tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172417803867627775.post2372094539594683660..comments2023-05-18T03:50:23.681-07:00Comments on The Center for Theological Studies: God's Good Pleasure, Part IByronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11537490279115937176noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172417803867627775.post-43899982407284045132009-07-31T18:38:08.698-07:002009-07-31T18:38:08.698-07:00Wyatt,
Thanks for posting a response here.
A f...Wyatt,<br /><br /> Thanks for posting a response here.<br /><br /> A few things: first, I have been reading through some process theology. I may not post much on it here, but I am constantly reading through it and trying to understand it. Before a few months ago, I had no idea what process theology was; so I've come a long way, despite the fact that I still have a ways to go...<br /><br />I never had a problem regarding God's creative power. We are made in the image and likeness of God. However, I have a problem with a God who could make me in His image, and yet, He NOT be all-powerful and all-knowing. If He made us in His image, and He isn't the maximum greatness and goodness and power, then what am I? I have nothing. In fact, if God is not really all-powerful, then my will means nothing: for I can't make anything happen because my power (lack thereof) comes from a source (God) who doesn't have ALL POWER HIMSELF!<br /><br />I'm gonna ask you to ponder the implications of the claim you're making. Cobb and Griffin claim that we NEEDED free will; but that's not the Biblical account. God said "LET US make man in our image, after our likeness; and LET THEM have dominion..." When someone says, "Let's go to the park," for example, they are not saying, "We MUST go to the park," but rather, "It's a good suggestion to go to the park." God Himself decided to give man free will. He was not under necessity to do so. <br /><br />However, in your system of belief (process theology), God was bound to do certain things. I would submit to you that the only things God is bound to are those HE BINDS HIMSELF TO! And that is why He is all-powerful: because He gave man the will to walk away from God even though He knew He could clearly have made us automatons and forced us to do His bidding. Such is the work of an ALL-POWERFUL GOD!<br /><br /> I suggest that you spend more time examining what your theology says about God instead of diving into process theology. I appreciate personal study of theology myself; but, no matter how fancy the theology, or how eloquent it is, a theology that will strip My God of His awesomeness, His power, and His knowledge is no sufficient theology at all...Deidre Richardson, B.A., M.Div.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04415891901162852180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172417803867627775.post-54141853336086646622009-07-29T08:19:06.921-07:002009-07-29T08:19:06.921-07:00I encourage you to read more on process thought an...I encourage you to read more on process thought and try to understand whiteheads metaphysics before dismissing it. One of the problems with process theology is that it is easy to get the gist of it, but it takes much more time to fully understand it. You really need to go back to whitehead and hartshorne then move on to measle, cobb, and griffin. <br /><br />In Genesis, what was God doing before God enabled us to be in God's Image? Wasn't God creating things... a sign of what God's image may look like. Creating, being creative, being a steward to the earth. Process Theology embraces God's creative power fully.<br /><br />In regards to your sleeping problem. A tip I read recently is to spend 10 or so minutes before sleep, sitting in a chair, thinking about anything on your mind, going over your day. Now go lay in bed, and focus on your breathing.<br /><br />I think that Cobb and Griffin chose Hitler as an example because he is a common evil figure. They could have cited Voltaire's Candide, but most people wouldn't understand what that means. Perhaps a better example would have been the Roman's practice of crucifixion. <br /><br />You should ask yourself if this is the best of all possible worlds. If you think it is, then read the Candide. If you don't think it is then ask why God doesn't step in and fix things. If you are a logical person and value reason over mal-informed belief, ponder the wonderful implications of a God that is not omnipotent.Wyatt Preulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08856011060105346451noreply@blogger.com