Thomas Jay Oord - God Can’t Stop Evil Singlehandedly

Wed 1 May, 5:00pm - 6:15pm
God Can’t Stop Evil Singlehandedly
Thomas Jay Oord
Blackfriars Main Aula, Oxford
_______________________________________________
Nearly everyone wonders why a good and powerful God doesn't prevent evil. But the usual answers are unsatisfactory. In his best-selling book, God Can't: How to Believe in God and Love after Tragedy, Abuse, and Other Evils, Thomas Jay Oord offers an answer to solve the problem of evil. This solution has five aspects, including a rethinking of God's relation to humans, other creatures, and all creation. Drawing from science, personal experiences, scripture, theology, and more, Oord lays out the heart of his solution in this lecture.
THOMAS JAY OORD is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. Oord is a best-selling and award-winning author, having written or edited more than twenty-five books. A twelve-time Faculty Award winning professor, Oord teaches at institutions around the globe. A gifted speaker, Oord is known for his contributions to research on love, open and relational theology, science and religion, and the implications of freedom and relationships for transformation.
_______________________________________________
This event is organised by the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion in collaboration with the Humane Philosophy Project, with sponsorship from the John Templeton Foundation and the Institute of Philosophy, University of Warsaw.
The event is free and open to the public.
Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion
University of Oxford, Gibson Building
Radcliffe Observatory Quarter
Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG. Tel: [phone]
www.ianramseycentre.ox.ac.uk
_________________________________

[@rev.davegraham9310]

Certainly Tom's approach is better than: "The God allows" approach.... which carries with it the notion of God doesn't care....but there are many examples in scripture which reveal God's intervention without human help which speaks of God not needing us.... yet, maybe God does or does not intervene at times because of the "bigger purpose of God". For God sees the bigger picture and accomplishes His will even though many suffer and though injustice seems to prevail for a time. Still... in His love and grace He works in each person to bring about growth in character even through pain. It's a complex subject with no easy answers..... but I wouldn't limit God by saying that he can't do something in every situation.... when it appears that at times God actually does intervene to help us without our help. Nonetheless thanks for your perspective it brings another helpful dimension to the debate. Blessings ......

[@Liam-p5o2b]

11:10

[@zoheirnoaparast]

Manichaeism introduced the main idea presented here (though introducing an additional “evil” substance) John Stuart Mill also defends a similar view as a possibility in his essays on religion.

[@TheCruiseDog]

Anybody notice the strange lack of the Bible's use in this discussion? I hear a lot of theologians' names thrown around, but nothing of Jesus, the Prophets, or the Apostles. This is simply wannabe theology, not biblical theology. I think Ord's postions have no biblical merit or sound thinking to them. This was a total waste of time. How this man has achieved such attention absolutely baffles me.

[@JohnCamara7dominion7]

I agree.

[@markmountjoy3636]

Thanks for telling me that. I am outta here!!

[@robinhoodstfrancis]

God is mere hypothesis? Empirically, we can´t? This is where K Armstrong and the meaning of spiritual practice and experience ("p and e") come in. I agree that philosophy of religion is important, but its Christian foundation requires acknowledging the "p and e." Talk about doctrinal blinders. Barbara B Hagerty´s Fingerprints of God and NPR series is a good exploration.