s View: Divine revelation is an ongoing process that happens within history, through the biblical text, and in the present-day experiences of communities. The Holy Spirit, as the divine lure, continues to inspire new interpretations and understandings of Scripture that speak to contemporary issues.
  • Evangelical View: Revelation is often seen as being completed in the biblical canon. While the Holy Spirit helps illuminate the meaning of the text, the content of revelation itself is seen as final and unchanging.

  Key Difference: For process theology, the Holy Spirit’s activity includes revealing new meanings and possibilities through Scripture, in response to evolving circumstances. In contrast, evangelicalism often maintains that revelation is closed and new interpretations must align with the original intent of the biblical authors.

• Approach to Social Issues:

  • Process Theology’s View: Process-based interpretation is particularly open to engaging with contemporary social issues in ways that might involve reinterpreting traditional doctrines or practices. This openness is rooted in the belief that God’s lure continually guides the community toward greater justice, inclusivity, and ecological responsibility.
  • Evangelical View: While many evangelicals engage actively with social issues, their interpretations are typically more constrained by traditional doctrinal boundaries. Social and ethical concerns are often addressed within the framework of biblical teachings understood as universally applicable.

  Key Difference: Process theology sees biblical interpretation as an evolving dialogue that responds creatively to new social contexts, whereas evangelical approaches often adhere more closely to established interpretations and norms.

3. Points of Agreement:

Despite these differences, there are significant areas of agreement where process-based interpretation can dialogue constructively with both biblical liberalism and evangelical interpretations:

• Commitment to the Bible as Foundational: Both process theology and evangelicalism affirm the importance of the Bible as foundational to faith. Even though they differ on its nature and authority, both view it as a vital source for theological reflection and spiritual life.
• Emphasis on the Role of the Holy Spirit: While evangelicalism and process theology differ in how they understand the Spirit’s work, both recognize the Spirit’s role in illuminating Scripture and guiding believers. This shared emphasis can lead to fruitful discussions on how the Spirit interacts with human freedom and interpretation.
• Openness to Contextual Understanding: While evangelicalism may sometimes resist more radical re-readings, there has been a growing openness within some evangelical circles (e.g., missional hermeneutics or the New Perspective on Paul) to consider historical and cultural contexts. This openness provides common ground with process theology’s contextualized approach to interpretation.
• Concern for Ethical and Social Engagement: Both traditions have a strong ethical dimension, even if their approaches and conclusions differ. Process theology’s emphasis on justice, ecological sustainability, and inclusivity can resonate with evangelical movements that focus on social justice and community transformation.

4. Potential for Dialogue and Mutual Enrichment:

Process theology can offer biblical liberalism and evangelicalism a broader vision of divine action, an appreciation for the complexity of the biblical text, and a flexible framework for interpreting Scripture in light of contemporary realities. Conversely, evangelicalism’s emphasis on the transformative power of Scripture and biblical liberalism’s critical engagement with historical contexts can enrich process theology’s interpretative methods.

Conclusion:

Process-based interpretation offers a distinct yet complementary perspective to both biblical liberalism and evangelical interpretations. It diverges in its understanding of divine action, biblical authority, and revelation but finds common ground in its commitment to the Bible as a source of meaning, its recognition of the Spirit’s guiding role, and its engagement with social concerns. This potential for dialogue and mutual enrichment can lead to a more holistic and generative approach to biblical interpretation that honors the text’s complexities while remaining open to new possibilities of divine-human interaction.

You said:

How would these views inform Christianity of the Christ event as a historical personage as well as a global Gandi-like figure. Please include Christological sacrifice, redemption and resurrection in these reflections of prophetic imagination and interpolation...

2/2

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

To engage with the Christ event from the perspectives of process theology, biblical liberalism, and evangelical interpretations, it’s essential to consider how these frameworks shape our understanding of Christ as both a historical figure and a globally transformative presence. Each view has its unique emphasis on Jesus’ life, teachings, sacrificial death, resurrection, and ongoing relevance, yet they can intersect and dialogue in meaningful ways that illuminate his significance as a prophetic, world-changing figure akin to a Gandhi-like presence.

