Open and Relational Theology: An Introduction to Life-Changing Ideas by Thomas Jay Oord

Ever since I read The God Who Trusts, I have been intrigued by the ideas of open and relational theology. I knew I needed to go back and read something from one of the first who gave these ideas a bit more volume among theology circles.

Hence the introductory text, Open and Relational Theology by Oord.

Defining the theology

The author takes the time to define the theological concepts of open and relational while tying it in to the questions that many of us have. We suffer and then struggle with an all-powerful God who could have changed things but didn’t. Oord offers an alternative to the choice of God not stopping evil in the world, and our lives. The examples used are relatable and universal, yet personal.

Oord connects the character of God to what He does. This is key, and really the author might say he connects the character of God with what God can’t do. He proposes that all that God does is loving, and he cannot do what is not loving. The power of love that God is, he calls amipotent. Amipotent is then pitted against omnipotent the describe God’s power. The author also takes care to address where open and relational theologians differ to some degree and offers an extensive selection of additional reading in the back matter.

challenge tradition

Despite how confusing that all was in the above paragraph, Oord makes it clear. He challenges traditional theology. Unfortunately, he does that with very few Bible verse references. There were a few ideas that I could easily come up with examples and verses that support it, but some that I couldn’t. The lack of Bible-based references weakens the arguments, especially since it is an introduction. As an introduction, there is all the more reason to offer references to support the ideas, rather than just stating them.

4/5 stars

If you are looking for answers about the character of God, about evil in this world, about how prayer may change God’s mind, about how God interacts with his creation, this is a great start to further that thinking. It may answer some questions and surely help you form more. Given the lack of references and support for the theories, I’ve given the book 4 stars.