Norman Pittenger
Encyclopedia
William Norman Pittenger (July 23, 1905 – June 19, 1997) was an Anglican theologian. He played an important role as promoter of process theology
and he became one of the first acknowledged Christian defenders for the open acceptance of homosexual
relations among Christians. He lived most of his life in the United States
and from 1966 he lived in Cambridge, England as an Honorary Senior Member of King's College.
and was raised in Princeton, New Jersey
. He attended Princeton University
for a short time, but left without graduating because he wanted to try a career as a newspaper reporter in New York City
. Not able to find satisfaction he went to The General Theological Seminary
in Manhattan
. He started as a student and soon he became tutor, instructor, and finally professor of Christian Apologetics
. Pittenger was one of the first process theologians without connections with the University of Chicago Divinity School
and produced the first genuine process theological christology
(The Word Incarnate - 1959). At general Seminary, he was priest and chaplain of the Guild of Scholars of The Episcopal Church
. After his retirement in 1966 he moved to Cambridge
as an Honorary Senior Member of King's College. Next to his writing on explicitly Christian themes, he wrote on sexuality in general (Making Sexuality Human - 1970) and a Christian defense of homosexuality in particular (Time for Consent - 1970), a book that was so controversial when published that the Church Times
refused to review it. He also admitted his own homosexual bias. Norman Pittenger wrote throughout his life ninety books and many articles.
Process theology
Process theology is a school of thought influenced by the metaphysical process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead and further developed by Charles Hartshorne . While there are process theologies that are similar, but unrelated to the work of Whitehead the term is generally applied to the...
and he became one of the first acknowledged Christian defenders for the open acceptance of homosexual
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
relations among Christians. He lived most of his life in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and from 1966 he lived in Cambridge, England as an Honorary Senior Member of King's College.
Biography
Pittenger was born in Bogota, New JerseyBogota, New Jersey
As of the 2010 Census, Bogota had a population of 8,187. The median age was 38.6. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 61.0% White, 9.4% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 9.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander, 14.8% some other race and 4.1% reporting...
and was raised in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. He attended Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
for a short time, but left without graduating because he wanted to try a career as a newspaper reporter in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Not able to find satisfaction he went to The General Theological Seminary
General Theological Seminary
The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is a seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York....
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. He started as a student and soon he became tutor, instructor, and finally professor of Christian Apologetics
Apologetics
Apologetics is the discipline of defending a position through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers...
. Pittenger was one of the first process theologians without connections with the University of Chicago Divinity School
University of Chicago Divinity School
The University of Chicago Divinity School is a graduate institution at the University of Chicago dedicated to the training of academics and clergy across religious boundaries...
and produced the first genuine process theological christology
Christology
Christology is the field of study within Christian theology which is primarily concerned with the nature and person of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament. Primary considerations include the relationship of Jesus' nature and person with the nature...
(The Word Incarnate - 1959). At general Seminary, he was priest and chaplain of the Guild of Scholars of The Episcopal Church
Guild of Scholars of The Episcopal Church
The Guild of Scholars of the Episcopal Church is a society of lay Episcopal academics which meets annually at General Theological Seminary in New York in November of each year.-History:...
. After his retirement in 1966 he moved to Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
as an Honorary Senior Member of King's College. Next to his writing on explicitly Christian themes, he wrote on sexuality in general (Making Sexuality Human - 1970) and a Christian defense of homosexuality in particular (Time for Consent - 1970), a book that was so controversial when published that the Church Times
Church Times
The Church Times is an independent Anglican weekly newspaper. It is published in the United Kingdom on Fridays.The Church Times was founded in 1863 to campaign for Anglo-Catholic principles and has always been independent of the Church of England hierarchy. It was a family concern The Church Times...
refused to review it. He also admitted his own homosexual bias. Norman Pittenger wrote throughout his life ninety books and many articles.
Selected works
Norman Pittenger authored ninety books and many articles.- 1959 The Word Incarnate: A Study of the Doctrine of the Person of Christ, Harper & Brothers.
- 1967 God in Process, London:SCM Press Ltd. (Call No. BT83.6 P5)
- 1968 Process-Thought and Christian Faith, New York: Macmillan Company. (Call No. BR100 P615 1968)
- 1969 Alfred North Whitehead, John Knox Press.
- 1969 God's Way with Men: A Study of the Relationship Between God and Man in Providence, "Miracle," and Prayer, London: Hodder & Stoughton, Valley Forge, Pa:Judson Press.
- 1970 "The Last Things" in a Process Perspective, London: Epworth Press.
- 1970 Making Sexuality Human, United Church Press.
- 1970 Time for Consent: A Christian's Approach to Homosexuality, London: SCM Press.
- 1970 Christology Reconsidered, London: SCM Press.
- 1974 The Holy Spirit, United Church Press.
- 1974 Love and Control in Sexuality, United Church Press.
- 1980 After death/Life in God, London:SCM Press Ltd.
- 1989 Becoming and Belonging, Wilton, CT:Morehouse Publications. (Call No. BT77 .P49 1989)
External links
- Selected primary bibliography at the website of the Center for Process Studies
- Works of Pittenger at Religion online