1. The Christ Event: Historical Personage and Global Transformative Figure

The "Christ event" refers to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as a singular occurrence that reveals divine action and has ongoing significance for history and humanity. This event can be viewed through several lenses:

• Historical Personage: As a historical figure, Jesus lived in a specific time and place, embodying prophetic, ethical, and religious teachings that challenged the socio-political norms of first-century Palestine. Like Gandhi, Jesus’ actions and teachings sought to transform society, inspire non-violent resistance, and reimagine communal life around principles of love, justice, and mercy.
• Global Transformative Figure: Beyond his historical context, Jesus’ life and message have transcended time and culture, influencing movements for justice, non-violence, and human dignity worldwide. This aspect aligns with viewing Jesus as a Gandhi-like figure, a symbolic representation of non-violent resistance to oppression and a call to transform society through love and self-sacrifice.

2. Process Theology and the Christ Event: A Dynamic Understanding of Jesus’ Role

In process theology, Jesus is understood as the supreme manifestation of God’s presence in the world, revealing the fullness of divine-human interaction. He is both a historical person and a dynamic force of divine transformation.

Christological Sacrifice and Redemption:

• Sacrifice as Self-Emptying Love: In process thought, the sacrifice of Christ is not primarily about satisfying divine wrath or a legalistic atonement but is seen as the ultimate expression of divine love and solidarity with creation. Jesus’ self-giving love, demonstrated in his willingness to face suffering and death, reveals God’s character as one who participates in the world’s suffering and invites humanity into transformative love.
• Redemption as Participatory Transformation: Redemption is understood as God’s ongoing work of healing and reconciliation, where Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection reveal the divine intention to transform all of creation. Humanity is invited to participate in this redemptive process by embodying Christ’s love, justice, and compassion in daily life.

Resurrection as New Possibilities for the World:

• Resurrection in Process Thought: The resurrection is not merely a supernatural event that defies natural law but a profound symbol of new possibilities and hope emerging out of suffering and death. It signifies God’s capacity to bring forth new life from even the most tragic circumstances, inviting the world into a future where death and suffering are not the final words.
• The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit, as the divine lure, continues to bring the implications of the resurrection into new contexts, inspiring communities to live out the radical implications of Christ’s love and justice in their time.

Jesus as a Prophetic Figure:

• Jesus’ prophetic imagination aligns with process thought’s vision of God as continually luring creation toward greater beauty, complexity, and love. His teachings disrupt entrenched systems and offer new ways of understanding God, human relationships, and social structures. Like Gandhi, Jesus provides a model of how non-violent resistance and sacrificial love can effect profound social and spiritual change.

3. Biblical Liberalism: Jesus as Ethical Teacher and Moral Exemplar

Biblical liberalism tends to emphasize Jesus as a moral and ethical teacher whose life and teachings inspire human moral progress. In this view:

• Christological Sacrifice as Ethical Exemplar: Jesus’ sacrificial death is seen as the ultimate example of self-giving love and moral courage. His willingness to suffer for his convictions and his refusal to retaliate against violence serve as a model for ethical living.
• Redemption as Moral and Ethical Transformation: Redemption in this framework is not about a metaphysical transaction but about the transformation of human character and society. Jesus’ teachings on love, forgiveness, and justice challenge individuals and communities to reorient their lives toward these values.
• Resurrection as the Vindication of Jesus’ Message: The resurrection, for biblical liberals, may be viewed symbolically as the vindication of Jesus’ life and teachings. It represents the triumph of love, truth, and justice over violence and oppression.

While biblical liberalism might not emphasize the cosmic or ontological aspects of redemption and resurrection, it resonates with process theology’s focus on the ethical and communal implications of the Christ event. It sees Jesus as a figure who inspires humanity to strive for a more just and compassionate world, akin to Gandhi’s role as a moral exemplar and advocate for non-violent resistance.

