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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

I disagree with NT Wright. And I don’t often do that. In a recent Time article titled, “Christianity Offers No Answers About the Coronavirus. It’s Not Supposed To,” Wright makes some statements with which I can agree. But I don’t agree with his main point. I Agree… Wright begins his little essay by referring to […]

I’m not surprised some people are blaming God. Maybe “crediting” God is more accurate. I’m reading social media posts saying the Coronavirus (Covid 19) is God’s will. Our current suffering is part of some predetermined divine plan. One post put it this way: “Sorry to break up the big panic, but the Coronavirus will not […]

A few podcast hosts have asked me to “locate” my theology in relation to other views of God. This is natural, and I like to compare views of God. Comparisons help me explain my Uncontrolling Love of God theology, which I also call Essential Kenosis. In my book The Uncontrolling Love of God, I explore […]

Many people think a timeless God created the universe and is its eschatological hope. By contrast, I think we make better sense of creation and eschatology if we think God is timefull rather than timeless. In a previous essay, I identified four dimensions of an open and relational — “God-in-process” — view of providence. Here’s […]

Most Christian theologies assume God is essentially timeless. By ‘essentially timeless,’ I mean they assume God does not experience in relationship with others moment by moment. Many assume God ‘sees’ history – beginning to end – from an eternal now, without engaging in giving and receiving relations with creation. Scholars offer various theories for how […]

I don’t think God ever punishes. But I do think there are natural negative consequences to sin and evil. I spell out what this means in my book, God Can’t: How to Believe in God and Love after Tragedy, Abuse, and Other Evils. Although the idea God punishes is largely absent in the New Testament, numerous […]

In my recent writing, I have argued that God's love is uncontrolling. Consequently, God can't prevent evil by controlling others. I've also been saying that we should embrace the idea that God is a universal Spirit without a localized body. Embracing this idea is crucial too.