John B. Cobb, Jr.: Process Theology

Theological Perspective

John B. Cobb, Jr., is a theologian, philosopher, and a primary articulator of process theology. This theology is rooted in the philosophy of process thought developed by Alfred North Whitehead. A Professor of Theology Emeritus at the Claremont School of Theology and Co-Director of the Center for Process Studies, Cobb wrote over 50 books and hundreds of articles on theology, philosophy, economics, and the environment. In 2014, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences recognized Cobb for his work in the arts and humanities.

According to Monica A. Coleman, Professor of Constructive Theology at Claremont School of Theology and Co-Director for the Center for Process Studies, Whitehead’s development of process thought
Charles Hartshorne is considered to be the founder of process theology. His works were influenced by the writings of Whitehead. Although process theology presents a distinct view of God, this view is inconsistent with the approach of classical theology. To appreciate process theology, Cobb and Griffin argued there are five classically accepted characteristics of God that must be
Instead, God has both a primordial nature and a consequent nature. The former nature sees God as influencing the world by providing a realm of possibilities for individuals to freely choose from, whereas the latter nature sees God as responding to the various choices made by humanity.

Process theology asserts all individuals and nature have intrinsic value that is worthy of respect. Because an individual’s choices can affect other individuals, nature, and even God, process theology is a relational theology. Consequently, “the ways in which God can be directly experienced by and present in us are largely determined by the ways in which God is present, or not present, in those around us.” Interestingly, if everything has intrinsic value and God operates in both in a primordial and consequent nature, God can still affect - and desires to affect - what is best for