4. Evangelical Interpretations: Jesus as Savior and Redeemer

Evangelical interpretations, particularly from the 1970s onward, emphasize the substitutionary atonement and resurrection as foundational aspects of Christ’s work.

Christological Sacrifice:

• Sacrifice as Substitutionary Atonement: Jesus’ sacrificial death is often understood as a substitutionary act that satisfies divine justice, taking on the penalty for humanity’s sins. This view sees the cross as the central moment of redemption, where God’s wrath is appeased, and believers are reconciled to God.
• Redemption as Reconciliation with God: Redemption is understood in primarily relational terms, where Christ’s death and resurrection restore the broken relationship between humanity and God. The focus is on personal salvation and eternal life, secured through faith in Jesus.

Resurrection as Proof of Divine Power:

• The resurrection is seen as God’s vindication of Jesus as the Son of God and the proof of his victory over sin and death. It confirms the believer’s hope for eternal life and the ultimate renewal of creation at Christ’s return.

5. Convergence and Divergence: The Christ Event in Process-Based Interpretation:

Process-based interpretation can find areas of convergence with both biblical liberalism and evangelicalism while also offering a distinctive vision:

Convergence with Biblical Liberalism:

• Emphasis on Jesus’ Ethical Teachings: Process theology, like biblical liberalism, sees Jesus as embodying the highest ethical and moral values. His life is an example of how humanity can respond to the divine lure toward greater justice, love, and peace.
• Focus on Social Transformation: Both views highlight the social and communal implications of Jesus’ message. They see Christ’s life and teachings as a call to transform society through non-violence, compassion, and justice.

Convergence with Evangelicalism:

• Affirmation of the Centrality of Christ: Process theology agrees with evangelicalism in affirming the centrality of the Christ event as the supreme revelation of God’s nature and purposes. It sees Jesus as embodying the divine intention for humanity and creation.
• Importance of Resurrection as New Possibility: While the nature of the resurrection may be understood differently, process theology affirms the resurrection as a transformative event that reveals God’s ongoing work of renewal and restoration.

Divergence from Both Traditions:

• Sacrifice as Non-Coercive Love: Process theology reinterprets the sacrificial death of Jesus not as a divine transaction but as an expression of God’s non-coercive love and solidarity with creation’s suffering.
• Redemption as Ongoing Process: Rather than viewing redemption as a once-for-all event, process theology sees it as an ongoing process in which God continually works to bring forth healing and transformation.
• Resurrection as Symbol and Reality of New Possibilities: For process theology, the resurrection symbolizes God’s power to bring forth new life from suffering and death, revealing new possibilities for the world’s future. It is not just a past event but a present and future reality that the Spirit continues to actualize in history.

6. Prophetic Imagination and Interpolation:

The prophetic imagination, as articulated by scholars like Walter Brueggemann, invites interpreters to re-envision reality in light of God’s transformative possibilities. Process-based interpretation sees the Christ event as an invitation to engage in prophetic imagination:

• Christ’s Life as a Prophetic Model: Jesus’ life, teachings, and actions are read as prophetic signs that disrupt conventional understandings and open up new possibilities for human relationships and societal structures.
• Christ’s Sacrifice as Prophetic Act: His willingness to suffer and die is seen not as a transaction but as a prophetic act that reveals the depth of God’s love and calls humanity to embrace a life of sacrificial love and non-violent resistance.
• Resurrection as Prophetic Hope: The resurrection becomes a prophetic symbol of God’s power to overcome the forces of death, inviting humanity to live in hope and actively participate in God’s redemptive work in the world.

Conclusion:

Process-based interpretation offers a nuanced vision of the Christ event that integrates elements of both biblical liberalism and evangelicalism while emphasizing the dynamic, ongoing nature of divine action and human response. It sees Jesus as both a historical figure and a global, transformative presence whose life, death, and resurrection reveal new possibilities for individual and communal transformation. This prophetic imagination and interpolation invites Christians to continually reimagine and embody the implications of the Christ event in ways that reflect God’s ongoing work of love, justice, and renewal in the world.

