<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div>I have a friend who claims that process is closer to the Text -- and he has a seminary degree! Nick made a similar claim. Let me check and see if there is anything I can dig up that might add to the discussion.</div><div><br>Joe Campbell</div><div><br>On Jan 26, 2009, at 7:45 AM, keely emerinemix <<a href="mailto:kjajmix1@msn.com">kjajmix1@msn.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
Chas, I made it clear that my "better than" meant process theology was "better" in terms of "closer to the mark of orthodox Christianity" -- which it certainly is, compared to atheism and its "closeness to the mark," even though I reject it. I was making a quantitative reference COMPARED WITH another thing, not a qualitative one. I trust that you understand that I wasn't saying that "this or that theology is better than atheism," or "this theologian is better than that atheist," or even "my daddy can beat up your daddy." <br><br>Because I regard process theology more in the sense of doctrine, not philosophy, I feel comfortable comparing it with the revealed doctrines of Scripture, those that speak to the omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence of God. It's on that basis that I conclude that P.T. falls short. Perhaps I should examine it as a philosophy and not a set of doctrines, although the doctrinal applications seem to be entirely a result of a philosophy -- whether of God and the Divine nature, hermeneutics (the discipline of interpreting Scripture), or secular reasoning.<br><br>Keely<br><a href="http://keely-prevailingwinds.blogspot.com/">http://keely-prevailingwinds.blogspot.com/</a><br><br><br><br><br>> Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:57:59 -0800<br>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] responding to Nick re: forgiveness and immutability<br>> From: chasuk@gmail.com<br>> To: kjajmix1@msn.com<br>> CC: philosopher.joe@gmail.com; vision2020@moscow.com<br>> <br>> On Sun, Jan 25, 2009 at 18:05, keely emerinemix <kjajmix1@msn.com> wrote:<br>> <br>> > I agree that process theology is one that's better than atheism (I'm saying<br>> > "better" here in terms of "closer to the mark of orthodox Christianity), but<br>> > I just don't agree that it's compatible with "the faith handed down once and<br>> > for all by the saints."<br>> <br>> Process theology is not born of revelation, but purely of<br>> philosophical reflection, so it ipso facto cannot be compatible with<br>> "the faith handed down once and for all by the saints."<br>> <br>> As far as I understand it, process theology claims that God somehow<br>> exists within our spatio-temporal reality without being a part of it,<br>> while also mysteriously participating in it. I don't see what problem<br>> this was designed to solve.<br>> <br>> Why, Keely, is this "better" than atheism?<br>> <br>> Chas<br><br><hr>Windows Live™: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. <a href="http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_012009" target="_new">See how it works.</a>
</div></blockquote></body></html>