Roger E. Olson's Blog, page 42

About “Dogmas” And Closed-Mindedness

About “Dogmas” and Closed-Mindedness What is a “dogma?” Dictionary definitions don’t always help. Words mean how people, especially scholars and experts, use them. A “dogma” is any idea or belief that is considered basic and is somehow required within a community. (Remember, these days “community” is a pretty broad concept.) If anyone within a community […]

Are UFOs Real? Back to the Claim of “Scientific Dogmas”

Are UFOs Real? Back to the Claim of “Scientific Dogmas” A few weeks ago here I suggested that my readers watch two Youtube videos. One was an episode of “Science Friday” in which a well-known physicist stated unequivocally that he is a “materialist” and that only atoms and molecules exist. What I found shocking was […]

How Essential is Doctrine to Christianity?

How Essential is Doctrine to Christianity? Historically speaking, doctrine has always, until recently, been an essential part of Christianity. “Doctrine” here refers to official or semi-official beliefs held and taught by churches, especially to their members and constituents. Historically speaking, Christians have been people who believed conceptually, cognitively, and not only emotionally or in terms […]

A Radical Suggestion for Christian Educational Institutions

A Radical Suggestion for Christian Educational Institutions During my forty years teaching religious studies and theology at four universities, three of them specifically Christian, I have been much involved with accreditation. If you are not familiar with “accreditation” I will briefly explain here. A college, university, professional school in the United States normally seeks and […]

Sing a New Song?

Sing a New Song? I love satire, including Christian satire. I used to devour every issue of The Wittenburg Door (intentionally misspelled). Now I’ve moved on to Babylon Bee. Both are great Christian satire publications. Not that I agree with everything in them. But I think we evangelical Christians (and others) need jokers (jesters) among […]

What Is Gravity? A Theologian Learns about Physics

What Is Gravity? A Theologian Learns about Physics Recently, here, some commenters have argued that a theologian has no right to talk about things outside his or her own field of knowledge—such as science. That’s nonsense. Theology is about everything. That is not to say, of course, that a theologian knows everything. That’s also nonsense. […]

Maverick Scientists and a Spiritual Worldview

Maverick Scientists and a Spiritual Worldview Recently here I recommended that my readers listen to an episode of “Science Friday” featuring a physicist who openly called himself (several times) a “materialist” and said that all that exists are things made up of atoms and molecules. I objected that this is metaphysics, not science as such. […]

The Mind and the Brain: “Morphic Resonance” and Other Thoughts

The Mind and the Brain: “Morphic Resonance” and Other Thoughts Here I recently blogged about “dogmas of science” and recommended that my readers listen to an episode of “Science Friday” (PBS) and watch a Youtube video of a TED Talk by scientist Rupert Sheldrake about what he considers certain unquestionable “dogmas of science.” I then […]

Is Materialism a “Dogma” of Science? (Yes)

Is Materialism a “Dogma” of Science? (Yes) Have you ever had the experience of staring at someone who doesn’t even know you’re near, perhaps in a crowded room, and have them turn and look back at you? I have. Numerous times. I carried out this personal experiment especially in airports and I have taken notice […]

Trump against “Evangelical Leaders”

Trump against “Evangelical Leaders” I hate to say I told you so, but I also enjoy it. A few years ago I wrote here, and The Hill picked it up, that IF his evangelical supporters do not support Trump whole heartedly and without qualifications on everything that matters to him, he will turn against them. […]