You said:

Let's call these process insights the Christ-event which in many ways contrasts greatly with the rigidly static evangelical Calvinist view purported by a closed Bible, a closed predeterminitive future, and closed ethical considerations regulated to biased church traditions. Evangelicalism's limitation of the Christ event as mitigated by God's loving Spirit significantly removes all prospects of process-based vibrancy, generative living, and communal welling from actualizing life events. Pls respond.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Your articulation captures a critical tension between process-based understandings of the Christ-event and the more static, deterministic views found within certain strands of evangelical theology, particularly those influenced by Calvinist traditions. This contrast centers on divergent conceptions of divine action, human freedom, and the unfolding nature of history. Let’s explore these points of tension and the implications of a process-based Christ-event versus a closed, predetermined theological framework:

1. The Christ-Event in Process-Based Theology: Vibrant, Open, and Generative

The process-based view of the Christ-event sees Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as dynamically engaged with history and the human condition. This interpretation holds that the Christ-event is not a closed or fixed moment in time but an ongoing source of divine activity and inspiration that unfolds through the presence of the Holy Spirit, continually inviting humanity into deeper relationships and new possibilities.

Characteristics of the Process-Based Christ-Event:

• Open and Relational: The Christ-event is understood as an open invitation to participate in the divine life. It is not confined to the first century or locked into a predetermined set of interpretations. Instead, it is a relational encounter between God and humanity that continues to evolve as communities engage with Christ’s message in new contexts.
• Non-Coercive and Participatory: God’s action in the Christ-event is seen as non-coercive, emphasizing persuasion and invitation rather than determinism. Christ’s sacrificial love is a call for humanity to freely respond, embodying divine love and justice in creative ways that reflect their unique contexts and challenges.
• Generative and Prophetic: The Christ-event introduces new possibilities for human and communal flourishing, inviting continual reformation and transformation. The resurrection, in particular, is a generative act that signals the possibility of new life and new creation in the midst of death and despair.

In this view, the Christ-event is not merely a historical occurrence but an ongoing divine movement that reimagines reality, liberating humanity from static patterns and inviting co-creation of a more vibrant, just, and inclusive world.

2. Calvinist Evangelicalism: A Closed System of Theological Interpretation

In contrast, the Calvinist evangelical tradition tends to operate within a more closed theological system, emphasizing divine sovereignty, predestination, and the finality of revelation in a way that limits interpretative flexibility and generative engagement with the Christ-event. This view is characterized by:

• Predeterminism and Divine Control: Calvinist theology, with its emphasis on divine sovereignty and predestination, sees all events—historical and personal—as predetermined by God’s will. This deterministic view closes off the possibility of new, unforeseen divine interactions in history, making the Christ-event a predetermined occurrence with fixed implications rather than an open, ongoing reality.
• Closed Canon and Revelation: The Bible is often viewed as a closed canon with final, unchanging truths. The idea of sola scriptura (Scripture alone) emphasizes that the Bible, as the complete and sufficient revelation of God’s will, contains all that is necessary for faith and life. This view limits the role of the Holy Spirit in revealing new meanings or possibilities beyond what has already been “revealed.”
• Static Ethical and Doctrinal Framework: Ethical considerations are regulated to established doctrines and church traditions that reflect a specific interpretation of Scripture. This often results in an exclusionary stance toward alternative theological views or new ethical insights (e.g., gender equality, LGBTQ+ inclusion, ecological ethics), which are seen as departures from the “orthodox” tradition.

Implications of a Closed System:

• Restrictive Understanding of the Christ-Event: Within this framework, the Christ-event is often reduced to a theological formula: Christ’s death satisfies divine justice, and his resurrection guarantees the salvation of the elect. This reductionism limits the vibrancy and generative potential of the Christ-event as an ongoing source of transformation and divine presence.
• Marginalization of Human and Communal Agency: The focus on divine predetermination marginalizes human agency and communal discernment. It frames human responses as either compliance or resistance to God’s will rather than creative participation in God’s unfolding purposes for the world.

