Roger E. Olson's Blog, page 152

My Q&A about Arminianism Now an E-Book

Seedbed.com (out of Asbury Theological Seminary) has published my series of posts here called “Arminianism Q & A” as an E-book. It’s available at: http://seedbed.com/feed/arminianism-g... Please check it out.

“God’s Will” In Calvinism and Arminianism

“God’s Will” In Calvinism and Arminianism Calvinists and Arminians agree that God “accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will” because so says Ephesians 1:11 and the entire testimony of Scripture. Both, however, interpret this differently. John Calvin, facing this verse (and his overall belief in divine determinism) and the manifest reality of evil [Read More...]

Can God Make Himself Dependent on Us?

Can God Make Himself Dependent on Us? My recent post about “stealth Calvinism” has stirred up some interesting debate about the appropriateness of saying that God is in any way dependent on humans (or any creature reality). If you did not read that post, it would be helpful to go back and read it, but [Read More...]

An Invitation to Participate (And Atheism Discussion Closed)

I am spending way too much time reading comments from atheists that repeat ones already posted here. The discussion has run into the ground. No new ground is being plowed. So the atheism discussion is now closed. Don’t bother commenting as I will not post comments on that particular subject. And now an invitation to [Read More...]

Selective Memory in History Books

Selective Memory in History Books “History is but a fable agreed upon.” It’s an old saying often attributed to Napoleon. Postmodern philosophy is teaching us that there is no such thing as an objective account of history; history is always written and taught from some point of view. There is no “view from nowhere.” So, [Read More...]

Beware of Stealth Calvinism!

Beware of Stealth Calvinism! Several times here I have expressed concern that some Calvinists are attempting to take over churches by stealth. I frequently hear from church members (mostly Baptists but occasionally also Pentecostals and other evangelicals) that their new pastor turned out to be a five point Calvinist without their knowing that when he [Read More...]

Are We Descending into Barbarity?

Are We Descending into Barbarity? We Americans like to think of ourselves as among the most developed and civilized countries in the world (if not at the top of the list!). But much of the rest of the world thinks otherwise. We don’t help our case when we continue to engage in acts that can [Read More...]

Evil As Signal of Transcendence

Evil As Signal of Transcendence I admit it; I’m obsessed with evil. Not doing it, of course, but understanding it. It seems to me that evil is a basic fact of reality as we live and experience it. Evil is. And to call it anything other than evil, such as “harmful,” is to betray it, [Read More...]

Illegal Immigration of Children: The Underlying Problem Nobody Seems to Talk About

Illegal Immigration of Children: The Underlying Problem Nobody Seems to Talk About According to news reports, about sixty thousand unaccompanied children have arrived in the U.S. from Central America via Mexico in the last one to two years. Some have died in the desert attempting to cross the border alone. Many are being smuggled to [Read More...]

Can Atheism Support Ethical Absolutes? Is Ethics without Absolutes Enough?

Can Atheism Support Ethical Absolutes? Is Ethics without Absolutes Enough? Whenever I comment on atheism here, atheists who otherwise pay no attention to this blog flock here to respond. Often, I believe, they have either misunderstood or intentionally misrepresent my points. Also, often, they misdirect the discussion by appealing to “bad Christians” and/or “good atheists.” [Read More...]