ICS Calendar Title: The Divine (at) Risk: Open Theism, Classical Theism, and Beyond
ICS Course Code: ICS 120803 / 220803 F19;vICT3730HF L0101 / ICT6730HF L0101*
Instructor: Dr. Nik Ansell
Term and Year: Wednesdays, 1:45pm - 4:45pm, Fall 2019
Location: ICS Learning Studio, Knox College
Last Updated: September 10, 2019
Contents:
4. Description and Weighting of Elements to be Evaluated
Did God take a risk in creating the world? How are divine and human freedom related? Can we confess God’s sovereignty in the face of evil? Paying special attention to different models of providence and the knowability of the future, this course will explore the ways in which the God of history is viewed by advocates and critics of “Open Theism.” Our examination will stimulate our own reflections on how we might best understand and, indeed, image God’s love, knowledge and power.
1. Introductions; Hall and Sanders (selections)
2. Fretheim
3. Sanders
4. Ganssle, ed: Helm; responses
5. Ganssle, ed: Wolterstorff; responses
6. Jowers, ed: Helseth; responses
7. Reading week
8. Jowers, ed: Craig; responses; Beilby and Eddy, eds: Craig; responses
9. Jowers, ed: Highfield
10. Jowers, ed: Boyd
11. Griffin, Hasker
12. Student presentations
13. Student presentations
14. final reflections
a. to gain an understanding of the doctrine of providence
b. to gain insight into contemporary evangelical theology in terms of a current area of controversy
c. to explore the relationship between philosophy and theology with respect to “classical theism” and its alternatives
a) Total reading : 1250 pages total, including research for paper, of which approximately 60–70 pages per week is required to prepare for class.
b) In-seminar leadership: Written observations on at least two required readings,
identifying key issues and questions, to aid class discussion; oral contribution to discussion.
c) One paper, addressing a question or theme arising from the class readings and discussion, of 3000–4000 words (Master’s students) or 5000–7000 words (Ph.D. students), due by relevant ICS/TST deadline.
d) Description and weighting of elements to be evaluated [TST in brackets]:
ii. Class presentations: 20% [30%]
William Lane Craig, “The Middle Knowledge View” in James K. Beilby and Paul R. Eddy, eds., Divine Foreknowledge: Four Views (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), chap. 3 [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT131 .D575 2002]
Terence E. Fretheim, “God and World: Foreknowledge” in The Suffering of God: An Old Testament Perspective (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984), chap. 4 [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BS1199 .S82 F74 1984 - check Biblical Foundations Reserve Shelf]
David Ray Griffin, “Process Theology and the Christian Good News: A Response to Classical Free Will Theism” in John B. Cobb Jr. and Clark H. Pinnock, eds., Searching for an Adequate God: A Dialogue Between Process and Free Will Theists (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000), chap. 1 [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT83.6 .S43 2000X
Christopher Hall and John Sanders, Does God Have a Future? A Debate on Divine Providence (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003) (selections) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT 135 .H25 2003 ; Robarts Library: BT135 .H25 2003X]
William Hasker, “In Response to David Ray Griffin” in John B. Cobb Jr. and Clark H. Pinnock, eds., Searching for an Adequate God: A Dialogue Between Process and Free Will Theists (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2000), chap. 1 [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT83.6 .S43 2000X]
Paul Helm, “Divine Timeless Eternity” in Gregory E. Ganssle, ed., God and Time: Four Views (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), chap. 2
*Dennis W. Jowers, ed., Four Views on Divine Providence (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011) [some libraries/bookstores might list Stanley Gundry as (series) editor ahead of Jowers.] Contributors: Paul Kjess Helseth, William Lane Criag, Ron Highfield, and Gregory A. Boyd [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT135 .F68 2011]
John Sanders, “Historical Considerations” in Clark Pinnock et al, The Openness of God: A Biblical Challenge to the Traditional Understanding of God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), chap. 2 [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT102 .O64 1994]
Nicholas Wolterstorff, “Unqualified Divine Temporality” in Gregory E. Ganssle, ed., God and Time: Four Views (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), chap. 5
Herman Bavinck, The Doctrine of God, trans. William Hendrickson (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1951) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT 101 .B2743 1977]
G. C. Berkouwer, The Providence Of God (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1952) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT135 .B4713 c.1]
————, Divine Election, trans. Hugo Bekker (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960). [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT810 .B443 c.1]
Gregory A. Boyd, God of the Possible: A Biblical Introduction to the Open View of God (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT 131 .B69 2000 ; Robarts Library: BT131 .B69 2000X]
Stephen Charnock, The Existence and Attributes of God (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996) [1958 ed. ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT130 .C51 1958]
Paul Helm, The Providence of God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT 135 .H35 1994 ; ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT135 .H35 1994]
Jeffrey S. Hocking, Freedom Unlimited: Liberty, Autonomy, and Response-ability in the Open Theism of Clark Pinnock (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2010) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT 810.3 .H63 2010]
William Ockham, Predestination, God’s Foreknowledge and Future Contingents., trans. Marilyn McCord Adams and Norman Kretzmann. Second edition (Indianapolis: Hackett, 1983) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: B765 .O33 T73 1983]
Thomas C. Oden, The Living God, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1 (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1987), chap. 7 [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT102 .O32 1987]
H. P. Owen, Concepts Of Deity (London: Macmillan, 1971) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT98 .O9a]
Clark Pinnock, Most Moved Mover: A Theology of God’s Openness (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2001) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT140 .P5 2001 c.1]
John Piper, Justin Taylor and Paul Kjoss Helseth eds., Beyond the Bounds: Open Theism and the Undermining of Biblical Christianity (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2003) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT131 .B49 2003]
John Sanders, The God Who Risks: A Theology of Providence (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT 135 .S26 1998 ; Regis College Library: BT135 .S26 1998]
Thomas Schreiner and Bruce A. Ware, eds. Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge, and Grace (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT 761.2 .G694 2000 ; Knox College Library: BT761.2 .G694 2000]
Terrance Tiessen, Providence and Prayer: How Does God Work in the World? (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT 135 .T54 2000]
Bruce A. Ware, God’s Lesser Glory: The Diminished God of Open Theism (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT131 .W27 2000]
Bruce Ware, ed., Perspectives On The Doctrine Of God: Four Views (Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2008) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT75.3 .P47 2008]
Thomas G. Weinandy, Does God Change? The Word’s Becoming in the Incarnation (Still River, MA: St. Bede’s Publications, 1985) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT 198 .W43 1985 ; Regis College Library: BT198 .W44 1985]
Thomas G. Weinandy, Does God Suffer? (Edinburgh: T and T Clark, 2000) [ICS Library Reserve Shelf: BT 453 .S8 W45 2000 ; St. Michael’s College Library: BT453 .S8 W45 1999]
Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. In particular, if you have a disability/health consideration that may require accommodations, please feel free to approach me and/or Student Services as soon as possible.
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