Roger E. Olson's Blog, page 4

The Blessed Hope (Final of God Who Looks Like Jesus)

Here I finish our discussion of God Who Looks Like Jesus; A Renewed Approach to Understanding God by Gregory A. Boyd (with M. Scott Boren) (Herald Press). The last chapter is entitled The Blessed Hope. If you have read the chapter, feel free to offer a comment. If not, you may only ask a question. […]

Can Education Cure Evil?

A long time ago, most people in the world believed there is a power of evil in the world that tempts or even causes people to do evil things. There were believed to be degrees of this—from outright possession by evil powers to occasional giving in to temptation by evil forces, beings or powers. At […]

Was Arminius A Molinist?

Are Arminian Theology and Middle Knowledge Compatible? One of the most basic impulses of Arminianism is that God is not the author of sin and evil—even indirectly. On this virtually everyone knowledgeable about Arminian theology agrees. Divine determinism, the belief that God directly or indirectly determines all that happens according to a predetermined plan, was […]

Was Arminius A Monist?

Are Arminian Theology and Middle Knowledge Compatible? One of the most basic impulses of Arminianism is that God is not the author of sin and evil—even indirectly. On this virtually everyone knowledgeable about Arminian theology agrees. Divine determinism, the belief that God directly or indirectly determines all that happens according to a predetermined plan, was […]

Fascism: Experts and Elements

Rarely do I post two essays here in one day! However, someone here asked me, very recently, to name some experts/scholars about Fascism. I will do that and also offer some typical elements of Fascism. I mentioned earlier Robert Reich, professor of economics and former Secretary of Labor under President Clinton. He has a wealth […]

Rethinking God

Here I continue discussing the book God Who Looks Like Jesus: A Renewed Approach to Understanding God by Gregory A. Boyd and M. Scott Boren (Herald Press). Chapter 6 is Rethinking God. If you have read the chapter, feel free to comment; if not, feel free to ask a question. Chapter 6: Rethinking God amounts […]

Another Step Toward Fascism in America

Everyone knows that Fascism begins with certain clear markers. One of the main ones is harassment of critics of the leaders. Well before Mussolini became El Duce (leader) of Italy, his “Black Shirts” followers were harassing and even violently attacking critics of his movement. The same happened in Germany and Spain and other countries were […]

Is God Necessary? Why or Why Not?

I recently re-read a modern theological classic entitled God as the Mystery of the World by German theologian Eberhard Juengel. Juengel is not as well known in English-speaking countries because he did not speak English. I heard him speak, in German, in Munich in 1981. I didn’t understand every word, but I noticed that he […]

The Jesus-Looking Kingdom

Here I continue discussion of Gregory Boyd’s and Scott Boren’s book God Looks Like Jesus: A Renewed Approach to Understanding God (Herald Press) with Chapter 5 The Jesus-Looking Kingdom. If you have read the chapter, feel free to comment. If not, feel free to ask a question. Greg begins the chapter with another story about […]

Capital Punishment Extended?

No, this is not about the Democratic state legislators who fled Texas in order to stop the vote on redistricting (gerrymandering). Not that I think they will succeed. No, this is about the state legislators in a Southern US state who are introducing legislation to make child abuse (of a particular kind not to be […]