Joseph Bracken, SJ, (1930-2024)  was professor emeritus of theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has published ten books and more than ninety articles in academic journals in the general area of philosophical theology/philosophy of religion. His most recent books include Christianity and Process Thought: Spirituality for a Changing World (Templeton Foundation Press, 2006), God: Three Who Are One (Liturgical Press, 2008), and Subjectivity, Objectivity and Intersubjectivity: A New Paradigm for Religion and Science (Templeton Foundation Press, 2009).

• ContentsAcknowledgments   viiIntroduction   ixPart One: Philosophical Cosmology / Natural Theology from an Evolutionary PerspectiveChapter One: Is There a Reason for Everything, or Do Some Things Just Happen?   3Chapter Two: Value and Creativity   15Chapter Three: Intelligent Design and the Self-Organization of Nature   13Chapter Four: Rethinking Primary and Secondary Causality   47Part Two: Systems Thinking in the Social SciencesChapter Five: From Platonic Forms to Open-Ended Systems: The Search for Truth and Objectivity   61Chapter Six: Whiteheadian Societies as Self-Unifying Systems   75Chapter Seven: Subjectivity and Objectivity within Open-Ended Systems   91Chapter Eight: The Democratic Process as an Open-Ended System in Political Life   111Part Three: Christian Doctrinal QuestionsChapter Nine: Incarnation and Redemption within the Cosmic Process   127Chapter Ten: A New Look at the Resurrection of the Body   139Chapter Eleven: Church and Sacraments from a Process Perspective   155Chapter Twelve: Inclusivity and Exclusivity in a Religious Context   167Conclusion   177Selected Bibliography   185Index   191

This is a bold and innovative attempt to re-frame Catholic theology in process terms. It leads to tolerant, humane and inclusive interpretations of many Christian doctrines, and Bracken mentions many scientific findings that give support to process insights. In my opinion, it is well worth studying as an alternative approach to classical theism and neo-Thomism.Keith Ward, Modern Believing

Joseph Bracken, SJ, (1930-2024)  was professor emeritus of theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has published ten books and more than ninety articles in academic journals in the general area of philosophical theology/philosophy of religion. His most recent books include Christianity and Process Thought: Spirituality for a Changing World (Templeton Foundation Press, 2006), God: Three Who Are One (Liturgical Press, 2008), and Subjectivity, Objectivity and Intersubjectivity: A New Paradigm for Religion and Science (Templeton Foundation Press, 2009).

• ContentsAcknowledgments   viiIntroduction   ixPart One: Philosophical Cosmology / Natural Theology from an Evolutionary PerspectiveChapter One: Is There a Reason for Everything, or Do Some Things Just Happen?   3Chapter Two: Value and Creativity   15Chapter Three: Intelligent Design and the Self-Organization of Nature   13Chapter Four: Rethinking Primary and Secondary Causality   47Part Two: Systems Thinking in the Social SciencesChapter Five: From Platonic Forms to Open-Ended Systems: The Search for Truth and Objectivity   61Chapter Six: Whiteheadian Societies as Self-Unifying Systems   75Chapter Seven: Subjectivity and Objectivity within Open-Ended Systems   91Chapter Eight: The Democratic Process as an Open-Ended System in Political Life   111Part Three: Christian Doctrinal QuestionsChapter Nine: Incarnation and Redemption within the Cosmic Process   127Chapter Ten: A New Look at the Resurrection of the Body   139Chapter Eleven: Church and Sacraments from a Process Perspective   155Chapter Twelve: Inclusivity and Exclusivity in a Religious Context   167Conclusion   177Selected Bibliography   185Index   191

This is a bold and innovative attempt to re-frame Catholic theology in process terms. It leads to tolerant, humane and inclusive interpretations of many Christian doctrines, and Bracken mentions many scientific findings that give support to process insights. In my opinion, it is well worth studying as an alternative approach to classical theism and neo-Thomism.Keith Ward, Modern Believing

Joseph Bracken, SJ, (1930-2024)  was professor emeritus of theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has published ten books and more than ninety articles in academic journals in the general area of philosophical theology/philosophy of religion. His most recent books include Christianity and Process Thought: Spirituality for a Changing World (Templeton Foundation Press, 2006), God: Three Who Are One (Liturgical Press, 2008), and Subjectivity, Objectivity and Intersubjectivity: A New Paradigm for Religion and Science (Templeton Foundation Press, 2009).

• ContentsAcknowledgments   viiIntroduction   ixPart One: Philosophical Cosmology / Natural Theology from an Evolutionary PerspectiveChapter One: Is There a Reason for Everything, or Do Some Things Just Happen?   3Chapter Two: Value and Creativity   15Chapter Three: Intelligent Design and the Self-Organization of Nature   13Chapter Four: Rethinking Primary and Secondary Causality   47Part Two: Systems Thinking in the Social SciencesChapter Five: From Platonic Forms to Open-Ended Systems: The Search for Truth and Objectivity   61Chapter Six: Whiteheadian Societies as Self-Unifying Systems   75Chapter Seven: Subjectivity and Objectivity within Open-Ended Systems   91Chapter Eight: The Democratic Process as an Open-Ended System in Political Life   111Part Three: Christian Doctrinal QuestionsChapter Nine: Incarnation and Redemption within the Cosmic Process   127Chapter Ten: A New Look at the Resurrection of the Body   139Chapter Eleven: Church and Sacraments from a Process Perspective   155Chapter Twelve: Inclusivity and Exclusivity in a Religious Context   167Conclusion   177Selected Bibliography   185Index   191

This is a bold and innovative attempt to re-frame Catholic theology in process terms. It leads to tolerant, humane and inclusive interpretations of many Christian doctrines, and Bracken mentions many scientific findings that give support to process insights. In my opinion, it is well worth studying as an alternative approach to classical theism and neo-Thomism.Keith Ward, Modern Believing