Process theology typically stresses God's relational nature. Rather than seeing God as impassive or emotionless, process theologians view God as "the fellow sufferer who understands", and as the being who is supremely affected by temporal events. Hartshorne points out that people would not praise a human ruler who was unaffected by either the joys or sorrows of his followers – so why would this be a praise-worthy quality in God? Instead, as the being who is most affected by the world, God is the being who can most appropriately respond to the world. However, process theology has been formulated in a wide variety of ways. C. Robert Mesle, for instance, advocates a "process naturalism", i.e. a process theology without God. COUNT 5
QSN1 What aspect of God is usually emphasized in process theology? ANS1 God's relational nature QSN2 How is God usually perceived by process theologians? ANS2 "the fellow sufferer who understands", and as the being who is supremely affected by temporal events QSN3 Why did Hartshorne feel that God must be affected by people? ANS3 people would not praise a human ruler who was unaffected by either the joys or sorrows of his followers – so why would this be a praise-worthy quality in God? QSN4 Why would God being substantially affected by the world be beneficial? ANS4 as the being who is most affected by the world, God is the being who can most appropriately respond to the world QSN5 What type of process theology does C. Robert Mesle promote? ANS5 "process naturalism", i.e. a process theology without God.