Post-theism or another form of theism?

Abstract

This article examines whether classical theism is at its complete end. In light of current discussions about post-theism in a post-secular age, the question is about the possible search for a new understanding of the idea of God which is compatible with the natural sciences. During 2015 and 2016, symposia about this question were held in Groningen, the Netherlands. From these discussions it emerged that the sharp distinction between ‘religious’ and ‘secular’, as well as ‘belief’ and ‘unbelief’ has faded. This article will compare and discuss aspects of the contributions of theologians with reference to questions about classical theism and the possible search for a new understanding of the God-idea: Frits de Lange, Taede Smedes, Rick Benjamins, Marcel Sarot and Catherine Keller. These theologians are in search of a post-theistic theism. The article ends with the possibility of another alternative from the perspective of process theology.