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

Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson presents a comprehensive exploration of process theology through a distinctly Jewish lens, offering a radical reconceptualization of divine nature that challenges classical theological assumptions. This work systematically develops a theology grounded in the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead and Charles Hartshorne, while maintaining deep engagement with Jewish sources and contemporary scientific understanding.

The monograph's central argument posits God not as an unchanging, omnipotent being existing outside creation, but as the supreme exemplar of becoming—dynamically involved in and affected by the universe's ongoing development. Artson contends that traditional theological attributes like omnipotence and immutability create insurmountable philosophical problems, particularly regarding theodicy and human freedom. Instead, he advocates for understanding divinity through categories of relationship, persuasion, and mutual influence.

Artson employs a distinctive methodology that weaves together process philosophy, rabbinic literature, biblical exegesis, and contemporary physics. He demonstrates how process thought aligns with Jewish theological intuitions about divine-human partnership and the evolving nature of creation. The work engages critically with classical theism's Greek philosophical foundations, arguing that static perfection contradicts both scientific cosmology and lived religious experience.

The text addresses several key theological problems through its process framework. Regarding evil, Artson argues that God lacks coercive power but continuously offers possibilities for good, making theodicy a question of divine limitation rather than divine will. On prayer, he reconceives it as genuine communication that affects both pray-er and God. Concerning revelation, he presents it as an ongoing process rather than past events, with God continuously luring creation toward greater complexity and consciousness.

This contribution stands as one of the most thorough Jewish engagements with process thought, significantly advancing dialogue between religion and science while offering practicing Jews a philosophically coherent alternative to classical theism. Artson's work matters particularly for its ability to address post-Holocaust theological challenges and its integration of evolutionary biology and quantum physics into theological reflection. The monograph serves both as an introduction to process theology for Jewish readers and as a substantive contribution to process thought through its incorporation of Jewish sources and sensibilities. Its impact extends beyond Jewish theology, offering all theologians a model for reconstructing traditional concepts in light of contemporary knowledge.