Jesus Abba: The God Who Has Not Failed

Theology for the People

by John B. Cobb Jr.

A preeminent theologian of the twentieth century and the pioneer of process theology, John B. Cobb Jr. observes that Mainline and liberal Christianity has become so critical that it’s lost the passion of the gospel.

In Jesus' Abba, his ultimate statement on the nature of God, Cobb delivers a clarion call: We must see God through the eyes of Jesus. And Jesus understood God primarily as Abba, his spiritual father. In this book, Cobb interprets the whole of Jesus' life and ministry, and death and resurrection, in light of Jesus' understanding of God. Anyone who longs for a new, transformed view of God and world will benefit from this book.

Genres: Theology, Christianity, Religion

182 pages, Hardcover

Published March 1, 2016

About the author

John Boswell Cobb Jr. was an American theologian, philosopher, and environmentalist. Cobb was regarded as a preeminent scholar in the field of process philosophy and process theology, the school of thought associated with the philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead. He was the author of more than fifty books. In 2014, Cobb was elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the experience of reading this book very much, even though at times I found Cobb's arguments to be a bit over the top. I especially liked the way he described God as involved but not coercive, and his use of Jesus’ worship and God-relation as a model for our own.

I was less impressed by his characterization of the contemporary worldview in only highly positivistic terms. To my mind, his argument that the modern world—well, at least the university—cannot conceive of humans as agents, but only as billiard balls set in motion by past events, is a straw argument. And the further conclusion, that this makes it impossible for all of modern society to take God and God’s dreams for humanity into account, is overreaching. I get that there is a strand of militant atheism that preaches this; but I’m also impressed by the many philosophers (especially continental—but not all, witness Plantinga, for example), theologians, post-modern critics, and even Marxists who have a much greater appreciation for human agency, if not always for God’s agency. His turn to highly contentious figures on the fringe of today’s philosophical discussions (Robert Sheldrake) and Lamarckian evolutionary ideas (not to be totally dismissed given recent findings, but still controversial, and if relevant, then only in a minor way), and even parapsychology, is disappointing.

When he turned back to his main thesis—that God is more like an Abba, one whose power is for freedom rather than coercion--his writing is much more thoughtful. His musings about what this might look like in politics, in churches, and in society as a whole are very suggestive and helpful. I found his personal testimony about his retirement community to be quite touching and hopeful. It isn't that no one else has said such things before. But coming from Cobb nearer the end of his life, as a testimony almost, they have power and immediacy.

I struggle a lot with what to make of God in a world so divided by power, class, wealth, war, and ecological disaster. I’ve been aware of Process Theology answers more on the fringe of my consciousness than as a studied alternative. I think this is because I was, for so long, immersed in Reformational/Kuyperian thinking, and then later in post-modern musings. I will have to take a closer look at this alternative, and will do so. Cobb was obviously a good place to start. I’ll dig a bit deeper now.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Succinctly and in a confessional style John Cobb gives a passionate, intelligent presentation of of the key theological and philosophical positions of process theology. This might be a great introduction to that school for those who don't know it.

My favourite line fits paradoxcially with the subtitle. In a discussion of prayer and divine power Cobb writes, "My guess is that God often fails."

Process thought has been arguing for more than a century against traditional notions of divine power, and you can sense some frustration on Cobb's part that these arguments still have to be made. Just yesterday I saw a post of a friend's on Facebook angry about what he perceived as God's role in a friend's illness and why some were suggesting prayer. I wrote that I had a different understanding of prayer and rejected that understanding of divine power. I agree with Cobb that the great mass of humanity would be liberated into new thriving and greater, problem-solving community if we would just rid ourselves of bad metaphysics, particularly the Greco-Roman notion of divine power that is actually alien to the Judaeo-Christian notion.

I once heard Cobb asked if someone had to learn all the details of process theology, and he answered no that it was sufficient "if you believe that God is not a jerk." Though he doesn't use that line in this volume, that's what it is about--Jesus' vision of a God who is loving parent of an infant and not a jerk.

And so divine power is the lure, as Whitehead called it, or "the call forward" in Cobb's phrase. God is that Spirit which calls us forward to the ideals. Anyone sitting in my congregations will realize that I use this language all the time--without getting into in-depth exigesis of process philosophy and its sometimes difficult terminology.

This volume is probably the last published work of a wise, compassionate soul, his final hopeful message for the world.

[Steve Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful book invites us to responsive faith in the God Jesus called Abba. It is a personal, accessible call, born out of a lifetime of scholarship and contribution in process studies.

I'm not sure that I agree with all of Cobb's interpretation and critique of modernity's impact on the academy and science. He doesn't cite sources in this book, and I've read some critique that he uses some straw man arguments there. I don't know.

But that's not what's most important in this book. What is is Cobb's personal and theological reflections of what is most distinctive and abidingly helpful about Jesus' vision of God and of life in responsive relationships to this God's loving, hope-full presence. Cobb's reflections are useful for personal devotional life, community life, interfaith relations, and the future of this planet and the flourishing of our species.

