Roger E. Olson's Blog, page 19

Should Christians Believe in Ghosts?

Should Christians Believe in Ghosts? Many, many people do believe in “ghosts,” more an visions or apparitions of the “spirits” of people who are deceased. Ontologically real beings who are dead and appear to people. Should Christians believe in these? Many do. I have always been curious about ghosts. One story I was told growing […]

Should Christians Participate in Alternative Healing?

Should Christians Participate in Alternative Healing? My wife and I often watch episodes of a British television show called “Escape to the Country.” We may never make it to the UK but through the show we know a lot about it, especially the counties, town and villages. One common theme is people wanting to buy […]

An Example of Modern, American Barbarism

An Example of Modern, American Barbarism We Americans think we are civilized, not barbaric. Of course, we believe there are barbaric people among us, but we think of our society itself as anything but barbaric. And yet there are a few practices that are widely accepted almost without question that stand out as barbaric. Barbaric […]

Is Demonic Possession Real? What about Exorcism?

Is Demonic Possession Real? What about Exorcism? The reason for this blog essay is the recent Netflix movie (or movie on Netflix) titled “The Deliverance” starring Glenn Close. But also, the streaming service series “Evil” (Paramount Plus). Both feature dramas related to demonic possession and exorcisms. I watched a few episodes of Evil and decided […]

My Trickle-down Theory of Ideas and Practices

My Trickle-down Theory of Ideas and Practices Several readers have asked me about the relevance of theology as I have written this series of essays about revolutions in modern theology. ”The trickle-down effect” is a phrase usually used with regard to economics. It is the belief that if the rich get richer that will benefit […]

Does God “Become?” Another Revolution in Theology

Does God “Become?” Another Revolution in Theology Recently here I wrote about a major turn in modern theology beginning with the German philosopher G. W. F. Hegel who talked about God as Subject and not substance. (Or, in one place, Subject as well as substance.) Later, after Hegel, many especially Protestant theologians picked up on […]

Strange Bedfellows: Hegel and Kierkegaard

Strange Bedfellows: Hegel and Kierkegaard My immediately preceding post was about Hegel’s revolutionary idea of God as subject rather than substance. It was a reaction against Protestant (and Catholic) scholasticism which had engaged in what we today call “ontotheology”—treating God as a thing, an object, to be examined by the human mind without personal involvement […]

The Modern Revolution in the Doctrine of God

The Modern Revolution in the Doctrine of God I have here before talked about the book that launched my interest in modern theology and especially modern thinking about God: God after God by theologian Robert Jenson. But what was the revolution in thinking about God among Christian philosophers and theologians that God after God illustrated? […]

Young American Men Turning Right

  For a long time I’ve been saying to whomever would listen that the progressive turn toward females in our American society, especially in matters of health and education, will predictably alienate especially young men in ways not good for the whole of society. There, that was a mouthful. I know that I will, as […]

The Journey of Modern Theology (New Edition)

The Journey of Modern Theology (New Edition) I received in the “mail” (some delivery method) a box containing three paperback copies of my magnum opus: The Journey of Modern Theology: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction (InterVarsity Press). I was surprised again at its length. I suppose that hinders its sales. 700 plus pages! I have trouble […]