The Divine Relativity: A Social Conception of God

by Charles Hartshorne

Charles Hartshorne has set himself the task of formulating the idea of deity "to preserve perhaps even increase, its religious value, while yet avoiding the contradictions which seem inseparable from the idea of customarily defined." This is a brilliant attempt to redefine problems that have long challenged the Western world in its search for understanding both God and man. “The compact, closely reasoned book employs a skill in logic reminiscent of scholasticism at its best to refute traditional notions, scholastic and otherwise, of divine absoluteness, and to expound a conception of God which is both free of contradiction and religiously adequate. The position taken is described by Professor Hartshorne as surrelativism, or panentheism, and these terms indicate the two major emphases of the volume….He who follows its precise logic with the alertness it demands will have a clarifying and enriching experience.”—S. Paul Schiling, Journal of Bible and Religion
“In what respects is God absolute and in what respects relative? Or is it meaningless to say that he is both? In a rigorously analytical study Professor Hartshorne explains why he thinks both statements are necessary….One comes from this book with new confidence in the ability of philosophy to attack religious problems and, through careful analysis, to reveal what as alone conceivable must be true.”—J.S. Bixler, Review of Religion
“Hartshorne’s work is a major achievement in religious thought because it strives to clear away errors that have been insuperable obstacles to religious search.”—Henry N. Wieman, The Philosophical Review
“This book is not merely theoretical, as might be supposed; it has its practical application to the larger social issues of our time, including the problem of democracy.”—Jay William Hudson, Christian Register

Genres: Philosophy, Theology, Religion, Metaphysics

164 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 1982

Reviews

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The future of theology depends . . . above all upon the answer to this question: can technically precise terms be found which express the supremacy of God, among social beings, without contradicting his social character?” I think CH has contributed considerably to theology with reference to his own statement above. I found the book hard going in places and even left out the sections he suggested might be hard going in his preface but the overall effect it had on me has given me greater clarity as to the process perspective on the ideas of God being absolute and relative and how they 'relate!' to one another in a dipolar way without the contradictions that classical theism seems to blindly accept. I can work with and love his God in ways that are consistent with right thinking without reducing the theodicy issue to the well worn phrase 'Its a paradox'. What a great guy who kept writing into his tenth decade. I look forward to delving into many more of his books in order to get a clearer vision of the relational God and to be of practical service to my fellow man.

[Ted Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Divine Relativity: A Social Conception of GodI first read a 1948 edition of this work late in high school and then again in 1967, when I bought a copy of the book. It was once foundational to my comprehension of religion. Hartshorne was an odd ball genius who encouraged me to measure my theological thinking by his standards, which he modified during hin long life.

This is a fairly early work by Hartshorne. You have to read it against later development in his thinking but the work is lucid and beautifully written.

I no longer believe that fundamental outlook behind Hartshorne's work but he a terrific writer to study.

[Lalena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this. I need to pick it back up again when I'm ready to delve in deeper. There were some interesting thoughts about the limitations of omniscience that I want to wrap my head around.

[Patrick Lahey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started off slow but had some good insight, the last fourth of the book made it all worth it. Changed my conceptions of God, and made me (as a skeptic without confident faith) believe God is, well, believable. For that the whole book was a pleasure.

[Eric Cherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where would UU theology be without Hartshorne? And the UU ornithologists, too!