John B. Cobb Jr. – författare

In this earnest discussion, revolutionary theologian John Cobb Jr. implores Christian churches to take a more active role in the solution of contemporary issues such as food security and the ever-expanding world population, the welfare system, civil and human rights, the war on drugs, abortion, immigration, and the destruction of ecosystems.

In this book, four distinguished scholars level a powerful critique of the rapid expansion of the emerging American empire and its oppressive and destructive political, military, and economic policies. Arguing that a global Pax Americana is internationally disastrous, the authors demonstrate how America's imperialism inevitably leads to rampant irreversible ecological devastation, expanding military force for imperialistic purposes, and a grossly inequitable distribution of goods--all leading to the diminished well-being of human communities.

When the first edition of A Christian Natural Theology appeared in 1965, it was a groundbreaking work that incorporated Alfred North Whitehead's metaphysical philosophy as a framework for developing a Christian natural theology. The work was so significant it helped to launch process theology as a leading alternative to neo-orthodox theology and has since become a classic in the literature of process theology. This new edition by one of America's preeminent theologians is an essential work for all those interested in process theology.

Convinced that several crucial historical trends are moving in the wrong direction, John Cobb Jr. and his coauthors urge Christians to live in countercultural ways--as individuals and as communities. Consumerism, inequality, imperialism, and global warming, they contend, are of such magnitude that the only real response for progressive Christians is to actively resist them. This book explores how the word of God calls Christians to resist the world's dominant forces and reflect on how prayer can provide the conviction and commitment necessary for sustaining such a life. It examines particular destructive forces, showing how these trends attained dominance and analyzing their effects and explores two theological movements that have stressed the need for resistance: Latin American liberation theology and feminist theology. Finally, it gives specific examples of how individuals and churches can live in countercultural ways.

Process Theology is an introductory exposition of the theological movement that has been strongly influenced by the philosophies of Alfred North Whitehead and Charles Hartshorne. It offers an interpretation of the basic concepts of process philosophy and outlines a "process theology" that will be especially useful for students of theology, teachers of courses in contemporary philosophy, ministers, and those interested in current theological and philosophical trends.

Using a bioethical approach, John Cobb Jr. tackles some of the most controversial issues facing society and the church today--something theologians have often failed to do in the past. His four major topics are animal well-being, death with dignity, the moral status of the fetus, and sexual activity outside of marriage.

What has happened to the once robust mainline church in the United States? Decrying the professionalization of theological education, Cobb calls for the church to return to its theological vocation so that its members can in turn resume their passionate commitment to faith.

Whitehead had a place for God in his comprehensive cosmological vision, and his theism has long attracted interest from some Christian theologians. But Whitehead''s ideas have much wider use. Some Buddhists have found help in articulating their nontheistic vision and relating it to the current world of thought and action. In this book religious writers in seven different traditions articulate how they can benefit from Whitehead''s work. So this volume demonstrates that various features of his thought can contribute to many communities. According to his followers, Whitehead shows that the deepest convictions and commitments of the major religious communities can be complementary rather than in conflict. Readers of this book will see how that plays out in some detail. A Whiteheadian Hindu can recognize the truth in a Whiteheadian Judaism, and both can appreciate the insights of Chinese Whiteheadians committed to their classical thinking. Perhaps a new day in interreligious understanding has come.

The movement of process theology is brought into creative interaction with political theology in this exciting new work by distinguished author John B. Cobb Jr. Confronted with the critical problems facing the global environment, the author seeks to overcome the abstractness that has kept process thought from achieving practical influence. Cobb reviews contemporary political theology in the works of major European theologians, Johann Baptist Metz, Jurgen Moltmann, and Dorothee Solle, then surveys the movement in recent German theology. He examines the challenge of political theology in the tradition of the Chicago school and advocates broadening the horizons of political theology into the formulation of an ecological, rather than a sociological, theology. Process Theology as Political Theology responds to the challenge of providing a theological base for the Christian activist. Pastors, seminarians, and students will find it to be a stimulating evolutionary work, derived from the author's concern for the planet earth.

