Disqus - Friends of lakewood

Re: Am I a “Liberal Christian” (According to Roger Olson)?

Roger Olson — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:23:09 -0000

Tony, I really don't know why you care what I think if you think my ideas are "sophomoric." Why not just dismiss me as a crank and have done with it?

Re: Another Calvinist Misrepresentation of Arminianism

Roger Olson — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:36:02 -0000

I'm not sure to whom you are responding, but please tone it down. This is a safe space for civil discussion of theology, not a place for name calling or harsh polemics.

Re: Another Calvinist Misrepresentation of Arminianism

Roger Olson — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:39:01 -0000

Okay, but it's borderline. Thanks for making clear these are not my views. I know nothing of this and I welcome anyone who would like to jump in to defend McGowan.

Re: Review of The Evangelicals You Don’t Know: Introducing the Next Generation of Christians by Tom Krattenmaker

Roger Olson — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:45:28 -0000

I think Krattenmaker was referring to disciples. The ones he mentions are all knowledgeable about the faith.

Re: A New Liberation Theology?

Roger Olson — Wed, 08 May 2013 08:56:42 -0000

I'm quite sure no liberation theologian, new or old, would admit wanting to "sacrifice" the poor in any way, shape or form. However, some of the older, more radical liberationists might see the new, more pragmatic approach, as that. I'd love to listen in to a discussion between, say, Gutierrez and Sung to see how it would go.

Re: A New Liberation Theology?

Roger Olson — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:20:59 -0000

True. The technical language gets very tricky. Technically, philosophically, "neo-liberalism" (or just "neoliberalism") is conservative by most people's standards and language usage.

Re: Please Don’t Go Away! And Please Keep Posting Comments. (And a Recommendation of a Good Faith-Based Novel)

Roger Olson — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:22:35 -0000

To be fair and open--Patheos pays me to to have my blog at their site.

Re: Is the “Prosperity Gospel” Real Liberation (for Oppressed Minorities)?

Roger Olson — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:24:50 -0000

I didn't say Kenyon was a "cultist," but I will stand by McConnell's claim that he was influenced by New Thought.

Re: How Important Is the Doctrine of the Trinity?

Roger Olson — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:40:52 -0000

Earliest Christian thought about God was much more trinitarian than the doctrine's critics like to claim. To them (and anyone influenced by them against the Trinity) I say--just go back and read the Apostolic Fathers of the second century and Irenaeus, Tertullian and Origen (all late second and early third century Christian theologians). Oh, and read Celsus--Christianity's main intellectual critic of the second century who denounced Christians for worshiping a man (Jesus) as God.

Re: How Important Is the Doctrine of the Trinity?

Roger Olson — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:43:11 -0000

From a New Testament perspective we can only assume that one member of the Trinity was speaking for all or that all were speaking together.

Re: A Concentration Camp by Any Other Name…

Roger Olson — Sun, 12 May 2013 08:45:31 -0000

And now I see a cover of some major news magazine (simply glanced at as I passed in an airport hallway) that ask if we must give up our privacy for safety. Many will say yes without thinking about the consequences. That is giving up "America" in my opinion.

Re: A Concentration Camp by Any Other Name…

Roger Olson — Sun, 12 May 2013 08:48:09 -0000

You are trusting what the government says for all this. Why?

Re: Did Karl Barth Really Say “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know….?”

Roger Olson — Sun, 12 May 2013 08:49:47 -0000

I know of two people writing books about Barth who want to know the true story about "Jesus loves me...." So the thread is not dead. Please tell me the identity of the person.

Re: A Concentration Camp by Any Other Name…

Roger Olson — Sun, 12 May 2013 08:57:33 -0000

Everyone agrees there are "detainees" there being held indefinitely without trial and being denied habeas corpus. If everyone's wrong, then there's no harm in protesting. If everyone's right, then protesting is the right thing to do and might do some good. What I don't trust is the government's claim that they all deserve to be there. I don't know because I believe in "innocent until proven guilty"--a basic axiom of our way of life.

Re: A Concentration Camp by Any Other Name…

Roger Olson — Sun, 12 May 2013 08:59:48 -0000

That way of thinking is exactly what got Germany into trouble in the 1930s--giving away basic rights for security.

Re: Philosophers “doing” theology: pros and cons

Roger Olson — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:32:13 -0000

Okay, then, in that case, what would be the difference between theology and philosophy? Remember, I am arguing one person can "do" both and even be both a theologian and a philosopher, but I have qualms about philosophers QUA philosophers using revelation. Back to my first point--a question based on your explanation. What, then, is the "in principle" difference between philosophy and theology?

Re: Philosophers “doing” theology: pros and cons

Roger Olson — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:33:45 -0000

Remember, please (!) that I said one person can do both theology and philosophy and even bring them together in creative conversation. I know Willard was a philosopher by profession, but, in my estimation, anyway, he often wrote theology (e.g., in The Divine Conspiracy).

Re: Philosophers “doing” theology: pros and cons

Roger Olson — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:34:31 -0000

I agree that that can also be a disaster--especially if the theologian is not trained in philosophy.

Re: Philosophers “doing” theology: pros and cons

Roger Olson — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:37:02 -0000

Thanks for letting me know that you were able to comment without signing in. That's a relief. So, if you are correct (and you are in agreement with another commenter in response to my post), what is the difference between philosophy and theology--in principle? Or isn't there any?

Re: Philosophers “doing” theology: pros and cons

Roger Olson — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:37:50 -0000

I hesitate to name journals, publishers, etc., when offering critiques of their missions. If the shoe fits...

Re: Philosophers “doing” theology: pros and cons

Roger Olson — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:39:09 -0000

Yes, true of many theologians. And it's a shame. But my concern here is philosophers (mostly Christians) seemingly attempting to replace theologians (who they think have failed as Christian theologians).

Re: Philosophers “doing” theology: pros and cons

Roger Olson — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:42:22 -0000

I am getting the impression from some Christian philosophers that they disdain theology and theologians. They seem to want to replace theologians and "do" theology themselves. The problem, as I see it, is that many of them (perhaps most) are not trained in biblical studies or historical theology. I am all for critical and constructive conversations between philosophers and theologians, but I want to keep the disciplines distinct.

Re: Philosophers “doing” theology: pros and cons

Roger Olson — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:43:04 -0000

During my recent journey I also found it difficult to work with my blog from my ipad. Not sure what the problem there is. The Patheos folks assure me there should be no problem.

Re: How Important Is the Doctrine of the Trinity?

Roger Olson — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:44:37 -0000

You fail to understand the doctrine of the Trinity. There are not three wills of God; there is only one will. So the Trinity is both like and unlike any human community (and single individual).

Re: A Concentration Camp by Any Other Name…

Roger Olson — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:48:02 -0000

Go to youtube.com and look for a three part series on Calvinism (also Arminianism) by evangelical philosopher Jerry Walls.