God of Becoming and Relationship: The Dynamic Nature of Process Theology

Artson (Passing Life’s Tests: Spiritual Reflections on the Trial of Abraham, the Binding of Isaac) first introduces process thought and process theology into a Jewish context. Process thought is a method of thinking that counters the “fallacy of the dichotomy:” that one must choose one of a pair of opposites, for example, faith or knowledge. In process theology, God is not outside the world, unchanging and impassible, but interacts with it, using persuasion to lure creation toward the best possible outcome. Subsequently, Artson presents a fresh articulation of Judaism through the lens of process theology, producing a dynamic view of the God of Israel, the meaning of revelation, law and religious practice. Part of the genius of this melding is that it fits the oldest texts sacred to Jews. Hebrew Scripture itself is more replete with opposites-in-tension than absolutes: for example, between the particularity of a people and a universal vision of peace and justice for all humanity. Particularly illuminating and moving is Artson’s epilogue, a personal letter to his son, whose autism stimulated Artson’s journey toward this relational vision of Judaism. (Dec.)