Charles Robert Mesle (born ) is an American

process theologian Process theology is a type of theology developed from Alfred North Whitehead's (1861–1947) process philosophy, most notably by Charles Hartshorne (1897–2000), John B. Cobb (b. 1925) and Eugene H. Peters (1929-1983). Process theology and ...

and was professor of philosophy and

religion Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural ...

Graceland University Graceland University is a private university with campuses in Lamoni, Iowa, and Independence, Missouri. The university offers degree completion and master's degree programs at satellite campuses in Centerville and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Trent ...

in Lamoni, Iowa, until his retirement in 2016. After earning a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four yea ...

degree in religion at Graceland University (1972) and a

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. ...

degree in Christian theology at University of Chicago Divinity School (1975), Mesle received a

Doctor of Philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

degree in philosophy and religion from

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Chart ...

(1980). Mesle is the author of ''Process Theology: A Basic Introduction''. In this book he outlines three attributes of a process theology. There is a relational character to the divine such as: *God experiences both the joy and suffering of humanity. *God is not omnipotent in the classical sense *God exercises relational power and not unilateral control. In chapter 17, he formulates a process naturalism. As a naturalist his religious view is one without a divine being. There is only the finite world. His process naturalism shares with process theism recognition of the ambiguity of Existence. It also has virtually every value and ethical standard in common with process theism and religious in this respect. Consequently, Mesle is a

religious naturalist Religious naturalism combines a naturalist worldview with ideals, perceptions, traditions, and values that have been traditionally associated with many religions or religious institutions. "Religious naturalism is a perspective that finds religi ...

Works

*''Process-Relational Philosophy: An Introduction to Alfred North Whitehead''. Templeton Foundation Press, 2008. *''Theology 9: Process Theology and Religious Pluralism'', Co-editor, with Joni Wilson, Graceland Press, 2002, and published in Korean, 2003. *''Theology V: The Jesus Seminar'' (editor) "Preface" & "Jesus the Challenge," Graceland/Park Press, Independence, MO 1998. *''Process Theology: A Basic Introduction'', with a concluding chapter by John B. Cobb, Jr., Chalice Press, 1993. *''John Hick's Theodicy'', with a response by John Hick, Macmillan in the UK and St. Martin's in the US, 1991. *''The Bible as Story and Struggle'', Herald House, 1989. *''Fire In My Loins: A Study in Faith and Belief'', Herald House, 1984

External links

Mesle's Homepage
* American Christian theologians Process theologians 1950 births Living people Year of birth uncertain Graceland University alumni Graceland University faculty University of Chicago Divinity School alumni Northwestern University alumni {{US-theologian-stub

Works

See also

External links