Roger E. Olson's Blog, page 17

God’s Righteousness Part 2

Hermann Cremer, The Christian Doctrine of the Divine Attributes, 3: First Series: Divine Attributes Disclosed in Revelation, 2: The Righteousness of God, pp. 43-47 Here I continue discussing Cremer’s treatments of the attributes of God with the second part of “The Righteousness of God.” If you have read these pages (43-47) you may comment. If […]

Why “Panentheism” Is False

Why “Panentheism” Is False What’s Wrong with Panentheism? Panentheism is a relatively recent term, if not concept, in Christian theology and philosophy of religion. Scholars agree that it was coined by German philosophical theologian Karl Friedrich Krause (1781-1832) who invented the German word Allingottlehre which literally means “the doctrine that all is in God.” Of […]

Attributes of God: Righteousness

Cremer, The Christian Doctrine of the Attributes of God: 2. The Righteousness of God, pp. 29-43 This is an invitation to comment for those who have read this portion of the book. Others may ask. In about one week I will comment on the second half of this portion—pp. 43-47. I am going slowly now […]

Mystery, Paradox, Contradiction in Theology 2

A Mysterious Topic: “Mystery,” “Paradox,” and “Contradiction” in Theology (Part 2) If you have not read Part 1 (posted November 7) please read that first. This may not make any sense otherwise. One way in which some well-meaning but misguided persons have attempted to resolve the seemingly intractable differences between divine determinism, including evil as […]

Mystery, Paradox, Contradiction: Part 1

A Mysterious Topic: “Mystery,” “Paradox,” and “Contradiction” in Theology (Part 1) The average Christian, I suspect, thinks “mystery” is something beyond all comprehension; it’s what you’re supposed to believe but cannot be explained or even expressed except in ways that require sacrifice of the intellect. The classical examples most people would give are the Trinity […]

The Divine Attributes (Cremer) Part 3, 1. Holiness

Reflections on Hermann Cremer, The Christian Doctrine of the Divine Attributes, First Series, Divine Attributes Disclosed in Revelation, 1. The Holiness of God This is an invitation to discuss this chapter if you have read it. If you have not read it, you may ask questions. In about one week I will post reflections on […]

What If Satan Offered…?

What If Satan Offered…? To all my friends (and others) who are Christians, believe in Satan, and plan to vote for Trump on November 5, 2024. A thought experiment… Imagine Satan, appearing as an angel of light (Lucifer), came to you and you knew it was him. He says to you, “Vote for me and […]

The Scapegoating Phenomenon

The Scapegoating Phenomenon Rene Girard, influential French philosopher, is best known for his examination of a universal human tendency called “scapegoating.” According to Girard, every human group must at last occasionally have someone(s) they scapegoat. Scapegoating is based on the Hebrew practice, related in the Pentateuch, of symbolically placing the people’s sins on an animal […]

The Christian Doctrine of the Divine Attributes 2

The Christian Doctrine of the Divine Attributes 2 For those of you reading this book with me, I will next, in about a week, take up Chapter 3 “First Series: Divine Attributes Disclosed in Revelation,” Part 1 “The Holiness of God.” (Part 2 is very long, so I want to take it up by itself […]

What Is a “Form of Life?” Can an Outsider Understand?

What Is a “Form of Life?” Can an Outsider Understand One? Some years ago two of my colleagues came to me asking if I could explain what “pleading the blood of Jesus” meant. I was stumped. I knew very well what it means to Pentecostal (and perhaps other) Christians because I grew up with it. […]