#90 – Open Theology and Process Theology

A brief introduction to two forms of theology that are as old as the Bible itself, but have labels that are only a few decades old.

One of the biggest problems in Christian theology arises out of the simple belief that God is all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful. The problem? … why, then, is there so much evil in the world? This Gordian Knot has killed the faith of many believers, including some of the biggest names in theology and in church ministry.

Open Theology and Process Theology seek to solve this problem by challenging the claims that God is all-knowing and all-powerful. They would say that the future is not clear to God, simply because it hasn’t happened yet and all options are on the table (in part because humans have free-will). They would also say that there are things that God cannot do! Not just simply that he can’t create a round square, or a rock too big that even he couldn’t lift; instead, that he can’t stop evil things from happening or intervene in somebody’s circumstances.

Most people, especially Evangelicals, would say that this lessens God: God becomes smaller if he isn’t omni-everything. Our guest today would beg to differ. Dr. Thomas Jay Oord has a PhD in Theology, many years experience as a pastor, and now directs a doctoral program at Northwind Theological Seminary and the Center for Open and Relational Theology. He’s also a philosopher, a scholar of multi-disciplinary studies, and author of several books.

He first tells his story of coming to realize that his traditional conservative Christian faith had failed him when he came to grapple with some of the bigger questions in life, and shortly thereafter that Open Theology answered those questions. Then he gives us a brief overview of what exactly Open Theology and Process Theology are all about.

As always, tell us what you think…

Find more about Dr. Oord (Thom) at https://thomasjayoord.com/. Information about the doctoral program that he refers to in the episode can be found at https://www.northwindseminary.org/faculty-bio-pages/single/thomas-j-oord%2C-ph.d

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