The Function of God in the World in Whitehead's Philosophy

Summary

In this reflective dialogue, the speaker discusses the contrasting views on God’s nature between McGilchrist, influenced by Whitehead's panentheism, and Rowan Williams, who advocates for God’s transcendence. Drawing on Whitehead’s theology, the speaker emphasizes the dynamic and reciprocal relationship between God and the world, where God is a guiding force toward beauty and creativity. The conversation highlights how Whitehead’s thought connects cosmology, metaphysics, and theology, suggesting a profound understanding of the divine as both immanent and transcendent, deeply embedded in the ongoing creative process of the universe.

Takeaways

• 😀 Whitehead's theology offers a process-oriented understanding of the divine, which sees God as both transcendent and imminent in the world.
• 😀 Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, expresses discomfort with the idea of God being imminent within things, fearing it would reduce God to just another part of the universe.
• 😀 McGill-Crist, on the other hand, defends a form of panentheism, suggesting that God is not just a part of the universe but also transcends it, playing a creative and guiding role.
• 😀 Spinoza’s view on God, while often labeled pantheism, can be more accurately described as panentheism, emphasizing the divinization of nature rather than a demotion of the divine.
• 😀 In Whitehead's cosmology, God is not merely another 'thing' in the universe but a force that inspires beauty and guides the universe toward more intense, diverse unity.
• 😀 Whitehead’s concept of God is dynamic, providing 'lures' toward beauty through 'initial aims,' offering a sense of infinite potentiality to each creature in every moment.
• 😀 Whitehead's model envisions 'actual occasions' as the fundamental units of the universe, with societies of these occasions making up enduring objects like animals, rocks, and stars.
• 😀 The world and God have a reciprocal relationship; neither is entirely independent, and both rely on each other in a 'call and response' fashion.
• 😀 Whitehead's God is not an unmoved mover; rather, the divine exists in a dipolar nature, with both a primordial and a consequent aspect that evolves through interaction with the world.
• 😀 Whitehead suggests that beauty is not just a human experience; even the non-human world—like flowers in a forest—can express beauty, with divine presence being reflected in nature’s art.
• 😀 The integration of science, philosophy, and theology in Whitehead's thought bridges the gap between fragmented human experiences and offers a more holistic view of existence.

Q & A

What is the primary topic of the conversation in the transcript?

The conversation revolves around the theological perspectives of Whitehead and his view of the divine, contrasting with Rowan Williams' approach, particularly in relation to God’s transcendence and immanence.

How does McGill-Crist use Whitehead’s theology in his discussion about the divine?

McGill-Crist uses Whitehead's theology to present a process-oriented understanding of the divine, where God is both transcendent and imminent, offering a relational view of the divine that influences the world and all creatures within it.

What is Rowan Williams' discomfort with Whitehead's view of the divine?

Rowan Williams is uncomfortable with Whitehead’s idea of God’s imminence, as he believes it reduces God to just another part of the universe, a 'stick of furniture,' rather than preserving God’s transcendence and holy 'otherness.'

What does McGill-Crist think about pantheism in relation to Whitehead's theology?

McGill-Crist argues that Whitehead’s theology is closer to panentheism than pantheism, emphasizing that God is not just a part of the universe but interacts with it through creative advance and divine lure toward beauty.

What does Whitehead mean by God’s role as a 'lure toward beauty'?

Whitehead’s concept of God as a 'lure toward beauty' refers to God’s divine influence that encourages each creature or occasion to strive toward greater beauty, which involves the complex interweaving of diversity and unity in the universe.

How does Whitehead view the relationship between God and the world?

In Whitehead’s view, God and the world are deeply interconnected in a reciprocal, call-and-response relationship, where both depend on one another, with God acting as a guiding force and the world contributing to divine consciousness.

What is Whitehead’s idea of God’s dipolar nature?

Whitehead’s dipolar God has two aspects: the primordial nature, which is the source of creative potential, and the consequent nature, which is shaped by the world’s response and reveals divine consciousness through beauty and creativity.

How does Whitehead's view of beauty challenge traditional Western philosophy?

Whitehead challenges the traditional view that beauty is only a human experience by proposing that beauty exists in all of nature, even in the non-human world, and that all creatures, from flowers to galaxies, express beauty through their existence.

What role does human consciousness play in Whitehead’s philosophy?

Human consciousness, according to Whitehead, is uniquely positioned to perceive and cultivate beauty, transforming the world into art, while also recognizing that non-human nature is part of the divine expression of beauty.

Why does McGill-Crist believe that Whitehead's theology is important for modern science and philosophy?

McGill-Crist believes that Whitehead’s theology is crucial because it helps integrate the revolutions in physics, science, religion, and human experience, providing a synoptic vision that can bridge the fragmented understanding of the world into a cohesive whole.