Richard RiceRecensioni

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 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."

The presence and pervasiveness of suffering in this world poses a persistent challenge to religious belief and religious believers. Satan and his cohort of once angelic, now demonic, followers are the fores behind the strife and bloodshed that riddle human history. The assurance that we are connected to a power mightier than of of his foes can be immensely comforting and strengthing.

Rice not only provides a masterful summary of the different views; he also impartially answers most of the many questions each of these views raises.

not a big fan