Whitehead called it the consequent nature of God. Thandeka can also help us remember that for Whitehead the universe is indeed immersed in a cosmic consciousness of love that is well beyond belief and that includes all. For Whitehead feelings are absolutely primary. To this I add that she can help process theologians reclaim, or perhaps discover, the role that feeling and emotion play in Whitehead's thought, upon whose organic worldview process theologians often rely. Thandeka's goals in Love Beyond Belief are (1) to help mainline congregations (mostly Christian and Unitarian) rediscover these emotions as the foundations of a vibrant religious life,and (2) to help the growing number of "spiritual but not religious" do the same in non-religious contexts. I borrow these additions from the spiritual alphabet of Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat's Spirituality and Practice: an alphabet which serves as a guide for The Center for Process Spirituality. Or, to add some more, playfulness, peace, a sense of connection, a sense of beauty, zest for life. IF they do, a third and more powerful dimension of human life is neglected: the affects or emotiions. But humans cannot live by beliefs and applications alone. It has been reduced to a mere application of fervently held belief: applied belief. Process theology has too often been reduced to "having an organic worldview" and "applying it in practical ways" that help heal a broken world. Can Schleiermacher, or perhaps Thandeka, save help process theology? I'm hoping so.
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