I spent a bit of time responding to a comment on this week’s Theological Term, which was, in case you’ve forgotten, open theism.
From the comment from Kane:
Have you read Gregory Boyd, or John Sanders? Perhaps Clark Pinnock?
I’m thinking more specifically about the books God At War, Satan and the Problem of Evil, The God Who Risks, or Most Moved Mover. They’re all very impacting reads and make exceptional cases for providential openness.
I haven’t read all of those books, but I have read one of them, so I gave a quick summary of the reasons that I reject the arguments in it.
I’ve read John Sanders quite thoroughly. (Once upon a time we went to the same church.) I’d have to say that I didn’t consider his arguments compelling and here’s a quick summary of my reasons why:
- First, I don’t share the philosophical assumptions that gave rise to the whole openness system. It’s hard to buy the system if you don’t buy the presuppositions.
- I’d also argue that the notion that classical view of God borrows from Greek philosophy is bogus. That criticism actually better fits the openess view.
- What’s more, I found the exegetical arguments unconvincing. I accept that most of the proof texts used to support the open view are anthropomorphisms and anthropopathisms. After all, God is not like us, so we would expect that when he communicates truths about himself to us by means of human language, it will always be by way of analogy, because there are only inadequate human categories to use.
- And last, even though open theists claim to be vindicating God, I find open theology to be useless as a theodicy.
If you want me to explain more about any of the points, let me know.