A Theology of Process
August 19, 2006

The question of the metaphysical relation of God and creativity is a watershed between process theism and more traditional forms of theism. Process philosophy, modifying a statement from Plato's Sophist (247e), affirms that the most concrete real beings — in Whitehead's language, actual entities — are characterized by the power to act and to be acted upon (Plato says real beings act or are acted upon). In process metaphysics no actual entity is wholly determined by the activity of another; or phrased positively, every actual entity retains some power of self-determination, however minimal or slight it may be. … (p)rocess theism's doctrine of creativity differs from that of classical theism according to which God alone is genuinely creative. Thomas Aquinas says that in the proper sense of the word, only God creates (Summa Theologica I, Q 45, a. 5). Aquinas explains that to create is to bring something from nothing, and this is possible only for deity. This is the famous doctrine of creatio ex nihilo, or creation from no pre-existing material. This ex nihilo creation is logically distinct from the claim that the universe is temporally finite … Aquinas is clear that he accepts the temporal finitude of the universe as a matter of faith, from revelation, and not because of rational argument. On the other hand, like other traditional theists (Gottfried Leibniz for example), Aquinas holds that God could have created a temporally infinite universe, but it too would have been created ex nihilo.(1)
-- Process Theism , 1. God and Creativity

The problem of evil is often presented primarily as an ethical concern, but there is an aesthetic dimension to the problem that is emphasized by process theism. If a perfectly good deity would have the motive to overcome discord and wickedness, it would also have a motive to avoid triviality and boredom.
-- Process Theism , 5. Divine Power and the Problem of Evil (2)

The Advent of the Holy Guardian Angel

Jesus said to his disciples, `Compare me to someone and tell me whom I am like.`
Simon Peter said to him, `You are like a righteous angel.`
Matthew said to him, `You are like a wise philosopher.`
Thomas said to him, `Master, my mouth is wholly incapable of saying whom you are like.`
Jesus said, `I am not your master. Because you have drunk, you have become intoxicated from the bubbling spring which I have measured out.`
And he took him and withdrew and told him three things. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, `What did Jesus say to you?`
Thomas said to them, `If I tell you one of the things which he told me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me; a fire will come out of the stones and burn you up.`
--Nag Hamadi Corpus, The Gospel of Thomas Logion 13

Blessed indeed is the one who has heard the Voice of his Angel, for that one has attained unto the borderland of the Kingdom. Blessed is the one who hast heard the Voice of the Savior, for he shall ascend unto the Height. Blessed is the one who has been given his true name, for thy Angel standeth forth, before you and before every power in the Heavens and upon the Earth, that dwell in the Waters and the Hells.

Amen.