Renewing the Process of Creation: A Jewish Integration of Science and Spirit

by Bradley Shavit Artson

Overview

Chaos becoming cosmos—we are participants and recipients in its meaning and marvels.

"Human beings and our ancestors have been meaning seekers and meaning makers even before our most ancient beginnings. And at the start of that search are these questions: Why is there something rather than nothing? Why is the world comprehensible at all? Where did we come from? Do we belong?"
—from the Introduction

In this daring blend of Jewish theology, science and Process Thought, theologian Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson fleshes out an appreciation of creation in the light of science that allows us to articulate a deeper sense of space and time and the wonders of being alive. He explores the ethical and moral implications of humanity's role as steward and partner in creation, as well as how the recognition of land as holy—the Earth in general and Israel in particular—enables a religious discipline of blessing and gratitude that makes it possible for life to blossom.

Exciting and accessible for Jews and non-Jews seeking to reconcile their spirituality and modern science, as well as anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the meaning of creation made possible by Judaism and Process Thought.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580238335
Publisher:	Turner Publishing Company
Publication date:	11/04/2015
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, DHL, (www.bradartson.com) an inspiring speaker and educator, holds the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is vice president of American Jewish Universityin Los Angeles. He is a member of the philosophy department, supervises the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program and mentors Camp Ramah in California. He is also dean of Zacharias Frankel College in Potsdam, Germany, ordaining rabbis for the European Union. A regular columnist for the Huffington Post, he is author of many articles and books, including Renewing the Process of Creation: A Jewish Integration of Science and Spirit; God of Becoming and Relationship: The Dynamic Nature of Process Theology and Passing Life’s Tests: Spiritual Reflections on the Trial of Abraham, the Binding of Isaac (all Jewish Lights).

Table of Contents

Introduction: Creation in Process

Part I. The Sciences of Creation
1. Science and Creation: What Are We Seeking?
2. Cosmology and Physics: A Dynamic, Emerging Universe
3. Biology and Evolution: Everyone's Family!
4. Emergence, Fine-Tuning, and the Anthropic Principle: An Unlikely World That Fits Us Perfectly!
5. A Copernican Proposal: Natural Events and Their Emergent Patterns

Part II. Creation Theology in the Light of Science
6. Dynamic Universe: Self-Determining at Every Level
7. Freedom and Agency—Creatures’ and Creator’s: Everything Participates in Choosing the Future
8. To Life! A Cosmic Dayenu

Part III. Creation in Space and Time
9. Vibrating over the Face of the Deep: Continuous Creation and Jewish Faithfulness
10. Marking Time: The Jewish Calendar as a Prism on Creation

Part IV. Creation Ethics
11. Life as Good, Earth as Home
12. The Path of Stewardship: Humanity’s Relationship toward the Earth
13. Beyond Stewardship: A Partnership Celebrating Biodiversity
14. Creation and Death: Joining the Cycle of Life

Part V. Locating Ourselves: Israel and the World
15. Territory without Map: The Sanctity of Soil
16. The Earth Is the Holy One’s: Blessings for Food
17. Responsibility for Our "Place": The Earth Is in Our Hands

Conclusion: Clay in the Potter’s Hands—Telling the Creation Story from the Inside
Acknowledgments
Notes
Suggestions for Further Reading

Editorial Reviews

12/14/2015
This volume, the first of a planned trilogy (on the themes of creation, revelation, and redemption), further articulates Jewish Process Theology, which Artson introduced in God of Becoming and Relationship. Here, he further explores the nature of creation, and touches on, among other things, the natures of God and the universe, free will, and the meaning of human obligation. Artson's coherent metaphysics integrates a contemporary scientific view of the universe, which he lays out lucidly for the layperson, with a Jewish ethical worldview, encompassing both the rational and the miraculous and dissolving the physical/spiritual divide. For him, humankind is creation's natural and emergent flowering into self-awareness—we are not beyond, above, or outside of nature. Artson argues that this makes us unique, but rather than dividing us from the rest of God's creation, our self-awareness gives us a special obligation to engage our inquisitive nature and to understand our actions as integral to the ongoing creation of cosmos. Accessible and clear, this book should be of interest to Jews and non-Jews, both those who are established in their faith/practice and those who are seeking, as well as anyone looking for ways to integrate a scientific worldview and religion. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

Synopsis: In Renewing the Process of Creation, a deft blending of Jewish theology, science and Process Thought, theologian Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson (Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University) explores Judaism and the sciences as dynamically interactive and mutually informative. Renewing the Process of Creation shows how integrating human knowing with human living can help us arrive at a plausible and likely account of what we can know about the beginning and unfolding of the cosmos. Renewing the Process of Creation offers new ways to find fresh insights in the cultural and spiritual resources of the Jewish tradition, Torah, midrash, philosophy and new possibilities for human wholeness.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented in five major sections (The Science of Creation; Creation Theology in the Light of Science; Creation in Space and Time; Creation Ethics; Locating Ourselves—Israel and the World), Renewing the Process of Creation is an inherently fascinating and impressively informative read that is both thoughtful and thought-provoking. Very highly recommended for personal, synagogue and academic library Judaic Studies reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists....

Midwest Book Review - Able Greenspan

In Rabbi Artson's Introduction, he writes: "Human beings and our ancestors have been meaning seekers and meaning makers even before our most ancient beginnings. And at the start of that search are these questions: Why is there something rather than nothing? Why is the world comprehensible at all? Where did we come from? Do we belong?"

In this daring blend of Jewish theology, science and Process Thought, theologian Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson fleshes out an appreciation of creation in the light of science that allows us to articulate a deeper sense of space and time and the wonders of being alive. He explores the ethical and moral implications of humanity's role as steward and partner in creation, as well as how the recognition of land as holy—the Earth in general and Israel in particular—enables a religious discipline of blessing and gratitude that makes it possible for life to blossom.

Exciting and accessible for Jews and non-Jews seeking to reconcile their spirituality and modern science, as well as anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the meaning of creation made possible by Judaism and Process Thought.

Rabbi Brad Artson is one of the most creative Jewish thinkers and educators in America today.

Jewish Media Review - Dov Peretz Elkins

"A festival of a book.... Addictively and accessibly readable, adventurously faithful to the scientific and to the biblical heritage, [it] guides us all—spiritual seekers and skeptics, congregations and classes—to a celebration of our shared, fragile and gorgeous creaturehood."
—Catherine Keller, professor of constructive theology, Drew University; author, On the Mystery: Discerning Divinity in Process

"Explains recent scientific developments in accessible ways.... Draws richly on the Jewish past while pointing toward—and so helping to create—an affirmative future."
—Rabbi Deborah Waxman, PhD, president, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities

“Process Theology joins Jewish scholarship in a stimulating investigation of creation. Beautifully written, informative, lucid, eminently readable—read it!”
—Francisco J. Ayala, PhD, Donald Bren Professor of Biological Sciences, Universityof California, Irvine

“This book does something new and long overdue: it brings together Judaism, modern cosmology and Process Theology.... Rich in spiritual and ethical conclusions.”
—Howard Smith, PhD, senior astrophysicist, Harvard-Smithsonian Center; author, Let There Be Light: Modern Cosmology and Kabbalah, a New Conversation between Science and Religion

“Artson's book is refreshing in that his ideas are not confined by modern science. Indeed, he considers the possibility that perhaps Process Theology encompasses what will one day be understood within the confines of science. Those who are skeptical may not be convinced but it will certainly give them pause.”
—Ira Z. Rothstein, PhD, professor of physics, Carnegie Mellon University

From the Publisher