Amipotence
I’m working on the final chapter of a new book called, The Death of Omnipotence… and Birth of Amipotence. In previous blogs, I’ve identified reasons we should stop saying God is omnipotent. The final chapter in this new book explains the word “amipotence.” Amipotence combines two Latin words ami and potens. The first means “love,” […]
God’s Nature Qualifies Omnipotence
As part of a book I’m writing called The Death of Omnipotence …and Birth of Amipotence, I’m devoting a whole chapter to the qualifications scholars make to omnipotence. The chapter is called “Death by a Thousand Qualifications.” As the title of the chapter suggests, I note thousands of qualifications necessary to make any sense of […]
Mistranslating Pantokrater as “Omnipotent”
The book I’m currently writing is called, The Death of Omnipotence. In it, I document the emergence of the idea God is almighty or omnipotent. In past blog essays, I’ve pointed out some of the problems that come from thinking of God’s power in this way. In the book, I explain that the Hebrew words […]
Omnipotence Not in Scripture
I’m currently writing a book that rejects the doctrine of divine omnipotence. I’ll suggest a replacement I call divine amipotence – the power of love. I introduced the writing project in this previous blog essay. One chapter in my book addresses God’s power described in what Christians call the Old and New Testaments. I’ll argue […]
The Death of Omnipotence
The title of my new book is “The Death of Omnipotence… and Birth of Amipotence.” As the title suggests, I argue that God is not omnipotent. But instead of simply saying, “God can’t do…,” I propose a view of divine power I think is more biblically supported, philosophically coherent, and experientially justified. I call this […]
Keith Ward and a God of Love
I recently wrote a chapter for a book celebrating the work of Keith Ward. My argument is that Ward offers a metaphysics that supports both a conceptual basis for love and a basis to view God as loving. God is Love Keith Ward believes an adequate account of love requires an equally adequate account of […]
What is Uncontrolling Love? What About Therapy?
I’m excited to announce a new book project! Along with co-editors Annie DeRolf, Christy Gunter, John Loppnow, and Lon Marshall, I’m inviting therapists, psychologists, and counselors to write essays on their work in relation to uncontrolling love. What is Uncontrolling Love? The “uncontrolling love” label is found in several books, including The Uncontrolling Love of […]
Love is More than Desire or Devotion
In various publications and recently in Pluriform Love, I define love. My definition says love acts intentionally, in relational response to God and others, to promote overall well-being. Perhaps the most common alternative to my definition says love is desire. We find theologians and philosophers from the past and present defining love as desire. In […]
God’s Pluriform Love for Us
Most Christian theologies restrict divine love. According to many, God only expresses agape. According to others, God only expresses eros. Some theologies may say God expresses hesed but cannot affirm divine ahavah. Other theologians mix and match love, depending on their philosophical and theological assumptions. In my new book, Pluriform Love, I argue that God […]
The Story Behind Pluriform Love
I’ve written a book that ties together many of my primary thoughts about God and love. It’s called Pluriform Love: An Open and Relational Theology of Well-Being. The preface of Pluriform Love gives the background story to its writing. And it provides a taste of some of the book’s primary ideas. I thought I’d share […]