Roger E. Olson's Blog, page 141

C. S. Lewis Said It: God’s “Goodness” Cannot Be Wholly Other

C. S. Lewis Said It: God’s “Goodness” Cannot Be Wholly Other For years now I have been insisting that the main reason I am not a Calvinist (or any kind of divine determinist) is that, taken to its “good and necessary consequences,” Calvinism makes God morally monstrous. I fully realize and understand that many Calvinists [Read More...]

Why Are We (in the U.S.A.) Headed toward a Police State?

Why Are We (In the U.S.A.) Headed toward a Police State?   Some time ago here I suggested that the U.S., a society that promotes itself as the “land of the free,” is headed gradually but discernably toward becoming a police state. All one has to do to discern the validity of this concern is [Read More...]

What Is the “Image of God” in the Human? A Place for Christians to Begin Thinking about the “Transhuman”

What Is the “Image of God” in the Human? A Place for Christians to Begin Thinking about the “Transhuman” In my most recent post here I raised ethical questions about the idea of “transhumanity” or “posthumanity”—technology being used to transcend normal humanity into “humanity plus.” So far as I can tell there are no examples [Read More...]

“Transhumanism” and Ethics: An Invitation to Discussion of a Cultural “Cutting Edge”

“Transhumanism” and Ethics: An Invitation to Discussion of a Cultural “Cutting Edge” Increasingly one reads about “transhumanism”—a broad and diverse movement to promote the fundamental transformation of humanity individually or collectively through technology. Transhumanism is not merely the promotion of human physical and mental enhancement but transformation. In other words, via technology, it is hoped, [Read More...]

Creating a Course for FaithLife

All last week (March 9-13, 2015) I was in Bellingham, Washington video taping two courses on historical theology for the MobileEd division of FaithLife–the new name of Logos Software. I’m not sure when the courses will be available for purchase, but eventually anyone will be able to watch them and interact with the lectures via links [Read More...]

Dr. Seuss Was Right

Somewhere Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel) wrote that “Your job is not to fit in but to standout.” One could debate the veracity and usefulness (or not) of that statement all day. I’d say it’s wrong and unhelpful insofar as it is taken as a motto for extreme individualism. However, if it means a person should [Read More...]

What Is the Old Testament Good For–Doctrinally?

I was recently asked by a student whether there are any important Christian doctrines, beliefs all Christians should embrace and confess, that can be found and supported ONLY in and by the Old Testament. He was not asking about nuggets of spiritual wisdom, inspiring verses, historical events, etc. He was asking me whether there are [Read More...]

Can “Authentic Christianity” Be Found Today?

Can “Authentic Christianity” Be Found Today? Like many Christians I grew up in a church that was committed to restoring the “New Testament church”—as it was in the first century. This impulse is called “restorationism.” (I only capitalize that term when referring to a particular tradition known to scholars as “Restorationism” whose main contemporary offshoots [Read More...]

Confessions of an Egalitarian Complementarian

Confessions of an Egalitarian Complementarian The topic is gender. It’s a minefield. Anyone who dares to step into it must be prepared to be injured. Especially in American academic institutions it’s a minefield. And it is a major point of division among evangelical Christians. I speak from within both contexts. In academia we are in [Read More...]

The Sin of Tribalism

The Sin of Tribalism There are many things Christians ought to resist among themselves. Not because salvation depends on that but because they are pernicious to a healthy relationship with God and others in the family of God. And because they give Christians and our God a bad name among those who watch us. Christians [Read More...]