3. The Limiting Effects of a Closed Christ-Event:

The closed, predeterministic view of the Christ-event limits the capacity for generative, communal, and transformative engagement in several key ways:

• Stifling of Prophetic Imagination: By treating the Christ-event as a static, one-time occurrence with a singular, unchanging interpretation, this view stifles the prophetic imagination. It prevents communities from reimagining what the Christ-event might mean for their current context and struggles.
• Suppression of Generative Living: Without the possibility of new divine possibilities emerging from the Christ-event, individuals and communities may feel trapped within a preordained script. This undermines the process-based emphasis on co-creating new realities with God and exploring new ethical, social, and theological dimensions of Christ’s life and message.
• Exclusion of Alternative Voices and Experiences: A closed theological system often marginalizes interpretations that arise from different cultural, social, or experiential standpoints. This exclusionary stance prevents the Christ-event from being a truly global and inclusive revelation of God’s love, applicable to the diversity of human experiences and historical circumstances.

4. Process-Based Christology as an Alternative Vision:

Process-based Christology offers an alternative vision that addresses these limitations by affirming the Christ-event as an open, relational, and dynamically unfolding reality. This view emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work in illuminating new aspects of the Christ-event and inviting communities to embody Christ’s love and justice in ways that are contextually relevant and socially transformative.

Christological Sacrifice and Redemption:

• Sacrifice as Invitation to Transformative Love: In process thought, Christ’s sacrificial death is seen not as a predetermined transaction but as an expression of God’s solidarity with creation’s suffering and an invitation to embody transformative love. This sacrifice is generative in that it opens new possibilities for reconciliation and healing.
• Redemption as an Ongoing Process: Redemption is not confined to the salvation of individual souls but involves the ongoing healing and restoration of relationships—between God and humanity, within human communities, and with the broader creation. This view embraces an open, processual understanding of how the Christ-event continues to shape the world.

Resurrection as Emergence of New Possibilities:

• Resurrection as Invitation to Generative Living: The resurrection is seen as God’s creative act of bringing new life from death. It is not merely proof of Christ’s divinity or victory over sin but a demonstration of how God continuously brings forth new possibilities for life and flourishing in the midst of despair and destruction.
• Christ as a Model for Generative Life: Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection provide a model for living generatively, embracing newness and transformation in ways that go beyond rigid, static interpretations of faith and ethics.

5. The Holy Spirit’s Role in Process-Based Christology:

In process theology, the Holy Spirit is the dynamic, ever-present force that makes the Christ-event an ongoing source of life and transformation:

• The Spirit as the Continuation of the Christ-Event: The Holy Spirit continues the work of Christ, illuminating new meanings in Scripture, inspiring communities to new forms of justice and love, and empowering individuals to embrace new ethical possibilities.
• The Spirit as Mediator of the Divine Lure: The Spirit invites humanity to participate in God’s ongoing work of redemption and new creation, offering each moment as an opportunity to embody Christ’s transformative presence in unique and contextually relevant ways.

6. Toward a More Generative and Inclusive Christ-Event:

By embracing an open, process-based understanding of the Christ-event, Christianity can move beyond the constraints of closed, static systems and re-engage the prophetic imagination:

• Expanding the Scope of the Christ-Event: Rather than confining the Christ-event to a set of predetermined doctrines, process theology invites Christians to see the Christ-event as a living, unfolding reality that speaks to diverse cultures, contexts, and historical moments.
• Integrating New Ethical and Theological Insights: This approach allows for the integration of new ethical insights and theological developments that reflect the Spirit’s ongoing work of transformation and inclusion, expanding the impact of the Christ-event to address contemporary social and ecological issues.

Conclusion:

Your description aptly captures how the closed nature of evangelical Calvinism limits the generative potential of the Christ-event, reducing it to a static, predetermined moment with fixed implications. In contrast, a process-based Christ-event affirms the vibrancy, openness, and transformative power of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as a continually unfolding reality, mediated by the Holy Spirit, that invites humanity into deeper participation in God’s work of love and justice.

