Roger E. Olson

This May (7-9) I will be speaking several times at the national Missio Alliance Gathering in Alexandria, Virginia. This is a gathering of Christians interested in exploring theology (broadly defined) without the fetters and limitations placed on such discussions by neo-fundamentalism. This year's theme is "resurrection" and its implications for becoming truly human. Go to the Alliance's web site to view the details and consider registering: www.missioalliance.org. … [Read more...]

Why I Believe in Creatio ex nihilo (Even Though the Bible Doesn’t Directly Teach It) Every once in a while I meet someone who, while exhibiting every sign of being a true Christian, denies the traditional Christian doctrine of “creatio ex nihilo”—creation out of nothing. This belief, the “prior actuality of God” (Austin Farrer’s term), combined with the idea that God created in the beginning out of nothing (not “Nothingness”—Greek philosophy’s me ōn), is not directly taught in Script … [Read more...]

So, following up on my recent post about Downton Abbey--Here is a challenge. Identify good male characters in recent/contemporary popular culture. They must be "real men" (not overly feminized like Phil in Modern Family) but also truly virtuous even if flawed. By virtuous I mean: wise, compassionate, selfless, other-focused, constructive (even if also critical where appropriate), and humble (without being totally self-effacing). In a word: admirable.I will start. Matthew Crawley in the early … [Read more...]

Some Thoughts about “Downton Abbey” as Guilty Pleasure and Propaganda I confess it reluctantly: I am addicted to the British television series “Downton Abbey” which I watch weekly (Sunday evenings) on “Masterpiece Theatre” on “public television.” One thing I like about it is—no commercials interruptions of the program itself. I also enjoy the stunningly beautiful scenery—inside the castle and outside in the English countryside and villages. I also watch now to find out about more abo … [Read more...]

The following blog post is written by my former students and always friend Kyndall Rothaus, pastor of Covenant Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas. I am so proud of students who have gone on to publish books. Preacher Breath is newly published by Smyth & Helwys, a (moderate) Baptist-related publisher. Kyndall is brilliant, articulate, insightful and contemplative. She’s also a feminist in the best sense of the word and wrote a guest post for this blog some back ago about feminism. Here is h … [Read more...]

A Major Reason for “Failure to Communicate”—Even Among ChristiansUnlike many of my contemporaries, whether religious or irreligious, I always assume a very real distinction between what is objectively real and true and what is merely subjectively felt and perceived. I do not claim that the line between them is clearly visible; it often is not. And the “objectively real and true” is often inaccessible to me and to everyone. I admit that there is no “view from nowhere”—a basic axiom of postmode … [Read more...]

The Problem with Men and Why We Ignore It/Them at Our Own RiskMany observers of contemporary Western societies are observing and occasionally commenting on the increasing “man problem” possibly fed by the “boy crisis.” In a nutshell the “man problem” is that very many young men are simply dropping out of the social order and electing to live dependently on parents or others. “Failure to launch” is one term for this. While women are forging ahead in business, politics, journalism, education, m … [Read more...]