Roger E. Olson's Blog, page 170

Every Known Theistic Approach to Old Testament “Texts of Terror”

Every Known Theistic Approach to Old Testament “Texts of Terror” The phrase “texts of terror” usually refers to stories in the historical books of the Hebrew Bible that describe God as commanding his people to slaughter groups of men, women and children and “show them no mercy” (to quote on such command). Here I will [Read More...]

For My Brazilian Readers: Portuguese Translations of My Books

For My Brazilian Readers: Portuguese Translations of My Books Some of my best students have been from Brazil, the world’s largest Portuguese-speaking country (and also one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing democracies and economies). Many North Americans think of Brazil as a Catholic country, but Protestant churches are growing there. The Assemblies of God [Read More...]

Kudos to the Church of the Nazarene for Resisting Pressure to Expand “Inerrancy”

Kudos to the Church of the Nazarene for Resisting Pressure to Expand “Inerrancy” I have not heard news from the June (2013) annual convention of the Church of the Nazarene that specifically answers the question regarding the disposition of the proposed amendment to its statement of faith. I have scoured the internet looking for such, [Read More...]

Postmodern “Violence”: A Case Study in Stretching a Word to the Breaking Point

Postmodern “Violence”: A Case Study in Stretching a Word to the Breaking Point For the past few years I’ve been reading a lot of postmodern philosophy—focusing especially on its implications for Christianity. I taught a course on “Postmodernity and Christianity” and included a section on postmodern theology in my forthcoming book The Journey of Modern [Read More...]

The Old Testament and Contemporary Christian Ethics

The Old Testament and Contemporary Christian Ethics The background issue here, of this post, is the problem I see of appealing to the Old Testament, especially the Pentateuch and historical books, to establish Christian ethics. One does not have to deny the divine inspiration of the entire Old Testament to argue that it cannot serve [Read More...]

Some Responses to Critics Regarding Capital Punishment

Thanks to all of you who contributed civil comments, pro and con, responding to my immediately preceding post about capital punishment as heresy. One commenter wrote:     ” I may be on a different wavelength from many here, but I’d just like to point out that if we’re going to appeal to the authority [Read More...]

The Heresy of Capital Punishment

The Heresy of Capital Punishment Every ethicist chooses one particular social issue on which to focus—at least for a time. Unfortunately, in my opinion, too few have focused on capital punishment for a sufficiently sustained time, giving it sufficient attention during that time, to bring about a sea change in public opinion. Still, to this [Read More...]

Strange (but Real) Baptists: An Exercise in Diversity

Strange (but Real) Baptists: An Exercise in Diversity Americans are woefully ignorant about religion. Most claim to be religious or spiritual in some sense but they know little to nothing about various religious groups that are all around them. Very few people understand Baptists. Okay, maybe that’s expecting too much. “Understanding Baptists” may take a [Read More...]

Beating a Dead Horse…One More Post about the SBC Statement about Calvinism (for Now)

Okay, I know some of you will think “Olson, it’s time to move on!” Perhaps. But this is my blog and a place for my musings; skip this post if you’re just tired of this subject. I promise to turn to something else soon. I propose that evangelical and Baptist theologians and church leaders sign [Read More...]

Follow Up to My Immediately Preceding Post Re: The SBC Statement about Calvinism

This is to those of you who have responded critically or plan to–arguing that my objection to portions of the statement “Truth, Trust, and Testimony in a Time of Tension” as possibly disingenuous (please re-read my post for the main example) is wrong. Please! Respond to my questions! (These were in my post and I [Read More...]