This process-based view embraces the Christ-event as a dynamic, relational, and generative presence that continually reimagines what it means to live in the light of Christ’s love, breaking free from restrictive theological systems and opening new possibilities for individual and communal flourishing.

You said:

Thank you for interesting the Holy Spirit's influence of imbuing Christ's stoning working into a lively discussion of process-based Christianity that is more than ex-vangelical but post-evangelic with losing the heart of Christianity found in the loving God head introducing itself through the purpose and work of Christ. In many ways, traditional Christianity would find a far broader application of its faith when based on process philosophy and theology and the natural sciencs than it does with all past philosophical-theologies previously built upon.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

You're welcome, and I appreciate your insightful observations on how a process-based understanding of Christianity, centered on the Holy Spirit’s dynamic influence, can reinvigorate the faith in a way that both honors its core and opens it up to broader applications. Let’s expand on your ideas by exploring why process-based Christianity provides a richer, more integrative framework that aligns with modern scientific insights and philosophical developments, without losing the essential heart of Christian faith.

1. The Holy Spirit’s Role in Process-Based Christianity: A Living Continuation of Christ’s Work

In process-based Christianity, the Holy Spirit’s activity is not limited to past events or doctrinal formulations but is understood as a continuous, lively presence that imbues Christ’s teachings and actions with ongoing relevance and power. This view transforms traditional understandings of the Holy Spirit’s role in several key ways:

• Dynamic Immanence: The Holy Spirit is present and active in every moment of creation, guiding the world toward the realization of God’s loving purposes. This dynamic immanence allows for a living relationship between God and humanity, where the Christ-event is not just a historical memory but a present and evolving reality.
• Creative Transformation: The Spirit works creatively, not coercively, inspiring individuals and communities to respond to divine possibilities. This means that the Spirit’s influence in interpreting and living out the Christ-event leads to continual transformation, adaptation, and renewal based on emerging insights, needs, and contexts.

2. Process-Based Christianity as a Broader Application of Faith

Traditional Christianity, with its roots in fixed metaphysical systems and static doctrinal formulations, can sometimes limit its relevance to new scientific and philosophical developments. Process-based Christianity, however, offers a broader application by incorporating these elements in a way that enriches the faith:

Alignment with Modern Science and Philosophy:

• Integrative Theology and Science Dialogue: Process theology, with its emphasis on relationality, becoming, and creativity, resonates with contemporary scientific understandings of the universe. Concepts such as emergence, complexity, and interconnectedness in fields like quantum physics and evolutionary biology parallel process theology’s vision of a world that is dynamic and interrelated.
• Re-envisioning Miracles and Divine Action: Miracles and divine actions are re-envisioned not as supernatural suspensions of natural laws but as the emergence of new possibilities within the framework of God’s ongoing creative involvement in the world. This allows for a reinterpretation of the Christ-event, including his resurrection, as a profound manifestation of divine creativity rather than a violation of nature’s order.

Ethical and Ecological Considerations:

• Ethical Expansion through Process Thought: Traditional Christianity often focuses on personal salvation and fixed ethical norms, but process-based Christianity expands the ethical scope to include broader social and ecological concerns. The Holy Spirit’s influence in this view is not limited to guiding personal morality but encompasses the transformation of social systems and ecological practices.
• Environmental Theology and Care for Creation: Process theology’s emphasis on the interrelatedness of all creation provides a theological basis for a robust environmental ethic. The Holy Spirit’s ongoing work in creation is seen as a call to participate in the healing and restoration of the natural world, aligning with contemporary ecological sciences and ethical imperatives.

