Panentheism: The Other God of the Philosophers

The God of classical theism is often referred to as the God of the philosophers. Today, however, the contemporary theological landscape has shifted in the direction of the other god of the philosophers: panentheism. This intricate and complex world-view literally means that all is in God; as a soul is related to a body, God is related to the world. While panentheism is not a new theological system, it has experienced a renaissance, especially among thinkers who study the intersection of science and religion. Philosopher and theologian John Cooper's 'Panentheism: The Other God of the Philosophers' is the first text of its kind written in English. The author traces the development and proliferation of panentheism from Plato to Alfred North Whitehead and beyond. Along the way, Cooper examines the panentheism of several contemporary thinkers such as Jurgen Moltmann, Wolfhart Pannenberg, Philip Clayton and John Polkinghorne. Furthermore, he discusses how panentheism has influenced liberation, feminist and ecological theologies. The discussion also examines the so-called open view of God to consider whether this view is panentheistic. The concluding chapter offers a judicious analysis of panentheism, as Cooper explains his commitment to a modified classical theism over panentheism. He believes that classical theism is more adequate than panentheism for providing a biblically faithful, philosophically sound articulation of Christian theology, salvation history, and the Christian world-view. While he ultimately sides with classical theism, Cooper's aim throughout is to provide a fair, accurate, and empathetic overview of panentheism that is helpful for all readers, including panentheists .