Here’s the video of my interview with Roger Olson, professor of theology at Truett Theological Seminary and author of “Against Calvinism” (Zondervan).

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Here are the questions I asked as well as the minute marks at which Olson answered them.

  • 1:05 Are you against everything Calvinism stands for, or only particular things?
  • 2:40 What is the historical background to TULIP, “the five points of Calvinism,” or what Calvinists refer to as “the doctrines of grace”?
  • 5:02 What is the unified testimony of the ante-Nicene church regarding these issues? Why don’t Calvinists take this testimony into account?
  • 8:32 Can you demonstrate that Jesus, Paul, or other New Testament writers were not theological determinists? What about Romans 9-11?
  • 15:50 Why do the “good and necessary consequences” of Calvinist doctrines make God a “moral monster,” despite Calvinists’ best intentions?
  • 24:00 How does an Arminian deal with the many verses in the Bible that speak about election and predestination?
  • 28:00 Examples of cooperation and competition between Arminians and Calvinists in evangelical history.
  • 30:00 How can Arminians and Calvinists disagree without being disagreeable? (I interrupted Olson in the middle of his answer with a question about which Arminian books and theologians he would recommend.)
  • 36:00 Given its biblical deficiencies, why does Calvinism have a dominant presence in the American church?
  • 39:33 What do you appreciate most about the “New Calvinist” movement? (I interrupted Olson with a further question about Calvinism and evangelism/missions.)
  • 42:03 What is “middle knowledge”? I asked how, on an Arminian basis, God can predestine based on foreknowledge if, as Olson argues, middle knowledge is impossible.
  • 48:05 What are Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism, and how is Arminianism distinct from them? Is “Arminianism of the head” susceptible to Pelagianism or semi-Pelagianism?
  • 53:32 Are universalists Arminians?
  • 56:38 How to disprove limited atonement.
  • 59:18 The Assemblies of God’s fourth reason for being is compassion. Does Arminianism or Calvinism sit better with an emphasis on compassion ministries?

2 responses to “Interview with Roger Olson, Author of “Against Calvinism” (Zondervan)”

  1. The World Wide (Religious) Web for Friday, October 21, 2011 « GeorgePWood.com Avatar

    […] a comment » THE TULIP DEBATE: In the video below, I interview Roger Olson regarding his new book, Against […]

  2. godrulz37 Avatar

    Important subject, well done. Roger is reasonable and an engaging writer. In time, I would not be surprised if he moves more toward Open Theism.

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