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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nI invented the word \u201camipotence\u201d to replace omnipotence. By it, I mean the power of God\u2019s uncontrolling love. The idea is that God always loves everyone and everything, and because divine love never controls, God can\u2019t <\/em>control anyone or anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmi\u201d means \u201clove\u201d in Latin, and \u201cpotence\u201d means \u201cpower\u201d or \u201cinfluence.\u201d The word is pronounced \u201cam\u201d (like \u201camity\u201d), with a short \u201ci\u201d (like \u201cit\u201d), and \u201cpotence\u201d (like \u201cmoments\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The essays in these two books are simply outstanding! I strongly recommend that you get copies of one or both. The subject matter of the essays ranges widely, and I learned a great deal reading them.<\/p>\n\n\n As the books’ subtitles suggest, essays add, expand, and\/or apply the idea of amipotence. But about 20% of the essayists wrote criticisms of the idea or its implications. There\u2019s no bad essay in either book!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I spent 2025 responding to each essay, and my responses are now posted online. Most of my responses are drabbles, which are statements exactly 100 words long. But on a few essays, I wrote longer responses. Click the links on the essay titles below to see them; you’ll also see suggestions for further reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I cite a number of the amipotence essays in my forthcoming book, A Systematic Theology of Love: God and Creation<\/em>, volume one. I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll cite more of essays in later volumes in the systematic theology.<\/p>\n\n\n I thank the executive editor, Brandon Brown especially for administrating both volumes. And I thank book editors Chris Baker, Steve Fountain, Fran Stedman, Melissa Owens Stewart, Deanna Young, and Travis Young. They were all fantastic! I also offer a huge<\/em> word of appreciation to Chris Baker for posting every<\/em> essay on the Center for Open and Relational Theology website (c4ort.com). That\u2019s a lot of work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below are the essays in the two books in (roughly) alphabetical order. Each has a hyperlink that takes those who click to the essay online. If you notice an essay that should be included, send me a note about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks again to every essayist for helping me explore amipotence!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence with Added Anarchy\u201d by Graham Adams<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)\u201d by Monica Alhbin<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Ontological Idolatry of Love\u201d by Jason Alvis<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAn Empowering Not Overpowering Spirit\u201d by Dave Andrews<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMan, Bear, or Amipotent God?\u201d<\/a> by Janel Apps Ramsey<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHell and Amipotence\u201d<\/a> by David Anzalone<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence Confined\u201d by Charles Atkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNight of the Living Words\u201d by Charles Bakker<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Panarchist Politics of Amipotence\u201d by Matthew Baker<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Womanist Liberative Response to Amipotence\u201d<\/a> by Karen Baker-Fletcher<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence as a Solution to the Problem of Divine Hiddenness\u201d<\/a> by Chad Bahl<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPracticing Amipotence\u201d<\/a> by Chris Baker<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs an Amipotent God Preferable to Freewill Theism?\u201d by David Basinger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTrinity, Time, and an Unfolding Future\u201d by Allan R. Bevere<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEven God Can’t Have It All\u201d by Donna Bowman<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSilent, Still and Sweet Attraction\u201d by Michael Brierley<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Prevenience of Amipotence\u201d<\/a> by Brandon Brown<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy Can’t God Do More\u201d by John H. Buchanan<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLove: The Name of the Universe\u201d<\/a> by T.D. Burnette<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLove Without Qualification\u201d<\/a> by Anna-Case-Winters<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGod and Kidney Stones\u201d<\/a> by Clifford Chalmers Cain<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence: The Ghost Buster of Harmful Doctrines\u201d<\/a> by Michael Camp<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Measureless Game\u201d<\/a> by Jason Clark<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Power of Love\u201d<\/a> by Kelly James Clark<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence Vs. Omnipotence\u201d<\/a> by John B. Cobb, Jr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOmnipotence, Amipotence, or Just the Steadfast Love of God?