An Examination of the Biblical Evidence for Open Theism

In a previous issue of Philosophia Christi, Kirk MacGregor responded to an essay of mine in which I argued for a neo-Molinist account of open theism. The argument demonstrated how, given standard counterfactual semantics, one could derive an “open future square of opposition,” that is, a depiction of the logical relations that hold between future-tense statements from an open theistic standpoint. Conceding the validity of the argument, MacGregor nevertheless sought to deny its soundness by criticizing both its conclusion and the Stalnaker-Lewis semantics on which the argument was based. In this paper, I argue that MacGregor’s reasons for rejecting the open future square, as well as his Molinist alternative to the Stalnaker-Lewis semantics, are uncompelling.

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Universalism for open theists

Religious Studies ◽

10.1017/s0034412506008298 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 213-223 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

GORDON KNIGHT

Keyword(s):

Human Freedom ◽

Open Theism ◽

Traditional Concept ◽

Middle Knowledge

In this paper I argue that the denial of middle knowledge and emphasis on human freedom characteristic of open theism makes the traditional concept of hell even more morally problematic than it would otherwise be. But these same features of open theism present serious difficulties for the view that all will necessarily be saved. I conclude by arguing that the most promising approach for open theists is to adopt a version of contingent, as opposed to necessary, universalism.

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The Philosophical Case for Open Theism

Philosophia ◽

10.1007/s11406-007-9078-4 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 35 (3-4) ◽

pp. 301-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Alan Rhoda

Keyword(s):

Open Theism

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