http://www.skepticalchristian.com/br_... ( )

If I could I'd give this book 4.75 stars.

First, it is an excellent answer to Calvinist criticism of true Arminian theology. And Arminian theology is what Olson talks about. He counters every myth starting with the works of Arminius and working his way through Arminianistic theologians to the present day. He shows that most misconceptions about Arminianism stem from Limborch and Finney, not Arminius and Wesley. Still, as a recent devotee to Free Will Baptist theologians, I wish he would have referenced Forlines and Picirilli more, as they are probably the most conservative and evangelical and fundamentalist and ARMINIAN (a label they proudly embrace) folks around. This strongly counters the calumny that Arminian belief leads to unitarianism, universalism, and liberal theology. The book's primary drawback, and why I give it 4.75 stars instead of a full 5, is that he focuses mainly on theologians, not the Bible. In fact, some reviews I have read on Amazon and elsewhere by hateful Calvinists claim this book is bunk because he does not address the Bible (as if Arminians never do this, and that Calvinism is the ONLY way).

The book is in ten chapters, each addressing a common misconception of Arminian theology. The first three myths are general in tone: he argues that Arminian theology is not the exact opposite of Calvinism, they have a lot in common (Myth 1), but maintains that the two cannot be blended into a single "Calminianism" (or "Four-Point") system (Myth 2); he also says that Arminianism is just as orthodox and evangelical as Calvinism. The remaining chapters address particular criticisms that have commonly been leveled at Arminians by Calvinists. First (Myth 4) that the heart of Arminianism is "libertarian" free will (Calvinists always throw in that "libertarian" word to make it seem humanistic). Olson shows that classical Arminians affirm total depravity (Myth 6) and justification by grace alone through faith alone (Myth 9). He describes the Arminian interpretation of divine sovereignty (Myth 5), grace (Myth 7), and predestination (Myth 8), and he also shows that many Arminians affirm a penal substitutionary atonement (Myth 10).

Cheers to whomever insisted on proper footnotes at the bottom of the page, jeers if that person also decided to not have a bibliography as well.

Overall, an excellent book about Arminian belief for budding Arminians (or those who really are but are scared of the label) and honest-minded Calvinists. Here's to hoping that Olson undertakes a second volume focusing on an Arminian biblical exegesis. ( )

Just a quick glance at the book introduction and first chapter, I expect this book to be a profitible study. I do not think that I will agree with it any more than I agree with all the points of Calvinism. ( )