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I Need a Love Framework

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My number one goal is to live a life of love. That goal gives purpose to my life. It’s my primary intention. Because love is central, I seek a framework to make sense of love and the world. In my new book, I argue that Open and Relational Theology provides the best overall framework to answer my […]

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The God I Reject

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In my new book, I explain what it means to say God is open and relational. But I also identify views of God that I reject. To avoid getting lost in the weeds, I use the label “conventional God” for a host of views open and relational thinkers oppose. Under this one label rests a pot-pourri of […]

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Who is Open and Relational?

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     For several decades, I’ve opted to identify a few basic ideas that comprise the umbrella I call “open and relational theology.” Under that umbrella stand many people, movements, and claims. I’ve described this theology in my new book, Open and Relational […]

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Life (and God) is Like a Movie

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My new book introduces open and relational theology to the general public. The manuscript is currently in the review stage. But here's an excerpt to give you a taste! TIME Before the digital age, movie-makers shot movies on film. A filmstrip comprising single images moved rapidly through a […]

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God as Emotional Friend

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“God experiences emotions.” Open and relational theologians believe this statement is true. But it carries baggage. What do they mean by it? I'm nearly finished writing a book introducing open and relational theology. I write in an accessible way and explain the basic ideas. It should help both […]

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Why We Embrace Open and Relational Theology

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I'm writing a book introducing open and relational theology. It's aimed at the general public and for use in classrooms, small groups, and personal enrichment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwtRTF6t6_A Early in the book, I list reasons people are attracted to open and relational theology. Many of […]

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Is Progress Possible?

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The idea life could get better strikes some as naïve. It's easy to lose hope in a pandemic and amid political strife. Pessimists Some people point to the pandemic, wars, ecological disasters, political elections, racial injustice, and more that’s wrong in the world. To them, it’s absurd to think […]

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Open Theism and Divine Limitations

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In his book The Future of Open Theism: From Antecedents to Opportunities (IVP Academic 2020), Richard Rice does a myriad of helpful things. He reports on the origins of open theology, describes contemporary debates among open theists, and looks at where open theism might move in the future. Rice […]

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All Will Eventually Cooperate with God

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In a series of essays on this website and in books, I've argued that God requires creaturely cooperation for love finally to win. To put it another way, the ultimate victory of good over evil requires creatures to cooperate with God. I'm not saying God alone will right all wrongs and bring about […]

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A Thanksgiving Prayer to an Uncontrolling God

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The uncontrolling love view has positive implications for prayer at Thanksgiving. Thanking an uncontrolling God makes a lot of sense. Thanking a controlling God doesn't. Each November, Americans gather to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Words of thanks sometimes enter the public news or get […]

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About

Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. He is the author or editor of more than twenty books and professor at Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, Idaho.

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