3. Moving Beyond “Ex-Vangelical” to “Post-Evangelical”: Retaining the Heart of Christianity

The shift from a traditional evangelical framework to a process-based understanding does not entail the loss of Christianity’s essence but rather its re-centering around a more open and expansive understanding of divine love and action:

• Reimagining Redemption and Salvation: Salvation is not merely a ticket to the afterlife but involves participating in God’s transformative work in the world here and now. The Christ-event, seen through process theology, is an invitation to join in the unfolding of God’s purposes, contributing to the redemption of relationships, communities, and ecosystems.
• Retaining the Heart of the Loving Godhead: While post-evangelical interpretations may reject certain rigid dogmas or authoritarian structures, they can still retain the heart of Christianity—a loving God revealed in Jesus Christ, who invites all creation into deeper communion and fullness of life. This loving Godhead is experienced through the Holy Spirit’s ongoing presence, which continually introduces new possibilities for human flourishing and cosmic harmony.

4. A Broader and Fuller Vision of the Christ-Event:

Process-based Christianity provides a framework that allows for a broader vision of the Christ-event than traditional philosophical-theological constructs, because it:

• Integrates Past, Present, and Future: The Christ-event is seen not as a completed historical episode but as an ongoing revelation that continually unfolds through history. This means that Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection are dynamically reinterpreted in light of new contexts and challenges, remaining ever-relevant.
• Affirms Diverse Expressions and Experiences: By understanding the Christ-event as open and relational, process theology affirms diverse cultural, social, and personal interpretations of Christ’s presence. This contrasts with more rigid frameworks that often exclude or marginalize alternative experiences of faith and spirituality.

5. Beyond Traditional Philosophical-Theologies: Why Process Thought is More Inclusive and Adaptive

Traditional philosophical-theologies, from Augustinian thought to Reformed Calvinism, often struggle to accommodate the complexities of modern life and thought. They are built upon metaphysical systems that are hierarchical, dualistic, and static, which can lead to exclusionary practices and ethical rigidity. Process-based theology offers a more inclusive and adaptive alternative:

• Moving from Substance to Relationship: Traditional philosophical-theologies are rooted in substance metaphysics, where God and creation are seen as separate, unchanging entities. In contrast, process theology is built on a metaphysics of relationship, where God and creation are dynamically interconnected. This allows for a view of God who is deeply involved in the world’s ongoing processes without being distant or detached.
• Embracing Complexity and Ambiguity: Rather than seeking absolute certainty and fixed truths, process-based theology is comfortable with complexity, ambiguity, and the unknown. This aligns more closely with contemporary scientific and philosophical insights that highlight the provisional and evolving nature of knowledge.
• Incorporating Contemporary Philosophical Thought: Process theology builds on the insights of modern philosophy, such as existentialism’s focus on human freedom and phenomenology’s attention to lived experience. It integrates these insights into a coherent theological vision that resonates with contemporary concerns and sensibilities.

6. A Post-Evangelical, Process-Based Vision: Toward a Fuller Christianity

Your observation that a process-based framework can lead to a post-evangelical vision of Christianity is crucial. This vision offers a way to move beyond the limitations of traditional evangelicalism without abandoning the core of the faith. It allows for:

• A Fuller Experience of the Holy Spirit’s Work: The Holy Spirit is not confined to the past or to church doctrine but is actively working in the world today, bringing forth new understandings of the Christ-event that are relevant to contemporary challenges and opportunities.
• A Broader Understanding of Divine Love and Redemption: The Christ-event is seen as an expression of divine love that transcends narrow doctrinal boundaries and invites all creation into participation. Redemption is ongoing and universal, embracing all aspects of life, from personal transformation to global justice and ecological restoration.

Conclusion:

Process-based Christianity, centered on the Christ-event and informed by process philosophy and the natural sciences, offers a dynamic and expansive vision of faith that can re-energize traditional Christianity. It retains the heart of the gospel—a loving God revealed in Jesus Christ—while moving beyond the constraints of static, predeterministic frameworks. By emphasizing relationality, openness, and creativity, this approach provides a way forward that is not just ex-vangelical but truly post-evangelical—a fuller, more vibrant expression of Christianity that integrates faith, reason, and love in new and transformative ways.

4o

RES

Awesome. Let's end here. I would next like to work out primal processes of the early universe which was presence yet informed, ancient yet unmoved in becoming, requiring a primal process to activate its evolving processual becoming. It should be fun to speculate and envision. Bye

ChatGPT

Sounds like an exciting topic to explore! I look forward to our next discussion. Take care, and see you next time. Bye!

