Posts under "Open and Relational Theology"

A Thanksgiving Prayer to an Uncontrolling God

November 15th, 2020 / 14 Comments

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 expressed at civic gatherings too. It’s natural to wonder, “What do […]

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Does Jesus Influence Today?

November 12th, 2020 / 3 Comments

In his ground-breaking book, Divine Self-Investment: An Open and Relational Constructive Christology, Tripp Fuller offers exciting proposals for making sense of Jesus in the 21st Century. I previously offered an overview of Fuller’s key ideas. That essay and this are part of my response to Fuller’s book at the upcoming Christ Among the Disciplines online […]

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Tripp Fuller’s Open and Relational Christology

October 27th, 2020 / 3 Comments

Tripp Fuller’s book Divine Self-Investment: an Open and Relational Constructive Christology makes an important contribution to understanding Jesus of Nazareth. In this essay, I summarize Fuller’s book. I show how he affirms Jesus as a special expression of divine self-investment. As one who joins Fuller in embracing an open and relational theological vision, I am […]

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Did God Resurrect Jesus Singlehandedly?

October 10th, 2020 / 21 Comments

In books and articles, I’ve argued authentic miracles never involve God’s action alone. Miracles require God and creation. But is this true of Jesus’ resurrection? Many Christians think Jesus’ resurrection the most important miracle of all. The biblical writers say “God raised Jesus from the dead” (Acts 4:10; 5:30; 1 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 1:20; Heb. […]

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Why Petition a God Who Can’t Control?

July 20th, 2020 / No Comments

Most readers of my book God Can’t appreciate the idea God neither causes nor allows evil. An uncontrolling God of love is not blameworthy. But many wonder what a “God Can’t” view means for understanding petitionary prayer. In my followup book, Questions and Answers for God Can’t, I offer an answer. In fact, I devote […]

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God is One Cause Among Others

June 24th, 2020 / No Comments

Did God create you? Or your parents? I’ve just completed a new book called, Questions and Answers for God Can’t. As the title suggests, it answers questions many readers had after reading my best-selling book, God Can’t. The new book offers whole chapters devoted to eight questions. Topics include prayer, miracles, eschatology, creation, love, Jesus, […]

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Open and Relational Leadership

May 1st, 2020 / No Comments

Leadership studies have blossomed in recent decades. Researchers and writers take recent developments in science, economics, medicine, or politics as their guide when advancing theories in leadership. Others seek insights from great leaders of yesteryear, presidents and prime ministers, coaches, or titans of industry. Leadership books from faith perspectives are also available. Many pick a […]

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