Abstract
Open theism is the “newest” of the theisms in this part of the book, except for some of the emerging “end of being theologies” explored in the sixth section. While all of the key theological/philosophical commitments affirmed by open theists have been, and continue to be, affirmed by proponents of other theisms, the classification of a specific set of these commitments as “open theism” is relatively recent (1994). Accordingly, both proponents and critics are still in the process of attempting to clarify both the key theological/philosophical concepts in question and their implications for practical Christian living. This has understandably led to significant confusion on the part of many encountering open theism for the first time.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsNotes
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
A more detailed discussion of these three differing understandings of divine omnipotence can be found in Basinger (1996), chapter 1.
- 4.
There is in the literature an unfortunate ambiguity in the use of the phrase “freewill theism.” At times it is used as the label for one of the specific perspectives on God’s power (as is the case here), but at other times as a more comprehensive label, like “open theism” or “process theism,” for one of the theological systems affirming a specific set of perspectives on all four key attributes in question.
- 5.
A fuller discussion of God’s moral nature can be found in Basinger (1996), chapter 3.
- 6.
See, for example, Lucas (2010).
- 7.
As will be noted below, not all who currently label themselves open theists believe God must be subject to emotive passibility (affective change). I will argue at that point, however, that this is an unacceptable option for open theists.
- 8.
I am here referencing the broader meaning of “freewill theism” as a theological system affirming a specific set of perspectives on all four key attributes in question. See footnote [4] above.
- 9.
A more detailed discussion of these differing understandings of divine omniscience can be found in Basinger (1996), chapter 2.
- 10.
Some key critical sources are the following: Craig (2000), Erickson (2003), Flint (1998), Frame (2001), Geisler and House (2001), Helm (1994), Piper et al. (2003), Schreiner and Ware (2000), Ware (2001), Wright (1996).
See again Witham (2010) for a more in-depth discussion of the difficulties encountered by some who initially affirmed open theism.
- 11.
Basinger (2011).
- 12.
For example, in a statement on the Open Theism Information Site www.opentheism.info, Sanders states the following: “It is not essential for open theists to take a stand on whether or not God was temporal prior to creation. Even if God was eternally temporal God did not experience metric (measured) time until the creation.”
- 13.
The question of the extent of God’s own freedom of choice continues to be a debatable issue in the broader theological/philosophical context. See, for example, Morriston (2002). At present, I’m only sharing some initial thoughts what an open theist might or might not be committed to with respect to divine freedom and God’s creative activity.
References
Basinger, David. 1996. The case for freewill theism: A philosophical assessment. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.
Basinger, David. 2011. Religious belief formation: A Kantian perspective informed by science. In God in an open universe, ed. William Hasker, Thomas Jay Oord, and Dean Zimmerman, 50–66. Eugene: Pickwick Publications.
Boyd, Gregory A. 2000. God of the possible: A biblical introduction to the open view of God. Grand Rapids: Baker Books.
Craig, William Lane. 2000. The only wise God: The compatibility of divine foreknowledge and human freedom. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Erickson, Millard. 2003. What does God know and when does he know it?: The current controversy over divine foreknowledge. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Flint, Thomas P. 1998. Divine providence: The Molinist account. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Frame, John. 2001. No other God: A response to open theism. Phillipsburg: Presbyterian & Reformed Press.
Fretheim, Terence. 1984. The suffering of God: An old testament perspective, Overtures to Biblical Theology. Philadelphia: Fortress Press.
Geisler, Norman L., and H.Wayne House. 2001. The battle for God: Responding to the challenge of neotheism. Grand Rapids: Kregal Publications.
Hasker, William. 1998. God, time and knowledge, Cornell Studies in the Philosophy of Religion. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Hasker, William. 2004. Providence, evil, and the openness of God, Routledge Studies in the Philosophy of Religion. New York: Routledge.
Helm, Paul. 1994. The providence of God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.
Lucas, J.R. 2010. The vulnerability of God. In Philosophy of religion: Selected readings, 4th ed, ed. Mike Peterson, William Hasker, Bruce Reichenbach, and David Basinger, 369–376. New York: Oxford Press.
Morriston, Wes. 2002. Omnipotence and the power to chose. Faith and Philosophy 19: 358–367.
Open Theism Information Site. www.opentheism.info. Accessed 5 Mar 2010.
Pinnock, Clark H. 2001. Most moved mover: A theology of God’s openness. Grand Rapids: Baker Books.
Pinnock, Clark H., Richard Rice, John Sanders, William Hasker, and David Basinger. 1994. The openness of God: A biblical challenge to the traditional understanding of God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.
Piper, John, Justin Taylor, and Paul Helseth (eds.). 2003. Beyond the bounds: Open theism and the undermining of biblical Christianity. Wheaton: Crossway Books.
Rice, Richard. 2004. God’s foreknowledge and man’s free will. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers. Previously published as The openness of God: The relationship of divine foreknowledge and human free will. 1980. Minneapolis: Bethany House.
Sanders, John. 1998. The God who risks: A theology of providence. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.
Schreiner, Thomas R., and Bruce A. Ware (eds.). 2000. Still sovereign: Contemporary perspectives on election, foreknowledge, and grace. Grand Rapids: Baker Books.
Ware, Bruce A. 2001. God’s lesser glory: The diminished God of open theism. Wheaton: Crossway Books.
Witham, Larry. 2010. The God biographers: Our changing image of God from job to the present. Chapter 8. Lanham: Lexington Books.
Wright, R.K. McGregor. 1996. No place for sovereignty: What’s wrong with freewill theism. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Basinger, D. (2013). Introduction to Open Theism. In: Diller, J., Kasher, A. (eds) Models of God and Alternative Ultimate Realities. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5219-1_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5219-1_22
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-5218-4
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-5219-1
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawPhilosophy and Religion (R0)