Roger E. Olson's Blog, page 147

Juergen Moltmann on Christian Discipleship in Everything One Does

This is a follow-up to my immediately preceding post which contained my response to Peter Berger’s argument that Christians (and others) ought to internalize pluralism including secularity–alongside their Christian faith. In other words, Berger argues, Christians (and others) ought to act “as if God does not exist” in certain spheres of life because of modern [Read More...]

My Response to Peter Berger’s book The Many Altars of Modernity

Below you will find my response to Peter Berger’s recently published book The Many Altars of Modernity: Toward a Paradigm for Religion in a Pluralist Age (DeGruyter, 2014). I read this response at a special event at Baylor University on Tuesday, November 18. Berger was there by Skype. (He was unable to travel to the [Read More...]

Follow Up to My Immediately Preceding Post (Re: Marriage)

Apparently some people who would never otherwise visit my blog came here only to argue with me, accuse me (without knowing anything about me), and even insult me based on unfounded assumptions. Due to the avalanche of responses I must ask you not to post comments that simply repeat what has already been said. Personally, [Read More...]

Why Not Polygamy? A Question to Advocates of Gay Marriage

Why Not Polygamy? A Question to Advocates of Gay Marriage Traditional marriage and family arrangements are changing. (I am talking here primarily about Western societies where Christianity and Judaism have been strongly influential—mostly European-based societies and those affected by them via colonialism and/or missionary endeavors.) For centuries monogamous, heterosexual, lifelong marriage has been the norm [Read More...]

How to Use Hymns as “Teachable Moments”–Even When You Disagree with the Lyrics

How to Use Hymns as “Teachable Moments”—Even When You Disagree with the Lyrics Recently someone asked me to give some examples of how I would use hymns as teachable moments in a congregational setting. The background to this request (for those of you who didn’t read my earlier blogpost about hymn lyrics) is this. Several [Read More...]

Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?

Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?   I’m not an expert on Islam; very few non-Muslims are. However, many years ago, while a graduate student in Religious Studies at Rice University (a national, “tier one” research university), I taught an undergraduate “mini-course” on Islam. (A “mini-course” was a graduate student-led unit of Religion [Read More...]

Can We Dispense with the “Wrath of God?” (And Some Thoughts about Changing Hymns)

Can We Dispense with the “Wrath of God?” (And Some Thoughts about Changing Hymns)   Because some of my readers are not Christians I will say “up front” that this post is meant only for Christians. Others may listen in, but I am here speaking into a conversation among Christians. Recently I sang the popular [Read More...]

The “Upside Down Kingdom”: Christians Should Care for the Weak

The “Upside Down Kingdom”: Christians Should Care for the Weak   This is not a book review but I do strongly recommend The Upside Down Kingdom (1978 and 2003) by Donald Kraybill. It’s a modern Christian classic of social ethics. Its basic thesis, well supported from Scripture, is that the Kingdom of God is a [Read More...]

Let the Debates Continue But…Don’t Waste Your Time If…

I enjoy the debates here and most comments get posted–even those that strongly disagree with what I have written. However, I have a couple strong rules and then a request–to would-be commenters: Strong rules: Keep your comments civil and respectful–of me and other people. Comments that contain insults will not be posted. Also, do not embed hyperlinks [Read More...]

Capitalism: An Economic System that Requires Us to Think and Act As If God Does Not Exist

Capitalism: An Economic System that Requires Us to Think and Act As If God Does Not Exist   In my immediately preceding post I asked whether a Christian ought ever to think, decide and act as if God does not exist. Ever since Hugo Grotius, the great seventeenth century Dutch theologian, philosopher and statesmen, modern [Read More...]