Process and Salvation - Whitehead's Philosophy and Its Religious and Cultural Implications

Author: Huang Ming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: "XX Salvation" has become a paradigm for academic works. Scholars use this paradigm to express their areas of thought and the practical significance of their era. The title of this book, "Process and Salvation," also carries both meanings. "Process" refers to Whitehead's philosophy, while "Salvation" clearly has a religious connotation. Their relationship lies in religious philosophy. However, it is not entirely so. In Whitehead's philosophy, the concept of "process" refers to both "concrescence" and "transformation," representing a creative process of "many becoming one, and one growing into many." It possesses both synthetic and novel characteristics. Moreover, the concept of salvation is no longer limited to the Christian context today. With the development of interfaith dialogue, it has become a universal idea in several major world religions. The secularization of the modern world has further generalized the meaning of salvation to all aspects of human life. Fragmentation of knowledge, alienation of humanity, and environmental degradation—these existential crises demonstrate the urgent need for a transformation in fundamental concepts or modes of thinking. Whitehead's integrative concept or holistic thinking will emerge as a viable salvation solution. Thus, this book specifically examines Whitehead's philosophy and its religious and cultural implications.