Analysis and Examination of the Influence of Whitehead's Process Philosophy on Theological Transformation, Focusing on the Issue of "Becoming"

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Theology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Theology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Alfred North Whitehead's "process philosophy," a novel and influential perspective in contemporary philosophy, examines the organic and interconnected relationships between the various elements of existence and processes. This approach, stemming from philosophical and scientific insights, posits that reality is not understood as a static and fixed collection of entities, but rather as a dynamic and interwoven network of events and endless change.  These continuous changes represent a perpetual transformation in the nature of being. In this context, the concept of "becoming" is depicted as the most fundamental principle in Whitehead's organismic thought. The importance of this is particularly evident in understanding the continuous changes in existence and the interactions between events and entities.  Furthermore, the impact of these changes on theological viewpoints and human conceptions of God and the world in general is highly noteworthy. This research aims to utilize an analytical method to investigate the influence of process philosophy on the formation and development of "process theology." From the perspective of process theology, conceptions and viewpoints regarding God as a being undergoing "process" and transformation are clearly incompatible with the traditional approach that identifies God as a static and unchanging being. This contradiction can lead to significant consequences and transformations in contemporary religious thought and in our understanding of the relationship between humanity and God, and generally create new areas and serious challenges for traditional faith.

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