Open Theism / Religious Pluralism
Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 6:19 pm
There are several new waves of teaching within the body of Christ that are subverting sound Christian Doctrine and replacing Christian Theology with peculiar modes of thinking. I will address a few of these in the Theology Thread here on this Forum for discussion and comment. Next is Open Theism
Theopedia defines Open Theism as follows
Though Christian orthodoxy rejects the notions of Open Theism, however, it has influenced bible translators, inerrancy of scripture, and justifies blending of other religions into Christianity, a liberal slant to bible interpretation, ecumenicalism...
Here are some examples in question form that demonstrates the effect of Open Theism on mainstream Christianity - have you heard these?
Have you heard that the bible is not the Word of God?
Tolerance, acceptance of other points of views and lifestyle is highest morality of love humanity can achieve... Heard something like this in churches lately?
What other forms of Open Theism have you heard that infects Christian thought?
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Theopedia defines Open Theism as follows
The proponents of Open Theism are Gregory Boyd, John Sanders, Clark Pinnock, Bob Enyart...Open theism, also called free will theism and openness theology, is the belief that God does not exercise meticulous control of the universe but leaves it "open" for humans to make significant choices (free will) that impact their relationships with God and others. A corollary of this is that God has not predetermined the future. Open Theists further believe that this would imply that God does not know the future exhaustively. Proponents affirm that God is omniscient, but deny that this means that God knows everything that will happen.
Open Theists argue that people are created to be in meaningful relationships with God and others and as moral beings must have the ability to make real, responsible choices in their lives. Open Theists argue that this cannot be accomplished as long as God exercises exhaustive control of the universe or predetermines the future because this would remove humanity's free will. The counter point to this is that critics of Open Theism say that if God is not exercising meticulous control of the universe, or does not exhaustively know the future, then this would imply that He is not in control and we are not able to completely trust in God's sovereignty. Furthermore, the question remains, will God actually be able to triumph over evil? Open Theists answer these critiques by noting that while God does not exercise meticulous control, he is "ultimately" in control.
There are two primary motivations for Open Theism. The first is to express a relationship with God that Christians experience devotional. God, Open Theism says, because He desires relationship, has given us real freedom to respond to Him relationally. Secondly, Open Theism focuses on the issue of theodicy. In this Open Theists claim that God's omnipotence does not mean that He is the author of every evil, but that God will ultimately triumph over evil.
http://www.theopedia.com/Open_theism
Though Christian orthodoxy rejects the notions of Open Theism, however, it has influenced bible translators, inerrancy of scripture, and justifies blending of other religions into Christianity, a liberal slant to bible interpretation, ecumenicalism...
Here are some examples in question form that demonstrates the effect of Open Theism on mainstream Christianity - have you heard these?
Have you heard that the bible is not the Word of God?
Tolerance, acceptance of other points of views and lifestyle is highest morality of love humanity can achieve... Heard something like this in churches lately?
What other forms of Open Theism have you heard that infects Christian thought?
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