Gravity Commons Podcast Tom Oord: How to Believe in God and Love After Tragedy and Abuse
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Mar 25, 2025 Tom Oord, a prominent theologian and author, discusses the transformative power of open and relational theology in the face of tragedy and abuse. He explores how understanding God's love can reshape our views on suffering and evil. Through personal anecdotes, he delves into the complexities of divine influence and human freedom. Oord emphasizes the significance of compassionate support in trauma healing and the nuanced relationship between miracles and human agency. His insights challenge conventional beliefs while promoting a deeper understanding of faith and love.
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God Can't Control
- Tom Oord challenges the traditional view of God's omnipotence in his book "God Can't".
- He argues that God, being all-loving, cannot control anyone or anything, as control contradicts love's essence.
Two-Year-Old and Oncoming Car
- Christy asks Tom Oord how his concept of God's uncontrolling love applies to everyday scenarios like saving a child from danger.
- Oord explains that God, as a universal spirit, lacks the physical embodiment to directly intervene but can work through people.
Controlling a Two-Year-Old
- Matt Tebbe questions how control can be a form of love, citing parental care for newborns as an example.
- Oord responds with an anecdote about his daughter's temper tantrums, highlighting the limits of control even in parent-child relationships.