\u201d<\/a> by Robert D. Cornwall<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Explanatory Failure of Amipotence\u201d<\/a> by Robin A. Collins<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Palindrome of ‘Bolton’ Would Be ‘Notlob!’\u201c<\/a> by Simon Cross<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStolen Sovereignty: Abuse and the Denial of Agency\u201d<\/a> by Nathan Croy<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence Overcomes Two Problems with Omnipotence\u201d<\/a> by John E. Culp<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour Church is Dying\u201d<\/a> by Ulrick Refsager Dam<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Parable of Amipotent Love\u201d<\/a> by Paul Dazet<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence in the Gospel of Mark\u201d<\/a> by Russ Dean<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Universe of God\u2019s Dynamic Love\u201d<\/a> by Ilia Delio<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDrive-By Baskets of Christmas Cheer\u201d<\/a> by Teri Ditslear<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho\u2019s in Charge?\u201d<\/a> by Martha Elias Downey<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerfect Passivity\u201d<\/a> by Daniel A. Dombrowski<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrom Amipotence to All-Encompassing Mercy\u201d <\/a>by Adis Duderija<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGod Can\u2019t Be All-Powerful and All-Loving!\u201d<\/a> by Mike Edwards<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Politics of Amipotence\u201d<\/a> by Bruce G. Epperly<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf Love is Power, ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’\u201c<\/a> by David Fitch<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Interwoven Fabric of Christian Faith\u201d<\/a> by David Fergusson<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Supremacist Soteriology of Divine Omnipotence\u201d<\/a> by Alex Forrester<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Still Birth of Amipotence\u201d<\/a> by Gabriel Gordon<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTheology, Pediatrics, and Everyday Life\u201d<\/a> by Chris Hanson<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence in the Wesleyan Tradition\u201d <\/a>by Steve Harper<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence Versus the Psalms\u201d<\/a> by William Hasker<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll Loving Death Practices\u201d<\/a> by Beth Hayward<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPower, Control, and our Failure to Love the Earth\u201d<\/a> by Aimee Allison Hein<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence and Animal Rights\u201d<\/a> by E.A. Drew Hensley<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence and the Hope of Redemption\u201d<\/a> by Wm. Curtis Holtzen<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJustice Seeking Amipotence\u201d <\/a>by Nancy R. Howell<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGod Doesn\u2019t Barge In\u201d<\/a> by Sarah K. Howley<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe God in the Burning Bush Is Not Omnipotent\u201d<\/a> by Matt Huffman<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Force and Form of Love and God\u2019s Cosmic Body\u201d<\/a> by Darren Iammarino<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Power of Abiding Love That Will Not Let Us Go\u201d<\/a> by Charissa Jaeger-Sanders<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGod Isn\u2019t Waiting for Your Cry for Help\u201d<\/a> by Jeremy Jernigan<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf Not for the Grace of Nature, There Go I\u201d<\/a> by Mark Gregory Karris<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSuffering and the Amipotent God\u201d<\/a> by Catherine Keller<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNeuro-Relational Spirituality and Religious Power Games\u201d<\/a> by Shaleen Kendrick<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence and the Nature of Agency<\/a>\u201c by Simon Kittle<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy It Matters that Love is First\u201d<\/a> by Sarah Heaner Lancaster<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s Love Got to Do With It?\u201d<\/a> by Anson Laytner<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs the Amipotent God the World-Soul?\u201d<\/a> by Joanna Leidenhag<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAn Apology for Qualified Omnipotence\u201d<\/a> by Christopher Lilley<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe Must Rethink the Cross<\/a>\u201c by Jason Liesendahl<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGod\u2019s Power and the Therapy Room\u201d<\/a> by Steven A. Luff<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow Are We Influenced by God\u2019s Love?