God and His Creation: An EPIC Talk with Dr. Alan Rhoda

I recently had the pleasure of engaging in an enlightening conversation with Dr. Alan Rhoda about various theological and philosophical topics, especially focusing on Open Theism and its implications on Divine Providence. As someone deeply interested in these concepts, it was a joy to dive deep into these discussions and explore the nuances they bring to our understanding of God, free will, and the future.

Highlights from My Conversation with Dr. Alan Rhoda

Introduction and Guest Overview

• I expressed my anticipation for this conversation, emphasizing Dr. Alan Rhoda’s remarkable intelligence and philosophical rigor.
• Dr. Rhoda is the author of a concise yet impactful book called “Open Theism” under Cambridge Elements.

Discussion on Open Theism and Its Philosophical Foundations

• We explored Dr. Rhoda’s philosophical underpinnings as articulated in his book.
• Dr. Rhoda discussed the importance of free will in understanding God’s relationship with creation.
• Open Theism posits that God is not a micromanager but delegates meaningful freedom to His creatures, which fundamentally changes our view of Divine Providence.
• This delegation means that while God sets up the initial conditions and possibilities, He allows human beings significant freedom to shape the future.

Divine Temporality and Passibility in Open Theism

• Open Theism suggests that God adopts a “wait and see” approach, reacting to human decisions in real-time, as illustrated by God bringing animals to Adam to name.
• This interaction implies a sequence of before and after for God, challenging the notion of God’s timelessness.
• Dr. Rhoda highlighted that scripture often depicts God with human-like emotional responses, signaling His active engagement and reactions to the unfolding of creation.
• This view contrasts significantly with deterministic models where God’s will is meticulously preordained.

The Influence of Greek Philosophy on Christian Thought

• Dr. Rhoda and I delved into how Greek philosophical assumptions, such as absolute immutability and simplicity, influenced early Christian theology.
• Major Christological heresies arose partly from trying to reconcile these Greek philosophical views with the story of Jesus.
• Over time, while the church de-Hellenized its theology regarding Christology, the doctrine of God in Western Christianity remained heavily influenced by these philosophical assumptions, primarily due to Augustine’s impact.

The Concept of Free Will in the Eschaton

• We pondered whether free will exists in heaven or the eschaton, considering various theological models.
• Dr. Rhoda proposed that, from an Open Theistic perspective, we could have libertarian freedom in heaven, allowing us to choose between competing goods rather than between good and evil.
• This dynamic, communal interaction with God would continue in the eschaton, embodying a journey of ongoing, open-ended love and creation.
• Dr. Rhoda brilliantly tied this back to C.S. Lewis’s notion of “further up and further in,” emphasizing an endless exploration of God’s glory.

Alan Rhoda’s Work and Future Projects

• Dr. Rhoda shared his current and forthcoming projects, including an expanded book on Open Theism and another on fatalism’s philosophical angles.
• He invites readers to explore his work on his website, alanrhoda.net. There, you’ll find his book “Open Theism”, which I highly recommend for those interested in a rigorous, philosophical exploration of these topics.

Closing Thoughts

• Our conversation affirmed the richness of engaging deeply with theological and philosophical ideas, especially those that challenge and expand our understanding of God’s nature and our relationship with Him.
• It was particularly encouraging to see Dr. Rhoda share similar frustrations and interests concerning the de-Hellenization of Christian thought.

Reflection and Invitation

In summary, my conversation with Dr. Alan Rhoda offered profound insights into Open Theism, Divine Providence, and free will, while also questioning the impact of Greek philosophy on Christian theology. I encourage you to watch this deeply engaging discussion to gain a fuller understanding of these crucial topics.

Please check out the full video on YouTube and join the conversation by leaving your thoughts in the comments section. Until next time!