David Basinger

I was introduced to some of these concepts through the writings of G. Campbell Morgan, Terence Fretheim, George MacDonald and Winkie Pratney. (If it's true, it isn't new, and if it's new, it isn't true.) My thoughts on this book in particular:

This book is like an introduction to the "open theology" material. As such, it feels somewhat like a fly by. The biblical chapter did not have many new things to say to me, but the "historical considerations" was much more relevant to me since I am weak show more in that area. The research probably benefits from multiple authors, but I also felt that it made the discussion feel slow, and sometimes repetitive.

If you want to think about ideas like the suffering of God and how we see God's activity in time, I would recommend something more practical and biblical. Many authors (as I mentioned above) have written on these topics without making dogmatic arguments that tend to remove focus from the application of biblical truth. This is an important debate, but it is primarily important because we need to balance our metaphors about God in the same way that the Bible does and live in light of that truth. Expository writing can meet those goals. However, this book is intended as a theological introduction to a way of thinking, and I guess it would meet that goal pretty well if you wanted a clear introduction "open theology." show less

It certainly cements the case that Calvinists have predestination wrong. I am glad the Bible has a concise definition to this broad-brush topic. if one continually shakes pepper into the soup because they like pepper, will it actually taste to peppered expectations? James 4:13-17 does a great job in delivering what providential free will is all about.

This is the book that convinced me to become a Calvinist. Without giving too much away, I'll say that of the four contributors, it's only the Calvinist's view that matches with what I see in scripture. The others are weighing philosophy and human reason above the Biblical witness.

not a big fan