Overview

"In God the Created, Benjamin Chicka develops a method of inquiry and program for theology that he labels ""pragmatic constructive realism."" While influenced most heavily by American pragmatism, especially that of Charles S. Peirce, Chicka’s method draws upon a variety of sources, ranging from Plato to Karl Popper, Paul Tillich, and the field of biosemiotics. Chicka presents pragmatic constructive realism as a means of moving past binary debates between realism and antirealism in both philosophy and theology, and its fruitfulness is displayed by examining the philosophical theologies of John Cobb and Robert Cummings Neville. The result of that engagement is a novel hypothesis about God that embraces legitimate criticisms of both process theology (Cobb) and ground-of-being theology (Neville) while integrating insights from both ways of thinking. God's transcendence and immanence, indeterminacy and determinacy are fully affirmed. The entire argument serves as an example of why a fallible and pluralistic form of theology, one that embraces and learns from difference instead of trying to eliminate it, is important for the future of theology."

Full Product Details

Author:   Benjamin J. Chicka
Publisher:   State University of New York Press
Imprint:   State University of New York Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.50cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.227kg
ISBN:  

9781438487205

ISBN 10:   1438487207
Pages:   256
Publication Date:   02 August 2022
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

"Preface Pragmatic Constructive Realism Acknowledgments Introduction A Sketch of the Argument 1. Realism, Constructivism, and Their Discontents Realism versus Constructivism in Philosophy and Science Philosophical Implications for Religion Realism versus Constructivism in Theology Beyond the Impasse? 2. Beyond the Impasse: Charles S. Peirce and American Pragmatism ""Paper"" Doubt and Groundless Grounds Triads in Human Inquiry and the Natural World Peirce's Musings on God 3. Pragmatic Constructive Realism Peirce and Neopragmatists Peirce and Classical Pragmatists Peirce without Panpsychism Peirce without Evolutionary Love From Constructivism or Realism to Pragmatic Constructive Realism 4. Emerging Philosophically and Theologically Two Giants of Modern Theology Tillich's Realism and Barth's Constructivism in Theology Transcending Whitehead 5. John Cobb's Creative Transformation John Cobb's Peircean Habit Challenges from and Challenges to Science Process Philosophy and a Loving God God's Revealing in God's Concealing God the Container of Possibilities Creative Transformation 6. Robert Neville's God the Creator Robert Neville's Peircean Habit The Indeterminate One and the Determinate Many Divine Wildness over Goodness Transcendence and Immanence? True Engagement, Broken Symbols Challenges from and Challenges to Science Steps toward a More Complete Model of God the Creator 7. Reinvigorating the Cobb-Neville Dialogue Criticisms and Defenses of God the Container Criticisms and Defenses of God the Creator An Explanation of Different Peircean Habits Different Names for the Same Concern Two Valid Guesses at the Riddle 8. A Pragmatic Constructive Realist Model of God Pragmatic Constructive Realism: A New Name for a New Way of Thinking The Unnecessary Nature of God the Container Concrete Determinations of God the Creator Emergence and Growth in God the Created 9. Pragmatic Pluralism and Theological Progress The Paradox of Pluralism Conclusion The Courage to Continue Creating God Notes Bibliography Index"

Reviews

"""Remarkable in its clarity, forcefulness, and orientation, Chicka's book belongs on the shelf of every person concerned with process thought."" - Robert Cummings Neville ""This book goes beyond careful and critical description to creative formulation, and is itself a significant contribution to systematic theology. If, as I believe, the reality and nature of God is a question of great importance not only to members of the Abrahamic tradition but also for the 'spiritual but not religious,' clarifying where that debate stands is a major contribution to our culture."" — John Cobb ""God the Created is an exciting and ambitious book, written by an important new voice in philosophical theology. Benjamin Chicka provides an illuminating comparative analysis of two giants in contemporary theology: Robert Cummings Neville and John Cobb. He also introduces a creative and provocative model of God and, even more significantly, puts forward a bold and promising program for the future of theology, which he calls 'pragmatic constructive realism.' Anyone interested in contemporary philosophical theology needs to read this book and grapple with its potent arguments."" — Demian Wheeler, author of Religion within the Limits of History Alone: Pragmatic Historicism and the Future of Theology"

Remarkable in its clarity, forcefulness, and orientation, Chicka's book belongs on the shelf of every person concerned with process thought. - Robert Cummings Neville This book goes beyond careful and critical description to creative formulation, and is itself a significant contribution to systematic theology. If, as I believe, the reality and nature of God is a question of great importance not only to members of the Abrahamic tradition but also for the 'spiritual but not religious,' clarifying where that debate stands is a major contribution to our culture. - John Cobb God the Created is an exciting and ambitious book, written by an important new voice in philosophical theology. Benjamin Chicka provides an illuminating comparative analysis of two giants in contemporary theology: Robert Cummings Neville and John Cobb. He also introduces a creative and provocative model of God and, even more significantly, puts forward a bold and promising program for the future of theology, which he calls 'pragmatic constructive realism.' Anyone interested in contemporary philosophical theology needs to read this book and grapple with its potent arguments. - Demian Wheeler, author of Religion within the Limits of History Alone: Pragmatic Historicism and the Future of Theology

Author Information

Benjamin J. Chicka is Lecturer in Philosophy and Religious Studies at Curry College.

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