Roger E. Olson's Blog, page 130

Announcements about Two of My Books and a Forthcoming Book

Announcements about Two of My Books and about a Forthcoming Book I recently received a new printing of my book Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities (InterVarsity Press). The only thing new is the jacket including a new cover and new picture of me (on the back flap). Ironically, the picture on the cover is still [Read More...]

“Let’s Talk about Jesus” Our Prophet, Priest and King

“Let’s Talk about Jesus” Our Prophet, Priest and King Recently here someone chided me for not talking about Jesus enough. Well, in my own defense, my whole and entire reason for criticizing Calvinism (as well as other wrong theologies) is Jesus. Jesus as God incarnate, the perfect and yet understandable revelation of God, God’s character [Read More...]

A Rare, Good Television Sitcom: “Grinder”…Should Make Us Think about Our Culture

A Rare, Good Television “Sitcom”: “Grinder” (Fox TV) Holds Up a Mirror that Should Make Us Ashamed (Or at Least Embarrassed) Yes, I know, someone will tell me I watch too much television. My only defenses? First, I still accomplish quite a lot! (Try arguing with me about that and I’ll show you my curriculum [Read More...]

Getting to the Bottom of Thinking: There Is No “View from Nowhere”…

Getting to the Bottom of Thinking: There Is No “View from Nowhere” (And an Illustration from Differing Beliefs about God) When I encounter disagreement about which I care, I attempt to “dig down” to rock bottom presuppositions and work up from there. Often, disagreements over philosophical-theological issues have to do with presuppositions. Many years ago [Read More...]

Should a Christian Ever Act as if God Does Not Exist? (With a View toward Faith-Learning Integration)

“Should A Christian Ever Act As If God Does Not Exist? (With A View toward Faith-Learning Integration)” Samford University Holley-Hull Lecture October 8, 2015 Roger E. Olson About two years ago I became acquainted with sociologist of religion Peter Berger who is a distinguished visiting professor at Baylor University. Of course I have known of [Read More...]

Why I Still Call Myself “Evangelical” in Spite of Everything….

Why I Still Call Myself “Evangelical” In Spite of Everything or Evangelicalism Is Dead; Long Live Evangelicalism Roger E. Olson Prelude: This is the talk I would have given had I been invited to speak at the 2001 conference “Pilgrims on the Sawdust Trail” which I attended at Beeson Divinity School. It’s a bit updated, [Read More...]

Holley-Hull Lecture “A Relational View of God’s Sovereignty”

I delivered this talk at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama as part of the annual Holley-Hull Lecture Series on Wednesday, October 7. (The other lectures were at Samford University.)   A Relational View of God’s Sovereignty Roger E. Olson My office phone rang and I answered it. A stern voice said “Is this [Read More...]

Outrageous “Justification” of Shooting of Black Child in Cleveland, Ohio

Outrageous “Justification” of Shooting of Black Child in Cleveland, Ohio According to an Associated Press news report by Mitch Stacy (Sunday, October 11, 2015) two consultants to the Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Prosecutor’s office have declared the November, 2014 shooting of twelve year old African-American boy Tamir Rice by a “rookie patrolman” “justified.” I saw the [Read More...]

Outrageous “Justification” of Shooting of Black Child in Columbus, Ohio

Outrageous “Justification” of Shooting of Black Child in Columbus, Ohio According to an Associated Press news report by Mitch Stacy (Sunday, October 11, 2015) two consultants to the Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Prosecutor’s office have declared the November, 2014 shooting of twelve year old African-American boy Tamir Rice by a “rookie patrolman” “justified.” I saw the [Read More...]

Why (High) Calvinism Is Impossible (with Special Reference to Romans 9)

This is a talk I gave to a group of outstanding students at Samford University October 7 (2015)–part of the Holley-Hull Lecture series I delivered there that week. I will post other lectures of the series over the next week. Why (High) Calvinism Is Impossible In one of his sermons against Calvinism, Methodist founder John [Read More...]