In process theology, God is constantly, in every moment and in every place, doing everything within God’s power to bring about the good. Divine power, however, is persuasive rather than coercive. God cannot force people or the world to obey God’s will. Instead, God works by sharing with us a vision of the better way, of the good and the beautiful. God’s power lies in patience and love, not force.

Our power is of the kind that arises from our existence in small, organic bodies with eyes, ears, hands and a nervous system. God has no body like ours. God’s power is the power that enables all of reality to continue its creative advance, that makes creatures free, that shares the experience of every creature and is experienced by every creature. God’s creative power sustains the universe. Yet, it is only through the creatures of the world that God has hands.

Process Theology: A Basic Introduction
C. Robert Mesle

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In Process Theology: A Basic Introduction, Mesle outlines three key attributes of process theology:

1. God experiences both the joy and suffering of humanity
2. God is not omnipotent in the classical sense
3. God exercises relational power and not unilateral control

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C. Robert Mesle
born 1950

C. Robert Mesle is a process theologian and is currently a professor of philosophy and religion at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.

Books written by C. Robert Mesle include:

• Fire in my bones: A study in faith and belief
• John Hick’s Theodicy: A Process Humanist Critique
• Process-Relational Philosophy: An Introduction to Alfred North Whitehead
• Process Theology: A Basic Introduction
• The Bible As Story and Struggle

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C. Robert Mesle — Process Relational Theology

Forgiveness, when it happens, is able to remove that dead weight from our past and give us back our lives. The real beauty of forgiveness is that it can deliver the future to us.

On Forgiveness: How Can We Forgive the Unforgiveable?
Richard Holloway

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Richard Holloway
born 1933

Richard Holloway is a Scottish writer and broadcaster. Holloway was formerly Bishop of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church. He is a former Gresham Professor of Divinity and Chairman of the Joint Board of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen. He is a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Holloway is the author of over twenty books. He has presented many series for BBC television and radio.

Books written by Richard include:

• Between the Monster and the Saint
• Doubts and Loves
• Godless Morality
• Leaving Alexandria: A Memoir of Faith and Doubt
• Looking in the Distance: The Human Search for Meaning
• On Forgiveness: How Can We Forgive the Unforgivable?

 

It is a mistake to assume that the church — or the synagogue, or any ancient religious group — proceeded formally with the development of its organization, like modern political bodies which begin by calling together a “constitutional assembly” to draft a declaration of principles, a set of definitions, a series of by-laws, and a governing code. The most ancient church had no idea of legislating for posterity or of thinking out the propositions of its practice. It emerged upon the broad stage of Greco-Roman history as one more religion of a book, indeed as an offshoot or sect of “the religion of the book,” Judaism.

Ancient Judaism and The New Testament
Frederick C. Grant

 

 

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Frederick C. Grant
1891–1974

Frederick C. Grant was a New Testament scholar. He was professor of Biblical Theology at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Grant studied at Western Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois.

When we look to see what we are, we find that the only thing that can qualify as our essential nature is the unchanging sense of our being, which is both existent and aware. In looking at this sense of being-awareness, we see that it is already here and easily recognized. Not only is it present, but it remains present and undisturbed in the midst of all thinking, feeling and experiencing. It is not something that we get from a book or obtain as a result of practices, techniques or processes. Nor is it something that comes to us from outside, from a teacher, a divine being or any other source. We do not need an awakening or enlightenment experience to know our true nature. It is effortlessly present. In fact, there is nothing we can do to escape it.

You Were Never Born
John Wheeler

 

 

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John Wheeler

John Wheeler is a student and teacher of nondualism (also called non-duality), which “points to the idea that the universe and all its multiplicity are ultimately expressions or appearances of one essential reality.”

Wheeler pursued a decades-long search, during which he visited the East, and mingled with students of Ramana Maharshi. His search ended when he met Bob Adamson (a student of Nisargadatta Maharaj) on a trip to Australia in 2003. In short order, Adamson cleared up Wheeler’s doubts and questions and pointed out to him the fact of our real nature: self-shining, ever-present awareness.

For several years, Wheeler held Q & A meetings in the California Bay area, hosted a website, and answered questions via email. However, he has discontinued his public interactions in favor of a private life.

John Wheeler has written several books, each one adopting a similar format of dialogues, questions answered, and pointers.

Books John Wheeler has written include:

• Awakening to the Natural State
• Shining in Plain View
• Right Here, Right Now: Seeing Your True Nature as Present Awareness
• You Were Never Born
• The Light Behind Consciousness
• Clear In Your Heart