Catherine Keller, a process feminist post-structuralist theologian, discusses her journey into process theology and its intersection with feminism and panentheism. They explore the problem of evil, the presence of God in suffering, theopoetics, and the role of mystery for theologians. They also touch upon the reinterpretation of Genesis, the concept of prophecy as dream reading, and the significance of the apocalypse in eschatology.
God's power in the process of creation is about luring and inviting new possibilities, not control or coercion.
Panentheism offers a more intimate and relational understanding of God's presence within the world.
God's power is not about overriding human choices or preventing suffering, but about offering support, guidance, and possibilities for healing and growth.
Deep dives
The Power of God as Love in Creation
In the podcast episode, Catherine Keller explores the concept of God's power as love in the process of creation. She emphasizes that God's power is not about control or coercion, but rather about luring and inviting new possibilities. By examining the Genesis creation story, Keller highlights the difference between the traditional view of an all-powerful deity and the process view of a loving and compassionate God. She explains that God's power is not about forcing outcomes, but about responding to the world with delight and offering new possibilities for growth and transformation.
Redefining the God-World Relationship
Keller challenges the predominant understanding of the God-world relationship by advocating for a panentheistic perspective. She explains that panentheism posits that God is immanent within the world, present in every finite moment of experience. According to Keller, this view allows for a more intimate and relational understanding of God, as opposed to a distant and controlling deity. She emphasizes that God's presence is not about absolute power, but about compassionate engagement with the world, feeling and being moved by everything that happens.
Questioning the Omnipotent God
Keller explores the limitations of the traditional belief in an all-powerful God, especially in the face of suffering and tragedy. She acknowledges that many people struggle with the idea of a God who allows or causes pain and challenges the concept of divine omnipotence. Keller encourages a nuanced understanding of God's power, one that recognizes the complexities of human existence and the free will that comes with it. She suggests that God's power is not about overriding human choices or preventing suffering, but about offering support, guidance, and possibilities for healing and growth.
Embracing Mystery and Theopoetics
Keller introduces the concept of theopoetics, which emphasizes the creative and generative nature of God. She argues that theology should embrace a more poetic and creative approach that allows for mystery and the unfolding of divine possibilities. In this view, theology becomes a process of co-creation with God, where the divine lure invites new meanings, interpretations, and understandings. Keller highlights the importance of questioning presuppositions and engaging in thoughtful reflection to deepen our understanding of God and the world.
Understanding Suffering as an Invitation to Process and Learn
Suffering is not meant to be repressed but processed and understood. It serves as an opportunity to learn and grow, to rectify its causes, and seek help from friends, family, therapists, ideas, the Bible, and God. God gives purposes in suffering, but does not cause it for the sake of growth. It is important to interpret and fully experience the moment of suffering, allowing oneself to survive, process, and eventually heal.
Embracing Mystery as a Recognition of God's Unknowability
Mystery should not be something to be conquered or resolved, but rather embraced as a recognition of the strangeness and infinite depth of God. While some use mystery as a means to dismiss difficult questions, true theological mystery acknowledges what we don't know and maintains a humble, faith-driven sense of uncertainty. Approaching God with a sense of mystery allows us to deeply trust and follow the divine lure, accepting that faith is not about having all the answers but about participating in the dynamic journey of discovering the truth.
I am so pumped to have Catherine Keller back on the podcast and helping to kick-off our new HBC class – Christianity in Process (which starts this week). This conversation is peak zest!
