What Is “Theology?” Here I am asking only about Christian theology, not philosophical or theologies of non-Christian religions. Here is the best brief definition of Christian theology I have read: “Theology…attempts critically to review the assertions Christians make. They are tested in light of the real actions of God. For Christians do not make their assertions at random; they are of the opinion that in making them they are doing justice to God; they believe they are correctly saying that... Read more

Christ’s Atoning Death was NOT “Divine Child Abuse” Many feminist and womanist (and other) theologians claim that traditional atonement theories, including any and all that consider Jesus’s death on the cross part of a divine plan, constitute “divine child abuse” and wrongly justify human abuse of children and women. This is simply absurd. Why? Because, Jesus was God voluntarily becoming human to, among other things, die as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. When I hear or read a... Read more

Thank God for Womanist Theology, But… As a new Anabaptist, I subscribe the magazine “Anabaptist World.” If you are an Anabaptist (e.g., Mennonite) or have real interest in what is happening among various kinds of Anabaptists today, you really ought to subscribe to “Anabaptist World.” I am a “new Anabaptist” only in the sense that, for the first time, finally, I attend a Mennonite church. I have inclined toward Anabaptist theology and practice for many years, regarding the early Anabaptists... Read more

Whatever Happened to Common Sense? Recently I was asked to help the manager of an apartment complex to revise and update the Rules and Regulations by which both owners and renters must abide. As I was talking with the complex manager about the details, he suggested some additions to which I responded “But aren’t those common sense?” He rightly responded “There no such thing as common sense anymore.” I couldn’t argue with that. Was there ever such a thing as... Read more

A Call for Universal Communion (among Orthodox Christians) The divisions among Christians is a tragedy and not pleasing to God. Jesus prayed to the Father than his disciples would be one, even as he and the father were one. Surely neither Jesus nor the apostles envisioned a future in which Christians would be so divided. However, I’m a realist (maybe a pessimist) and don’t see any hope for one world Christian church. Denominations (whatever people call them) are here to... Read more

Is America Now “Decadent” (as Khrushchev Predicted)? Can anyone who has lived long enough (60 plus years) doubt that American culture has changed dramatically in the past half century? Can anyone who has watched television for a half century or more doubt it? I well remember when Soviet Union premier Khrushchev pounded his fist (some say his shoe!) on the podium at the United Nations and declared “We will bury you!”—speaking to and about “the West,” especially the USA. He... Read more

A non-fundamentalist, evangelical narrative of the divide Thanks to Don Johnson for his personal, fundamentalist account of the divide between fundamentalists and (neo)evangelicals. Here, below, is mine; it was taught to me in seminary (North American Baptist Seminary) and by people like George Marsden and Joel Carpenter, historians of modern evangelicalism. And, of course, I went on after seminary to become a leading historian and theologian of the American evangelical movement. First, I insist on making a distinction between the... Read more

Evangelicalism, Fundamentalism, and New Evangelicalism – what’s the difference? (Guest Post by self-identified fundamentalist Rev. Don Johnson) “We suggest that those who still cling to the great fundamentals and who mean to do battle royal for the fundamentals shall be called ‘Fundamentalists.’” This sentence appeared in The Watchman-Examiner, a Christian paper edited by Curtis Lee Laws. Laws published this on July 1, 1920, eight days after the 1920 Pre-Convention Conference, held just prior to the annual meeting of the Northern... Read more

Ask Professor Olson about Theology One of my favorite channels on Youtube is one where people write in questions for “Pastor John [Piper]” I decided to invite you, anyone, to ask me a question about Christian theology. Please keep it brief and specific and know that I may or may not be able to answer. I’m sure “Pastor Piper” doesn’t answer every questions submitted. I’ll select ones that I am especially interested in answering. As always, I will not post... Read more