[Johanna Hilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially, I wanted to read something from John Cobb relating to his work with Whitehead, but since this was among the only books by him on Scribd, it was what I had to settle with. Knowing the extensive body of work that Cobb has produced in his life, this book, published only two years ago, is among the concluding works of his lifelong dedication. (It is of course always a possibility he will live long past hundred and write many more books.)

Perhaps I will receive an outrage as a result of this comment, but it is rare to find a book on theology which is written from an intellectual, yet emotional, and not from a fundamentalist point of view. Since the beginning, Cobb is very certain of what he wants to convey, his personal relationship with the Other, and his private belief in which he sees spreading Abbas' Evangelium would be beneficial.

Cobb is careful with his work, and this book is also extremely politically correct. I liked the contemplation which he engages to weigh in the positive aspects of the faith in Jesus in comparison to other mainstream religions. Also, the many page-long reasons why he chooses to use the masculine term instead of feminine put a smile on my face. Likely not many Christian theologians have considered the possibility of using a feminine pronoun to speak of the monotheistic God of Christianity.

The consideration of the direct relationship between Jesus and God is a very interesting one, and although Cobb does not venture too far out to religious speculations, he drops interesting ideas here and there. One of the big themes is the disbelief in the omnipotence of God and the likelihood of Gods' interaction with human beings as a co-creators.

Finally, although this book was not among the most exciting reads, I liked it. I think John Cobb is a very respectful individual with a kind heart and a true devotion to better the world. His lifelong work with various philosophical and religious themes is without comparison. I Salut to this man, and to his devotion to goodwill, which he chose to embody in his life through Jesus.

[Grant Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fresh take on the study of Jesus—looking at his concept of God and how it should affect our understanding of our faith and our relationship with each other and the world. The opening gives an overview of the general understanding of God in Christian scripture, which should be familiar to scholars already, and the end could have provided more practical details about the repercussions of Cobb's views. But overall the book does give a great deal of food for thought by looking at the roots of our faith from a different perspective.

[Luke Hillier · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the postscript, Cobb writes that "The purpose of this book is to propose that it is time for thoughtful Christians to freedom selves from acquiescence to the modern worldview," and to encourage them to adopt one more closely aligned with Jesus's. Though this begins with a correction of long-held and ossified theological convictions (e.g. embracing Jesus's compassionate, empowering and liberating Abba rather than the omnipotent, all-controlling and judgemental God), he quickly expands from there. He confronts the substantialist metaphysics and reigning logic of science, the liberal Protestant inclination towards relativism, and the neoliberal capitalist priority of wealth over life that runs rampant across global societies. Unfortunately, these chapters (less so the latter) felt pretty unpolished and almost off-the-cuff to me, and seemed to deviate from his core argument, which was much more compelling. The idea that we should model our theological vision after what we can discern of Jesus's is an extraordinarily simple but revelatory notion, and one I'll continue to sit with after reading this. But a lot of the later chapters were skimmable and underwhelming. Also, just gotta say...Cobb concerns me a bit with his flippancy in talking about Jewish people, which was surprising and disappointing.

[Ed Oakes · Rating 1 out of 5]

From the preface (29 pages long) on I have disagreed with his assumptions, assertions and conclusions-within not a single page of the actual chapters have I not disagreed with him. While I'm only 15 pages into the actual book, I find it disheartening that I'm writing rebuttals for almost every paragraph. This book is good for someone who wants to hone their rebuttal/apologetic skills by refuting his assumptions and conclusions. I myself think life to short for me waste my time. While I'm open to a liberal interpretation of scripture, I can not in good conscious throw so much biblical text aside to support him.

[unknown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The truth will set you free

Exceptional work by John Cobb. Well written and easily graspable though the concepts are fraught with more questions and mysteries beyond our comprehension. To distinguish between what we can know and what can't be validated by science is helpful but what is more impactful is to allow experience to have equal or greater footing in knowing from the inside out what is truth beyond intellectual knowledge. We are urged to step out of a dualistic mind into an inclusive way of seeing all of creation as one interwoven web of Life with Love a its energy, presence and call.

[Joel Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

To call God Abba is to accept a fundamentally different metaphor to understand our nearness and relationality to the divine. It is open, it is affirming, it is all love and welcomes with open arms.

Cobb makes room for your reflection in between the lines he writes. I appreciate and needed that space.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good thought provoking book. Worth a read by all

[Benjamin Sauers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Cobb attempts to paint a picture of the way Jesus understood God. It is also a criticism of western thought. How it has considered objects the only real and valid players understanding the world.

[Jennifer Kittleson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a process theology guy. I am not particularly Calvinist or Arminian either. I guess if pressed I would through my lot with the Open Theists, but even here I kick against the goads. I want to emphasize God's grandeur more than Openness allows. I am more skeptical of Process because there is a tendency to give away the goods, tossing out orthodoxy to make way for new possibility and configurations.

John Cobb doesn't put me fully at ease, but I appreciated his Christ-centeredness and the relational core at the center of his theology. He takes as his starting point Jesus calling God Abba, an Aramaic familial term (different from the Greek Pater, a monarchial term).