Against a Process View of Divine Patience

Document Type

Religion

Authors

Luke Asher, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CAFollow

Abstract

When one chooses to tolerate suffering, waiting calmly without reacting emotively or physically, he is demonstrating the virtue of patience. Process theology claims that the patience of God is more or less identical to the experience of human patience. That is, when we sin and rebel against God, He refrains from smiting us, that we might repent and return to Him. In other words, God demonstrates patience when he restrains Himself temporally from interfering with or punishing mankind, waiting for their repentance. Such an explanation of divine patience may seem intuitive, but the patience of God is much greater, much deeper, and much more praiseworthy. One must be careful not to impose the finite and limited aspects of human patience onto God.

Recommended Citation

Asher, Luke (2015) "Against a Process View of Divine Patience," Global Tides: Vol. 9, Article 6.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/globaltides/vol9/iss1/6