\u201d<\/a> by Brian Claude Macallan<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAn Open and Relational Eschatology\u201d<\/a> by Lon Marshall<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnly by Love Unfeigned\u201d<\/a> by Patrick Q. Mason<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence Versus Amorepotence, Oord Versus McCall\u201d<\/a> by Bradford McCall<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPracticing the Presence of Amipotence\u201d<\/a> by Jay McDaniel<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Meaning of God is to Love and Be Loved\u201d<\/a> by James McLachlan<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Loving God Incapable of Love\u201d<\/a> by Ryan Patrick McLaughlin<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJewish Insights on God\u2019s Power and Love\u201d<\/a> by John C. Merkle<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid the Spiritual but Not Religious Leave Because of Omnipotence?\u201d<\/a> by Linda Mercadante<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf God Learned to Love, Then God Can Teach Us How\u201d<\/a> by Tim Miller<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo Quick Fix\u201d<\/a> by Shannon Davy Mimbs<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDivine Cancer and Amipotent Community\u201d<\/a> by Ryan Miller<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cS\/He Who Cares About Every Tear!\u201d<\/a> by Saida Mirsadri<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIslamic Process Panentheism Offers a Deeper Perspective on Divine Action\u201d<\/a> by Jared Morningstar<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipo-verdant: Love is Green\u201d<\/a> by Craig Morton<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOmnipotence Has No Qualifications\u201d<\/a> by R.T. Mullins<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLike God\u201d<\/a> by Eleanor O\u2019Donnell<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSourdough Focaccia: A Case Study of Love\u201d<\/a> by Tori E. Owens<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence in Hindu Monotheism\u201d<\/a> by Swami Padmanabha<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLove is Greater than an Omnipotent ‘God’\u201c<\/a> by Sheri Pallas<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotence (Perhaps)\u201d<\/a> by Joshua G. Patterson<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMinimalist Creation ex Nihilo and the God Who is Surprised\u201d<\/a> by Joe Pettit<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHope in Love\u201d<\/a> by Elizabeth Enns Petters<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo Our Bacteria Love Us?\u201d<\/a> by John F. Pohl<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Decline of Omnipotence in Pop Culture\u201d<\/a> by Nick Polk<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMust Omnipotence Die So that Amipotence May Live?\u201d<\/a> by Austin Pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmipotentiality and the Sacrament of Service\u201d<\/a> by B. Keith Putt<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Divine Marriage\u201d<\/a> by Sharon L. Baker Putt<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Miraculous Nature of Our World\u201d<\/a> by Andre Rabe<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLiving Out Amipotence\u201d<\/a> by Vikki Randall<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho is God to Me?\u201d<\/a> by Mike Rans<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDivine Malpraxis\u201d<\/a> by Elijah Razo<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cResisting the Authoritarian Lure\u201d<\/a> by Marcel Redling<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Call for an Amipotent Pentecostal-Charismatic Revival\u201d<\/a> by Joshua D. Reichard<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExaggerated Rumors of Omnipotence\u2019s Death\u201d<\/a> by Alan R. Rhoda<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Beautiful Hope<\/a>\u201c by Michael M. Rose<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOmnipotence Justifies Leadership Abuse\u201d<\/a> by Tom Rundel<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCan Empowering Love Heal Trauma?\u201d<\/a> by Helene Russell<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Determined Divine\u201d<\/a> by Niq Ruud<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTovarche: Amipotence\u2019s Doctrinal Domino Effect\u201d<\/a> by Shawn M. Ryan<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Threefold Critique of Amipotence\u201d<\/a> by Manuel Schmid<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFour Fatal Flaws of Amipotence\u201d<\/a> by Wm. Andrew Schwartz<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Theology Without an Expiration Date\u201d<\/a> by Josh Scott<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGod Can\u2019t Because God Cares\u201d<\/a> by Eric Sentell<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAmplifying Amipotence Through a Theopoetic Re-Reading of Creation\u201d<\/a> by Matthew David Segall<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Risk of Love and its Existential Response to the Possibility of Self-Death\u201d<\/a> by Farhan Shah<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAn Amipotent God is a Mad God\u201d<\/a> by Rose Sharon<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thomasjayoord.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/amipotence-vol2-fc-3-200x300.jpg\")
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAMIPOTENCE ESSAYS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n