A More Expansive Process Theology
Reimagining Omnipotence and other Traditional
Ideas in Generous and Loving Ways
"I love the heart of Process Theology—the vision of a relational, loving God—but I don't want to throw away the language that has carried faith for centuries. Words like 'omnipotence' and 'creation out of nothing' still speak to me, and for me they have always been associated with a God of love. not retributive punishment. I’m looking for a theology that honors the beauty of tradition even as it opens to the creativity of the future—a theology that is relational not only in its vision of God, but also in its conversation with the past."
Process Theology provides a powerful alternative to images of a punitive God, preoccupied with being flattered, whose primary concern is with reward and punishment. It speaks of God as a power of love at work throughout the universe and in each human heart, and as an empathic receptacle—a companion—to the joys and sufferings of all living beings. It provides an image of God in the image of Jesus, not a ruling Caesar.
In order to make their case, some Process theologians vehemently reject four ideas that are important to many Christians and others around the world: creation out of nothing, omnipotence, supernaturalism, and the notion that God is in "control" of events. This fourfold rejection appeals to many who have been wounded by rigid doctrines of divine coercion or by the image of a distant, uncaring deity. It offers a vision of divine love that is persuasive rather than controlling, relational rather than dominating, tender rather than punitive.
Yet at the same time, the rejection can be off-putting and alienating for others—particularly those for whom these traditional ideas, rightly or wrongly, symbolize God's greatness, intimacy, and trustworthiness. Indeed, for many, these ideas have been tied to an image that is open and relational in spirit—a God who is love, not punitive judgment, and who cares for each and all with tender concern. For them, terms like "creation out of nothing" and "omnipotence" are not necessarily tied to images of coercion or domination, but to God's creativity, fidelity, and infinite care. When these terms are rejected outright, it can seem as if something essential is being lost: a sense of awe, mystery, and profound dependence on a sacred source beyond the world yet present within it.
It is possible, and perhaps necessary, for Process theologians to approach these traditional ideas not with rejection, but with generous reinterpretation. Instead of discarding terms like omnipotence or supernaturalism, they can offer fresh, expansive meanings: omnipotence as the infinite power of love rather than coercion; creation out of nothing as the mystery of continual becoming from a wellspring of divine creativity; supernaturalism as the recognition that novelty and surprise are intrinsic to the nature of reality, not violations of it; and divine "control" as the deeper lure of wisdom and goodness rather than mechanical manipulation.
In addition, a more expansive Process Theology of this sort can avoid the trap of semantic absolutism—the mistake of assuming that sacred terms must carry only one rigid meaning across all times, cultures, and theological traditions. Instead, it invites a more generous and imaginative approach to language, recognizing that theological words are living vessels, not fixed containers. Their meanings can evolve, deepen, and be reinterpreted without losing their power to inspire. Rather than clinging to or discarding inherited words, Process thinkers see language itself as part of the creative advance into novelty. Theological vocabulary becomes a field of possibilities rather than a set of final answers—a living tradition open to ongoing re-creation.
Thus, a more expansive Process Theology can offer not only a fresh vision of God, but also a fresh vision of theology itself: an open-ended, relational, and dynamic endeavor that honors both the ancient and the emerging, both the yearning for continuity and the call toward creative transformation.
Across Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America, Oceania, and Europe, many seek a faith that is both ancient and alive. If open and relational (process) theology is to move beyond being a niche theology attractive mostly to ex-evangelical Protestants, it must develop a more expansive version. A more expansive version will move beyond the reflex to reject ideas like omnipotence, creation out of nothing, and supernaturalism, choosing instead to meet them with nuance, imagination, and generosity. It will recognize that words can carry different meanings in different contexts, and that traditional ideas can be reinterpreted and appreciated within an open and relational (process) framework.
Here are essays in Open Horizons that aim in this direction:
Creation out of Nothing: A Process Appreciation
Creation as a divine act of imaginative generosity before all worlds.