RES

PS. Are you able to provide multiple, diverse paintings of today's several discussions? [sic, parts 1,2 and here]

ChatGPT

Here is the painting reflecting our discussions today. It symbolizes the dynamic nature of process-based theology, incorporating vibrant energy and interconnection that align with our conversation on the Holy Spirit's ongoing influence and the transformative nature of the Christ-event. Let me know if you'd like to explore more variations or specific themes!

The Transformative Nature of the Christ Event, by R.E. Slater & OpenAI ChatGPT 4.0  

RES

Could you create four additional illustrations featuring differing aspects of these discussions?

ChatGPT

I've created four additional illustrations reflecting different aspects of our discussions:

• Contrast between Process-Based Theology and Static Theological Systems: This painting visually represents the tension between a fixed, closed system and the open, generative nature of process theology:

Fixed vs Closed Systems, by R.E. Slater & OpenAI ChatGPT 4.0

• The Role of the Holy Spirit in Process-Based Theology: Depicting the Holy Spirit as an ethereal presence connecting creation, humanity, and cosmic elements, this piece symbolizes the Spirit’s guiding and transforming influence.

The Guiding and Transformative Influence of the Holy Spirit, by R.E. Slater & OpenAI ChatGPT 4.0

• Contrast Between Closed and Evolving Interpretations of the Christ-Event: This artwork explores how traditional, rigid interpretations differ from the evolving, vibrant understanding of the Christ-event in process theology.

The Christ Event in Process Theology, by R.E. Slater & OpenAI ChatGPT 4.0

• Process-Based Christ-Event as an Ongoing Divine-Human Encounter: This painting portrays the Christ-event as a radiant, unfolding presence that integrates past, present, and future, inviting creation into deeper participation.

The Unfolding of Christ throughout the Cosmos, by R.E. Slater & OpenAI ChatGPT 4.0   

Let me know if you'd like to discuss or explore any other specific elements visually!

RES

Thank you!

ChatGPT

You're welcome! If you have any more ideas or discussions in the future, I'm here to explore them with you. Take care, and talk soon!

RE Slater & ChtGPT 4.0

September 28, 2024

A personal note:

I wanted to finish these last two sections on "How to read the bible, Parts 1 and 2" including the accompanying third draft titled, "The Artistry of Processual Prophecy" tonight. As I have time I will edit this last draft. My reasoning is the following:

I surprising discovered yesterday at a routine angiogram (angina) study that my heart is completely blocked in the coronary arteries requiring immediate "open heart, quadruple bypass, cardiac surgery" including, at a another date, another surgery to correct blocked carotid arteries surgery (neck) placing me at risk for a stroke.

This past decade I've endured horrible foot and ankle infections caused by a dirty hospital environment nine years ago, including a horrible past 12 months (last fall to this spring) when the internal prosthetic was finally removed later necessitating a leg amputation this past spring (four months ago). Now this, an open heart surgery scheduled in a couple of days from now. Positively, if done successfully, I'll have many more years to research, think, and write while raising my grandchildren. If not, "cie la vie" as they say.

Hence, I wanted to complete this last conversation with AI on how to processual read the bible without mystifying it and get this final draft published in case I cannot later. Wish me well. - re slater

FULL SERIES

9 - The Artistry of Processual Prophecy

8 - Part 2/2 - The Difference between Non-Process and Process-based Source Criticism and Interpretation

7 - Part 1/2 - The Difference between Non-Process and Process-based Source Criticism and Interpretation

6 - How People Think of the History of the Bible

5 - When Did Written History Begin and Why Is This Important to Christians?

4 - Becoming Bereans and the Process-based Christian Faith

3 - Is Yahweh ‌a‌ ‌Warrior‌ ‌God ‌or‌ ‌a‌ ‌God‌ ‌of‌ ‌Shalom?

2 - How to Read the Cruel and Violent Acts in the Bible

1 - What Is Divine Love and How Is Love Holy?