From Where Did the First Evil Inclination Come? A Dialogue with a Calvinist
written by Roger E. Olson, PhD
Free Will
Free Will Debate with Turretinfan
Turretinfan and I recently debated if the bible teaches libertarian free will. I hope that you find it useful. Here was the format we used with links to the transcript: Introduction: The Bible teach…
An Arminian Response to C. Michael Patton’s “The Irrationality of Calvinism” Part 5: Taking The Mystery Out of Mr. Patton’s Strange Arguments
Part 5: Taking the Mystery Out of Mr. Patton’s Strange Arguments
Patton: These two issues, human freedom and sovereign election, are not contradictory when put together, but they are a mystery.
This is the same claim Mr. Patton made in his first post called “Why Calvinism is the Least Rational Option.” We have already begun to highlight the problems with this claim.
An Arminian Response to C. Michael Patton’s “The Irrationality of Calvinism” Part 4: Returning the Favor (Reversing the Argument)
Part 4: Returning the Favor (Reversing the Argument) Patton: To the Calvinists, man is fully responsible for his choice, yet God’s election is unconditional. This creates a problem. It creates great tension. I agree that…
Alvin Plantinga, “Bait and Switch: Sam Harris on Free Will”
Alvin Plantinga, “Bait and Switch: Sam Harris on Free Will” — http://www.booksandculture.com/articles/2013/janfeb/bait-and-switch.html?paging=off [Editor’s note: The author expresses doubt that Calvin held to determinism, but he certainly did. See e.g., Calvin’s Institutes, I.xvi.8; I.xviii; and his…
Calvinist Advocating Free Will?
A little theological humor: Calvinist Kenny Halperman (right) suddenly regretted joining the “Free William Taylor” protest march. (Humor from http://sacredsandwich.com/) You can find the picture with the caption together in the attachment: Calvinist Advocating Free Will (the caption is…
Again . . . Am I Predestined To Be An Arminian?
It’s a relevant question to ask. Those who are predisposed to a deterministic viewpoint seem to have trouble with this inquiry. It strikes them as odd or perhaps insincere, even hypocritical in some manner. Now,…
Two Wills in God?
The following comments (slightly edited) are taken from a SEA member while discussing the subject of the problem with the Calvinist “two wills” view and the suggestion that the Arminian position must likewise adopt essentially…
Robert B. Chisholm Jr., “ANATOMY OF AN ANTHROPOMORPHISM: DOES GOD DISCOVER FACTS?”
This article is posted with permission from the publisher, the scholarly journal Bibliotheca Sacra. Please click on the attachment to view Robert B. Chisholm Jr., “ANATOMY OF AN ANTHROPOMORPHISM: DOES GOD DISCOVER FACTS?” Bibliotheca Sacra…
Robert B. Chisholm Jr., “Divine Hardening in the Old Testament”
This article is posted with permission from the publisher, the scholarly journal Bibliotheca Sacra. Please click on the attachment to view Robert B. Chisholm Jr., “Divine Hardening in the Old Testament”, Bibliotheca Sacra 153 (Oct.–Dec. 1996) 410-34.
A Milestone in Calvinist Discipleship
A little theological humor with this added title: “Finally, the big day came in Kermit’s Calvinist discipleship program, a monumental step in avoiding the pitfalls of frog centered theology.”
A Calvinist and an Arminian Square Off
See the attachment for a little cartoon theological humor. Taken from http://ketch22.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/for-god-so-loved-the-world/. Calvinist and Arminian Square Off
Walter A. Elwell, “Hardening, Hardness of Heart”
Walter A. Elwell, Entry on “Hardening, Hardness of Heart” in *Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology*
Is God Good?
This video addresses the problem of evil in a clear, helpful, and succinct way. (See below for a caution.) It can also be viewed on YouTube here. At one point, this piece refers to the…
René A. López, “IS FAITH A GIFT FROM GOD OR A HUMAN EXERCISE?”
This article is posted with permission from the publisher, the scholarly journal Bibliotheca Sacra. Please click on the attachment to view René A. López, “IS FAITH A GIFT FROM GOD OR A HUMAN EXERCISE?” Bibliotheca Sacra 164 (July–September 2007) 259–76.
It should be noted that, while this is a learned and helpful article, López seems to have missed one major view on the question of whether faith is a gift of God, which is a more typical Arminian view than that it is not; and that is that faith is a gift in the sense that God must enable us to believe, but that like most gifts, it can be rejected and is not irresistible.
James Beilby, “DIVINE ASEITY, DIVINE FREEDOM: A CONCEPTUAL PROBLEM FOR EDWARDSIAN-CALVINISM”
Please click on the attachment to view James Beilby, “DIVINE ASEITY, DIVINE FREEDOM: A CONCEPTUAL PROBLEM FOR EDWARDSIAN-CALVINISM”, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 47/4 (December 2004) 647–58.
John Goodwin, “Redemption Redeemed”
Now available here online, John Goodwin’s Redemption Redeemed may be the best defense of Arminianism ever written. Published in 1651 by the Arminian Puritan John Goodwin (1593-1665), it is written in seventeenth century English with…
Glen Shellrude, “The Freedom of God in Mercy and Judgment: A Libertarian Reading of Romans 9:6-29”
Please click on the attachment to view Glen Shellrude, “The Freedom of God in Mercy and Judgment: A Libertarian Reading of Romans 9:6-29”, Evangelical Quarterly 81.4 (2009), 306–318. Here is the author’s abstract: Romans 9:6-26…
Dorian G. Coover Cox, “The Hardening of Pharaoh
This article is posted with permission from the publisher, the scholarly journal Bibliotheca Sacra. Please click on the attachment to view Dorian G. Coover Cox, “The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart in its Literary and Cultural…
Paul A. Himes, “WHEN A CHRISTIAN SINS: 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 AND THE POWER OF CONTRARY CHOICE IN RELATION TO THE COMPATIBILIST-LIBERTARIAN DEBATE”
Please click on the attachment to view Paul A. Himes, “WHEN A CHRISTIAN SINS: 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 AND THE POWER OF CONTRARY CHOICE IN RELATION TO THE COMPATIBILIST-LIBERTARIAN DEBATE,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society…
Recent Posts
Video: David Pallmann, “In Defense of God’s Goodness: An Arminian Challenges the Calvinist Interpretation of Romans 9”
William Burt Pope, “Attributes of the Absolute Essence of God Part 5: Observations”
Does Matthew 7:24-27 Support Once Saved Always Saved?
Richard Coords, “1 Kings 21:29”
