An exposition and critique of the process doctrines of divine mutability and immutability

The increased attention of late to the doctrine of divine immutability is due in large measure to the thought-provoking proposals of leading process theologians regarding God\u27s nature and activities. A survey of the literature of the past few decades regarding God\u27s relations to a contingent world shows that numerous contemporary theologians, regardless of their particular views regarding the divine immutability, are concerned to interact with the issues raised by process theology\u27s contributions on this subject. In endeavoring to exposit the way in which process theology conceives of God\u27s relation to change, primary attention is here devoted to the work of Charles Hartshorne (b. 1897). Hartshorne stands as the premier process theologian, whose theological insights, especia11y on the doctrine of God, along with the process metaphysics of Alfred North Whitehead (1861-1947), have formed the basis for the movement known as process theology. The main purpose of this paper is to explain and critique Hartshorne\u27s notions of the divine mutability and immutability. But before doing this, brief attention needs to be given to Hartshorne\u27s dipolar view of the nature of God. Only then will we have the proper context for discussing the ways God can and cannot change in process thought. Our critique that follows will be largely negative. For both internal and external reasons, I shall argue that process theism should be rejected if one is to affirm the view of God we have from his self-revelation