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John B. Cobb, Jr., Ph.D. is Professor of Theology Emeritus at the Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, California, and Co-Director of the Center for Process Studies there. His many books currently in print include: Reclaiming the Church (1997); with Herman Daly, For the Common Good; Becoming a Thinking Christian (1993); Sustainability (1992); Can Christ Become Good News Again? (1991); ed. with Christopher Ives, The Emptying God: a Buddhist-Jewish-Christian Conversation (1990); with Charles Birch, The Liberation of Life; and with David Griffin, Process Theology: An Introductory Exposition (1977). He is a retired minister in the United Methodist Church. His email address is cobbj@cgu.edu.. Published by Westminster Press 1982. Copyright by John B. Cobb, Jr.. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock.

Preface
Dr. Cobb’s interest in both political and process theology gives him a theological base for Christian activism and concern for the planet earth.

Chapter One: The Challenge of Political Theology
A survey of the history of political theology, with comments on the perspective and promise of process theology in its relation to political theology.

Chapter 2: Process Theology in View of the Challenge of Political Theology
The meaning of process theology: 1. As developed out of Alfred North Whitehead’s thought. 2. Theology that emphasizes event, occurrence, or becoming over against substance. 3. Process theology that developed at the Chicago Divinity School during the thirties.

Chapter Three: Theological Method in a Political Process Theology
How process theology can become a political theology committed to the indivisible salvation of the whole world.

Chapter Four: The Doctrines of God and Eschatology
Optimistic expectation of society’s progression and the turning away from socio-historical thinking have caused thought to turn to the question of finding meaning in history without continuous progression.

Chapter Five: The Politics of Political Theology
Dr. Cobb identifies a number of anthropological themes of political theology and develops their political implications.

Chapter Six: Sociological Theology or Ecological Theology
The author questions whether process thought’s raising the importance of the ecological horizon excludes it from political theology.

Chapter Seven: A Theology of History
A theology of history may have its dangers, but Christianity has strong reason for developing such a theology anyway.

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