Review of Oliver Crisps’ Deviant Calvinism: Broadening Reformed Theology Part Five   This is Part Five of my series of review essays of Oliver Crisp’s new book Deviant Calvinism: Broadening Reformed Theology and deals with Chapter 5 : Universalism and Particularism.” I invite those reading the book with me to agree or disagree with my interpretations of Crisp’s views and I invite others (anyone) to step in to comment on the subject matter itself (in this case “libertarian Calvinism”). But... Read more

I recently received this e-mail message from a total stranger. This is why I wrote Against Calvinism–simply to show that Calvinism is not the only Christian option and to point away from it to alternatives (primarily classical Arminianism). This is not the only testimony I’ve received like this; it’s just a very recent and especially poignant and satisfying one. I have only lightly edited it. Here is the message: I’ll try to be brief. The first person who really discipled... Read more

Woody Allen Should Have Quoted Pascal: “Magic in the Moonlight”   I am no Roger Ebert and don’t watch that many movies, but in my opinion, for what it’s worth, Woody Allen’s 2014 film “Magic in the Moonlight” is one of the last year’s most theologically profound movies. The theological point, however, may easily be missed without careful attention to the story’s irony. On the surface, unlike Allen’s other theologically profound movie “Crimes and Misdemeanors,” “Magic in the Moonlight” seems... Read more

A Problem in Theology: Distinctions without Differences   One thing that puzzles me (and more) in theology is the frequent appeal by theologians (including philosophers doing theology) to distinctions that seem to me to have no real differences. I cannot claim to be innocent; I’m sure that (at least to others) I have sometimes fallen into the same trap. But when I do I expect to be called on it. This phenomenon is well known to everyone—outside theology if not... Read more

My Favorite Catholic Theologian: Walter Kasper (With Special Reference to “Mercy”)   One of my main reasons for attending the annual meetings of the American Academy of Religion is to browse the publishers’ displays. Over one hundred publishers of religious and theological books display their new and recently published books. To me there’s nothing like seeing and handling books for deciding whether to buy and read. I dread the day when hard copies of books disappear and they are all... Read more

Review of Oliver Crisps’ Deviant Calvinism: Broadening Reformed Theology Part Four   This is Part Four of my series of review essays of Oliver Crisp’s new book Deviant Calvinism: Broadening Reformed Theology and deals with Chapter 4 : “Augustinian Universalism.” I invite those reading the book with me to agree or disagree with my interpretations of Crisp’s views and I invite others (anyone) to step in to comment on the subject matter itself (in this case “libertarian Calvinism”). But if... Read more

Growing Up “Evangelical” in the 1950s/1960s: “Look What They’ve Done to My Religion”   To me the classic version of the old song “Look What They’ve Done to My Song (Ma)” will always be Ray Charles’s (no offense to Miley Cyrus). When I think about contemporary American evangelical Christianity compared with the 1950s/1960s version I grew up in, somehow that song comes to mind. What have they done to my religion? Oh, I know all the routine responses to such... Read more

Some Year-End/New Year Thoughts/Resolutions about This Blog   What is the purpose of this blog? Most simply expressed it is to provide the public, those who care, with a theologically-informed “voice” speaking about issues relevant to Christianity and culture from a moderately progressive, evangelical Arminian perspective. I could also say it is to have a forum for expressing my opinions on a variety of subjects. Who is the intended audience of this blog? Well, there is no specific audience other... Read more

For God So Loved the World…That He Couldn’t Stay Away: A Christmas Meditation   This is the heart of the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and therefore of authentic Christianity: the incarnation of God as “one of us.” Take it away and Christianity is little more than a moralistic, therapeutic deism. The incarnation, as event and doctrine, is the distinctive note of the Christian witness and the basis of Christian hope. But many Christians believe in the... Read more

Review of Oliver Crisps’ Deviant Calvinism: Broadening Reformed Theology Part Three   This is Part Three of my series of review essays of Oliver Crisp’s new book Deviant Calvinism: Broadening Reformed Theology and deals with Chapter 3 : “Libertarian Calvinism.” I invite those reading the book with me to agree or disagree with my interpretations of Crisp’s views and I invite others (anyone) to step in to comment on the subject matter itself (in this case “libertarian Calvinism”). But if... Read more