Omnipotence: A Process Appreciation
Power understood not as domination, but as infinite compassion and care.
Reimagining Supernaturalism
Five ways of understanding supernaturalism that make good sense
Reimagining Divine Control
Control as Non-Dominating but Powerful Influence
Process Theology provides a powerful alternative to images of a punitive God, preoccupied with being flattered, whose primary concern is with reward and punishment. It speaks of God as a power of love at work throughout the universe and in each human heart, and as an empathic receptacle—a companion—to the joys and sufferings of all living beings. It provides an image of God in the image of Jesus, not a ruling Caesar.
In order to make their case, some Process theologians vehemently reject four ideas that are important to many Christians and others around the world: creation out of nothing, omnipotence, supernaturalism, and the notion that God is in "control" of events. This fourfold rejection appeals to many who have been wounded by rigid doctrines of divine coercion or by the image of a distant, uncaring deity. It offers a vision of divine love that is persuasive rather than controlling, relational rather than dominating, tender rather than punitive.
Yet at the same time, the rejection can be off-putting and alienating for others—particularly those for whom these traditional ideas, rightly or wrongly, symbolize God's greatness, intimacy, and trustworthiness. Indeed, for many, these ideas have been tied to an image that is open and relational in spirit—a God who is love, not punitive judgment, and who cares for each and all with tender concern. For them, terms like "creation out of nothing" and "omnipotence" are not necessarily tied to images of coercion or domination, but to God's creativity, fidelity, and infinite care. When these terms are rejected outright, it can seem as if something essential is being lost: a sense of awe, mystery, and profound dependence on a sacred source beyond the world yet present within it.
It is possible, and perhaps necessary, for Process theologians to approach these traditional ideas not with rejection, but with generous reinterpretation. Instead of discarding terms like omnipotence or supernaturalism, they can offer fresh, expansive meanings: omnipotence as the infinite power of love rather than coercion; creation out of nothing as the mystery of continual becoming from a wellspring of divine creativity; supernaturalism as the recognition that novelty and surprise are intrinsic to the nature of reality, not violations of it; and divine "control" as the deeper lure of wisdom and goodness rather than mechanical manipulation.
In addition, a more expansive Process Theology of this sort can avoid the trap of semantic absolutism—the mistake of assuming that sacred terms must carry only one rigid meaning across all times, cultures, and theological traditions. Instead, it invites a more generous and imaginative approach to language, recognizing that theological words are living vessels, not fixed containers. Their meanings can evolve, deepen, and be reinterpreted without losing their power to inspire. Rather than clinging to or discarding inherited words, Process thinkers see language itself as part of the creative advance into novelty. Theological vocabulary becomes a field of possibilities rather than a set of final answers—a living tradition open to ongoing re-creation.
Thus, a more expansive Process Theology can offer not only a fresh vision of God, but also a fresh vision of theology itself: an open-ended, relational, and dynamic endeavor that honors both the ancient and the emerging, both the yearning for continuity and the call toward creative transformation.
Across Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America, Oceania, and Europe, many seek a faith that is both ancient and alive. If open and relational (process) theology is to move beyond being a niche theology attractive mostly to ex-evangelical Protestants, it must develop a more expansive version. A more expansive version will move beyond the reflex to reject ideas like omnipotence, creation out of nothing, and supernaturalism, choosing instead to meet them with nuance, imagination, and generosity. It will recognize that words can carry different meanings in different contexts, and that traditional ideas can be reinterpreted and appreciated within an open and relational (process) framework.
Here are essays in Open Horizons that aim in this direction:
Creation out of Nothing: A Process Appreciation
Creation as a divine act of imaginative generosity before all worlds.
Omnipotence: A Process Appreciation
Power understood not as domination, but as infinite compassion and care.
Reimagining Supernaturalism
Five ways of understanding supernaturalism that make good sense
Reimagining Divine Control
Control as Non-Dominating but Powerful Influence