At its core, pantheism is the belief that God is the universe and everything in it. This means that everything in the natural world is considered to be divine and sacred, and that there is no distinction between the divine and the material. In contrast, process theology is a modern theological perspective that emerged in the early 20th century, which emphasizes the dynamic and evolving nature of God and the universe. According to process theology, God is not a static, unchanging being, but rather a dynamic force that is constantly evolving in response to the changing world around us.
While there are certainly similarities between pantheism and process theology, there are also some significant differences. For example, process theology maintains that God is a distinct being that is separate from the universe, whereas pantheism holds that God is the universe itself. Additionally, process theology places a greater emphasis on the importance of human agency and free will, while pantheism tends to view individual actions and choices as less significant in the grand scheme of things.
Despite these differences, it is true that process theology can be seen as a way of explaining pantheism in practical theological terms. Both perspectives share a similar emphasis on the dynamic and evolving nature of the universe, and both reject the idea of a static, unchanging God. However, this does not mean that either theory is based on solid evidence or empirical observation.
In fact, both process theology and pantheism are highly speculative and unanchored from scriptural and observational evidence. While some proponents of process theology argue that it is based on a close reading of scripture, others see it as a modern innovation. To me, personally, it appears entirely speculative, built on less that air. Pantheism, likewise, cannot be verified by testing of any means. As is the case with supernatural religion in general, both process theology and pantheism lack any verifiable relationship to observable reality.
