Reclaiming The Transcendent Pendle Hill Pamphlet #422

God is commonly imagined as a supreme Being, acting from afar to influence events in the world. For many people today, this image of God has become unbelievable. Tom Gates presents process theology as another way of understanding God that is more congruent with a scientific worldview, as well as with the biblical witness and with the understanding of early Friends. He invites readers to “reclaim the Transcendent” through a vision of God that is less like a king and more like an energy field, constantly but imperceptibly nudging us toward True North, less like a puppeteer and more like an inner yearning toward future possibilities of beauty and harmony. In this way of understanding, God is less a noun and more a verb; “an activity that is going on everywhere rather than a being who exists somewhere.” The author finds this understanding of “God in process” to be deeply congruent with Quaker spirituality. Discussion questions included.

Tom is a member of Lancaster (PA) Monthly Meeting, where he has served for many years on the Committee for Worship and Ministry. He also served for ten years on Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s Working Group on Deepening and Strengthening Our Meetings. He is a graduate of two programs of the School of the Spirit’s — Spiritual Nurturer (2002-2003) and The Way of Ministry (2008-2009).