Finding Our Way Forward: How Whitehead Shows Us Religion as Life's Creative Force

Homebrewed Christianity

Dr. Tripp Fuller | Theologian, Philosopher, Minister

Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.6 • 612 Ratings

🗓️ 24 November 2025

⏱️ 17 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This is an audio essay from my Process This substack. In it, I reflect on Alfred North Whitehead and what he can teach us about religion in our time. You see, Whitehead didn't see religion as just doctrines or institutions—he understood it as a creative force that connects our deepest ideals with the passion that actually moves us to act in the world. And here's what's beautiful: he shows us that the divine isn't a force that dominates or controls, but a gentle invitation woven through all of reality, calling us toward truth, beauty, and goodness. We're not passive recipients of this, we're active partners, and every act of kindness, every moment of genuine connection actually adds something real to the universe that wouldn't exist without us. The real transformation in history, whether it's been the Civil Rights Movement or the climate movement today, happens not through force and domination, but through the slower, harder, more beautiful path of persuasion—changing hearts and minds one person at a time. And here's what gives me hope: nothing we do in love is ever lost. It all becomes part of this larger story of the universe moving toward wholeness. So in this post-religious age, we desperately need this capacity to be moved by beauty and called by goodness. The question isn't what we believe, it's whether we'll let ourselves be caught up in this larger movement of love. To join the Whitehead reading group, become a supporting member of ⁠the Process This Substack. In addition to Zoom invites to the reading group and archives of each session, you will get an ad-free podcast feed of the podcast and invites to all the other live streams with friends like Diana Butler Bass & Ryan Burge. UPCOMING ONLINE ADVENT CLASS w/ Diana Butler Bass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join us for a transformative four-week Advent journey exploring how the four gospels speak their own revolutionary word against empire—both in their ancient context under Roman occupation and for our contemporary world shaped by capitalism, militarism, and nationalism. This course invites you into an alternative calendar and rhythm. We'll discover how these ancient texts of resistance offer wisdom for our own moment of political turmoil, economic inequality, and ecological crisis. This class is donation-based, including 0. You can sign-up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.HomebrewedClasses.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠production. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Nerd Throwdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Rise of Bonhoeffer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 70,000other people by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack - Process This!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get instant access to over 50 classes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheologyClass.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the podcast, drop a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, send ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback/questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or become a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠member of the HBC Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, friends, this is Tripp, and coming up this December, Diana Boller Bass is joining me for a four-week
0:10.0	Advent class, the journey up to Christmas, the beginning of the church year, and I would love
0:16.5	for you to join us. The class is called the beginning of another world, Advent against Empire, and each week
0:22.8	we're going to have a live stream and you'll get the recording and stuff as well that looks
0:27.7	at each of the four Gospels and the way in which they understand, describe, and wrestle with
0:34.0	the coming of God.
0:35.4	And we'll look at those texts, but also see what are the invitations each of these
0:39.1	gospel writers are giving us today?
0:41.9	How can the coming of God in Christ in that time help us reflect on the coming of God in
0:47.7	ours?
0:48.7	And if this sounds fun, if it sounds exciting, if you want to connect with an online community,
0:54.7	this advent,
0:59.9	then come and join me and Diana Butler Bass. It's donation-based, including zero.
1:07.2	And all you got to do is head over to homebrewdclasses.com. That's right. Homebrewdclasses.com.
1:13.8	Join up. Invite your friends. And, you know, we'll see you online this Advent season.
1:20.2	Ever wondered if theological education was for you, but weren't sure who'd talk to about it.
1:25.2	Garrett's seminary is forming laity discernment cohorts to support people and discerning their vocation and how to embrace it. Regardless of where and how you were called, theological education can support you and
1:31.6	offer tools for the journey. Seminary gives you the knowledge to support your work in congregations
1:36.3	and communities, the spiritual formation to invigorate your leadership, and the practical skills
1:41.3	you need to cultivate communities of justice, compassion, and hope.
1:44.9	In Garrett's program, you'll meet monthly with 20 students who are on the same journey to talk through resources,
1:50.2	dream of how you can be in ministry, and dip your toe into the water of theological education.
	...

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