You no longer have to choose between what you know and what you believe―an accessible introduction to a theological game-changer. "I wrote this book for you if you want to be able to locate your life in a single, encompassing story, one that includes everything from the first moment the universe began until yesterday, a narrative that embraces deepest personal meaning, a yearning to love and be loved, a quest for social justice and compassion." ―from the Introduction Much of what you were told you should believe when you were younger forces you to choose between your spirit and your intellect, between science and religion, between morality and dogma: unchanging laws of nature vs. miracles that sound magical; a good God vs. the tragedies that strike all living creatures; a God who knows the future absolutely vs. an open future that you help to shape through your choices. This fascinating introduction to Process Theology from a Jewish perspective shows that these are false choices. Inspiring speaker, spiritual leader and philosopher Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson presents an overview of what Process Theology is and what it can mean for your spiritual life. He explains how Process Theology can break you free from the strictures of ancient Greek and medieval European philosophy, allowing you to see all creation not as this or that, us or them, but as related patterns of energy through which we connect to everything. Armed with Process insights and tools, you can break free from outdated religious dichotomies and affirm that your religiosity, your spirit, your mind and your ethics all strengthen and refine each other. Rabbi Artson introduces “process theology” to explain how Judaism is not an either/or assumption that asks believers to choose between their spirituality or their intellect. Process theology, we learn, derives from process thought, “a way of accounting for the cosmos as a dynamic, evolving unity.” “Acounting for the cosmos” leads to a God who allows good things to happen to bad people and vice versa. After his son’s diagnosis of autism, Artson was unsatisfied with conventional religious answers about how such a thing could happen to his family. In contemplating this phenomenon, he develops a complex view of reality, one in which God is both “dynamic and vulnerable, his role being to push his creations toward making the best choices for their lives. Yet the freedom God has granted allows humans to shape their own futures, though past choices inevitably affect future realities. Artson discusses process theology in relation to suffering, the afterlife, and religious practice, among other topics, all within a framework of both normative and mystical Judaism. Crisply written, this volume offers delicious food for thought and will be accessible to followers of various religions. --Ilene Cooper "Through honesty, openness and erudition, Rabbi Artson teaches of a God who whispers 'grow' to each of us. A beautiful and soulful exploration." ― Rabbi David Wolpe , Sinai Temple, Los Angeles, California; author, Why Faith Matters "Offers us a new way to see ourselves, our world and our God. We no longer have to choose between our faith and our intellect. What a joy and what a relief it is to be able to integrate these seeming disparities. This important work invites us into a relationship with a God who is dynamic and loving. This is a book that can heal our souls." ― Rabbi Naomi Levy , spiritual leader, Nashuva; author, Hope Will Find You, Talking to God , and To Begin Again "Shows how Process Theology can give us the language and understanding to forge a moral and compelling Judaism for ourselves.... If you have wrestled with the presence of evil in the world and suffering in your private life―if you have struggled to find a belief in God that is scientifically tenable and an approach to Torah that is intellectually credible―then this book is for you. It will inspire and nurture your soul." ― Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg , founding president, the Jewish Life Network; author, The Jewish Way “I wept for joy reading this book. So many of us are wounded by conventional vocabulary when we think and talk about God―our language is stuck, and we are stuck. Artson, one of the most inspiring Jewish leaders and theologians of our time, redeems the ancient covenant of formulating anew our conversation about God.” ― Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum , founding rabbi, Zion: An Eretz Israeli Community in Jerusalem “The truth of the matter is: After reading this book you will want to become Jewish, if you aren't already. Or, to be more exact, a Jew with a Process perspective. The insights from this book come so naturally and flow so freely from its pages, weaving together Jewish wisdom and Process philosophy, that you are drawn to a way of living that is deeply loving, deeply traditional, deeply creative and deeply faithful, without leaving your mind at the door or your heart on a shelf.... I plan to use this book again and again