Keith Ward’s soft panentheism

Abstract

This article seeks to assess the general approach to a Christian interpretation of reality as popularly applied by Keith Ward. It is suggested that he employs panentheist criteria in his attempts to buttress a theological accommodation of both material and spiritual interpretations of reality. This assessment will take a general reformational theological approach. Suggestions will be included as to why panentheism has made such an impact amongst some Christians and why a bipolar approach to God appeals to some in the Christian community. Recommendations will then be made to be considered by those who may find the lure of Christian generic panentheism in different forms tempting enough to consider its interpretation replacing the traditional view of God. Die doel van hierdie artikel is om die algemene benadering tot ’n Christelike interpretasie van die werklikheid, soos algemeen toegepas deur Keith Ward, te evalueer. Dit word voorgestel dat hy panenteïstiese kriteria toepas in sy pogings om teologiese akkommodasie van ’n materiële en geestelike interpretasie van die werklikheid te steun. Hierdie evaluering volg ’n algemene reformatoriese teologiese perspektief. Voorstelle word gemaak om te verduidelik waarom panenteïsme so ’n impak op sommige Christene het dat hulle ’n bipolêre benadering tot God verkies. Verder word aanbevelings gemaak vir diegene wat ’n Christelike generiese panenteïsme in verskillende vorme aanloklik genoeg vind om dit sodoende as ’n alternatiewe interpretasie vir die tradisionele siening van God te oorweeg.

Keywords

• Panentheism
• Keith Ward
• god-thesis
• god’s vulnerability
• immanence
• transcendence