Christian Reflection about other religions has often misinterpreted the truth of the other Ways. The Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of churches stress that Christians can gain an appreciative understanding of other traditions only through meaningful dialogue with believers of other faiths. This book, however, emphasizes the need for Christians to go beyond dialogue, to reach for a mutual transformation of Christianity and other religions. By way of example, the author explores with originality the Christian encounter with Mahayana Buddhism. He offer an original view of how Christianity and Buddhism can appropriately transform one another when both partners are truly respected as equal. Both contributing, both benefiting. John Cobb boldly challenges us "e;to hear in an authentic way the truth which the other has to teach us"e; and to be transformed by that truth.

Can a livable society also be sustainable? How can we move beyond anthropocentrism without surrendering humanity's unique contribution to the globe? What of the contradictions conservative economics seems to reveal in so-called liberal approaches to economics and ecology? Does Christianity have anything to say about living in a world of limits?In 'Sustainability', John Cobb argues that reflections on ecological issues inevitably raise religious questions as well. Admittedly, traditional Christian teaching to subdue the earth had contributed to the mindset responsible for the crisis we are facing today. But Christianity can contribute to the discussion of how to keep the planet from ecological disaster. For one thing, Christianity can keep ecological issues closely tied to those of social justice -- a necessity for a sustainable society. Christianity can also make clear the need for individual change of heart (conversion) that is a prerequisite to real social and economic change. As the Earth Summit testified, our world stands in need of new visions, to nurture new ways of integrating its human, mineral, animal, vegetable, and energy components. 'Sustainability' is John Cobb at his best . . . timely, incisive, and vigorous.

"e;Sometimes you just want to know the answer to a question that's been bugging you-especially when it comes to that intriguing but sometimes challenging thing called process theology! Here at last is exactly the right book, with questions written by people like you and answers developed by that best of all process thinkers ,John B. Cobb,Jr. Whether you plunge right in by reading it straight through, or dip into the issues bit by bit, you'll find yourself a partner in a deeply engaging conversation."e;MARJORIE SUCHOCKI, author of The Whispered Word: A Theology of Preaching and In God's Presence: Theological Reflections on Prayer"e;Within these lucid pages, one of the great minds of our time speaks with profound clarity. Herein lie the Big Questions. And these are the answers that changed my life!"e;PATRICIA ADAMS FARMER, author of Embracing a Beautiful God "e;After being introduced to the worldview of process thought, Christian readers so often ask: 'But how can this worldview be connected with traditional Christian belief and practice?' The Process Perspective offers a process response to the questions that are truly on people's minds: Is God personal? Is prayer effective? Who was Jesus? Why do the innocent suffer? It presents a way of thinking about Christian faith, and living the Christian life, that is a viable alternative to fundamentalism on the one hand and lukewarm liberalism on the other. It displays a Christianity with roots and wings. Thank you, John Cobb."e;JAY McDANIEL, author of Living from the Center: Spirituality in an Age of ConsumerismIn this fresh perspective on faith from a man of faith, internationally renowned process theologian John B. Cobb,Jr., addresses more than thirty questions about God, Christ, the Bible, the church, humankind, and ethics. He seeks to put process ideas into plain language, with clear implications for faithful living.

Develops a naturalistic postmodern perspective to make constructive proposals about a wide range of topics now in public discussion.One of America's preeminent systematic theologians, John B. Cobb Jr. examines a range of social issues in his latest groundbreaking work, Postmodernism and Public Policy. Cobb uses a naturalistic postmodern perspective to make constructive proposals about a wide range of topics in the public eye.Postmodernism and Public Policy shows how a postmodern Christianity can contribute positively to thinking about religious and cultural pluralism, and how this can give direction to the educational enterprise. It proposes ways of understanding sex, gender, and race that take diversity seriously without lapsing into a debilitating relativism that inhibits political action. Arguing for a shift from individualism to thinking of persons-in-community, it proposes that the world be organized from the bottom up in communities of communities, and spells out what this implies for the political and economic orders and the relationship between them. Cobb shows that formulations on all these topics can be coherently interconnected and he develops the implications of such thinking for some specific ethical and political issues that now trouble the United States, such as abortion, physician-assisted suicide, and homosexuality.