logo
The Future of Open Theism: From Antecedents to Opportunities, By Richard Rice alt

The Future of Open Theism

From Antecedents to Opportunities

by Richard Rice

The Future of Open Theism
Ebook
  • Length: 264 pages
  • Published: April 28, 2020
  • Imprint: IVP Academic
  • ISBN: 9780830839384
Other Formats:

Open theism has reached its adolescence. How did it get here? And where does it go from here?

Since IVP's publication of The Openness of God in 1994, evangelical theology has grappled with the alternative vision ofthe doctrine of God that open theism offers. Responding to critics who claim that it proposes a truncated version of God that fails to account for Scripture and denies many of the traditional attributes of God, open theism's proponents contend that its view of God is not only biblically warranted but also more accurate—with a portrayal of God that emphasizes divine love for humanity and responsiveness to human free will. No matter what one's assessment, open theism inarguably has made a significant impact on recent theological discourse.

Now, twenty-five years later, Richard Rice recounts in this volume the history of open theism from its antecedents and early developments to its more recent and varied expressions. He then considers different directions that open theism might continue to develop in relation to several primary doctrines of the Christian faith.

REVIEWS

"Rice gives us a splendid overview of the history of open theism along with insightful responses to major criticisms. He does so with a gentle spirit that identifies areas of agreement between its critics and proponents. He carefully notes areas of difference among open theists on several topics. Lastly, he explores open theism in relation to topics such as the Trinity, the church, and eschatology. This is a clearly written guide to contemporary open theism."John Sanders, professorof religious studies, Hendrix College
"Richard Rice offers us a fantastic book on a subject he knows intimately: open theology. The book explores precursors to this contemporary movement while addressing open theism's critics and explaining its varieties. Rice summarizes main ideas while breaking new ground to explain how the open view beautifully portrays doctrines central to Christianity. This book is now the ground floor for discussions of open theism in the present and future!"Thomas Jay Oord, author of The Uncontrolling Love of God and God Can't
"Richard Rice's book provides something lacking until now: a broad overview of the open theist movement that places it in its historical perspective. A partisan himself, Rice is consistently fair and accurate, both in setting out open theism and in discussing objections to the position and replies to them. His theological reflections provide one theologian's perspective on the broader implications of the position and constitute an invitation to others to develop their own open theist theologies beyond the rather narrow range of questions that have dominated most of the literature. This book is required reading for all who have been challenged by this dynamic theological movement."William Hasker, professor emeritus of philosophy at Huntington University, former editor of Faith and Philosophy
"Richard Rice offers a very accessible, evenhanded coming-of-age discussion of open theism—past, present, and future. Starting with an engaging account of its origins and fiery, unwelcomed entry into conservative Christian strongholds, Rice goes on to give an instructive overview of the important theological debates open theism has sparked in mainstream theological and philosophical circles. Finally, Rice points to interesting ways in which the basic tenets of open theism can contribute to afuller, richer understanding of key theological concepts such as the Trinity, Christology, the church, and last things. A must-read for anyone who wants to understand why open theism continues to have so much appeal to thoughtful Christian laypeoplelooking for ways to reconcile their theological beliefs about God and the world with their lived experience."David Basinger, vice president for academic affairs, Roberts Wesleyan College
"In this well-written, impressively comprehensive, and compellingly argued work, Richard Rice outlines the past, present, and (what may be) the future of open theism. Reflecting an admirably irenic spirit at every turn, Rice discusses not only themultitude of theological and philosophical issues that separate open theists from their critics, but also that distinguish different varieties of open theism from one another. Whether you're an advocate, critic, or just an interested bystander, after reading The Future of Open Theism, I suspect you'll be surprised by how much about open theism you did not know! This is simply indispensable reading for anyone interested in this important topic."Greg Boyd, senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, author of God at War and Is God to Blame?
More
Request an Exam or Desk Copy

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I: The Origins and Development of Open Theism
1. Antecedents to Open Theism
2. Early Formulations of Open Theism
3. Critics and Conflicts
4. Philosophical Discussions of Open Theism
5. Varieties of Open Theism
Part II: Themes of Open Theism
6. Does Open Theism Limit God?
7. Open Theism and the Trinity
8. Human Freedom and the Openness of God
9. Christology and the Openness of God
10. Open Theism and the Challenge of Church
11. Open Theism and the Last Things
Conclusion
Bibliography
Credits
Author Index
Subject Index
Scripture Index

More

BONUS MATERIAL

Download the Press Kit.

You May Also Like

The Epic of Eden
What Hath Justice to Do with Righteousness?
We Believe in the Holy Spirit
Moms on the Way
We Believe in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
Culture Care
The Barnabas Factor
The Way of Befriending
Job
Modern Psychopathologies

ABOUT Richard Rice

Richard Rice

Richard Rice (PhD, University of Chicago Divinity School) is professor of religion at Loma Linda University. He is the author of several books, including Suffering and the Search for Meaning, Reason and the Contours of Faith, andGod's Foreknowledge and Man's Free Will, and coauthor of The Openness of God: A Biblical Challenge to the Traditional Understanding of God.

Related Titles