Thomas Jay Oord
Biography
Thomas Jay Oord wrote The Uncontrolling Love of God, edited Divine Grace and Emerging Creation, and co-edited Relational Theology with Brint Montgomery and Karen Winslow.
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Theology
“Hocking pushes the discussion of human freedom and divine power in new and important directions. He seeks to overcome the harsh either/or choice between independent, human free autonomy or deterministic divine heteronomy by proposing free human faithfulness. And he proposes a doctrine of divine power that is participatory rather than unilateral. This book makes a profound contribution to how we might best think about God's love and free creaturely responses!”
Science & Faith
“Bringing together a ‘highlight reel’ of Philip Clayton’s writing is a daunting task! But Bradford McCall does it well in this Reader. In addition to forty of Clayton’s sophisticated writings on theology, philosophy, and science, we get a testimonial of his personal journey of faith and questioning. The Clayton synthesis of wide-ranging ideas, diverse traditions, various fields of inquiry, and experiences provides an open-ended, transformative theology-in-dialogue worth embracing!”
God, Pandemics, and the Holocaust
Theology
“Using copious quotes from influential voices past and present, Cliff Cain surveys the common excuses given for why a loving and powerful God doesn’t stop evil. He finds them unsatisfying. Taking the most difficult questions about evil—such as why God didn’t stop COVID-19 or the Holocaust—Cain offers a solution to the problem of evil. His answer points to the unequivocal but non-controlling love of God. I highly recommend this book!”
Arts & Literature
“Who knew Black Sabbath could be mined for such theological gems! Jack Holloway makes connections I would have missed, and the result is a stellar exploration of theology Black Sabbath style! Fantastic read!”
Theology
“The idea of hell is more a weapon than a description of what is real. Instead of loving the hell out of us, too many people try to scare the hell into us. Derek Ryan Kubilus uses plain language, scripture, and real-life stories to counter the common narratives about damnation. And Kubilus answers the usual arguments in favor of hell by showing how weak they are. This book sets people free from bad theology!”
Indigenous Theology and the Western Worldview
Theology
“This book isn't business as usual. Woodley isn't business as usual either. And thank God! Woodley puts a mirror up to Western civilization and the Christian theology typical of it. The sight isn't pretty. Its history is full of ugly episodes and its worldview has been so harmful. But Woodley's Indigenous theology offers correctives. This book gives me hope!”
Apologetics
“The Bible has errors. Let’s just admit it. But let’s also ask, What kind of God would inspire a Bible with errors? Read this book for Boyd's personal testimony, persuasive arguments, and winsome proposal.”
Counseling, Grief & Mental Health
“It's hard for some to imagine the personal anguish that Jason Jones describes in this book. But for others, this story will seem painfully familiar. What makes Jason's telling of tragedy different, however, is that he faces his demons, doubts, and despair. And he discovers a way to think about God that makes sense, despite his questions and torment. I recommend this book to those who have stopped believing in God or stopped believing that life has meaning in the face of evil.”
Living in Truth, Beauty, and Goodness
Philosophy
“This is no ordinary book! Combining religion, philosophy, science, art, and ethics in a practical, how-to endeavor, Wattles invites readers on a transformative journey. The ideas have been trial-tested in the lives of his students over the decades, as the anecdotes and stories note. The insights and instructions herein make this a book I plan to reread often!”
Theology
“Wow! What a book! In a crucial, engaging questioning, Anthony Bartlett asks, ‘What if relationality is more fundamental than being, and what if relationality were the key to nonviolent and nonretaliatory living?’ Theology matters intensely for Bartlett, propelling his criticism of the nonrelational and omnipotent deity characteristic of classical theism, offering instead a convincing argument for the primacy of a process of relationship, something truly indispensable for the gospel of love.”
Ethics, Culture & Social Issues
“Chartier offers a tour d'amour in ethics. He employs various conceptual tools in the name of love to address specific moral questions that both ancient and contemporary people ask. Taking creation--not just humans or God--as the focus, Loving Creation offers an appealing exploration of well-being in our time. Highly recommended!”
Macroevolution, Contingency, and Divine Activity
Science & Faith
“In this creative and erudite work, Bradford McCall tackles big questions about God’s actions. And in conversation with key voices and ideas, he proposes an appealing vision. I’m especially attracted to the ways McCall privileges divine love and understands divine activity in light of it. This is an important book!”
Theology
“Keith Ward’s open and relational personal idealism is an attractive account of reality for reasons independent of any faith tradition. In this book, however, Ward shows why the teachings and life of Jesus strengthen his account. As a cosmic spiritual reality embodied in human form, Jesus uniquely reveals God as loving and nonviolent.”
Queering Wesley, Queering the Church
Ethics, Culture & Social Issues
“Few books are truly groundbreaking. This one is! Osinski gives a queer reading of John Wesley’s sermons and incorporates key themes from the Wesleyan holiness tradition. By problematizing the narratives and assumptions of both Wesley and his followers today, this book sparks queer conversations and affirms a loving God who embraces marginalized people. These ideas invite us to see in truly new ways!”
Discipleship & Christian Education
“Craig Drurey has written a brilliant book! The prose is accessible and the ideas winsome. This book makes discipleship matter for the contemporary age, and I suspect it will spark new endeavors in helping us to live lives of love. Get this book!”
Theology
“Flesh, bodies, and physicality matter. At least they should to Christians. And yet sometimes overt, more often covert, claims by Christians undermine the importance of flesh. A big part of the problem is a faulty or at least limited view of salvation. David Trementozzi details the history of the problem, offers a solution, and calls us back to what matters: salvation that includes flesh. It makes my body want to jump and shout!”
Theology
“What an informative, readable, and well-conceived book! Allen and Cornwall offer brief summaries of how biblical writers, early Christians, major theologians, and contemporary scholars think about hell. And they do so in a lively way. Allen and Cornwall even reveal their own views at the end. This is a great book for small group discussions!”
Theology
“Too many view God as an observer, sternly watching us from a distance. Roy Kindelberger flips that view on its head. Not only is God present with us, but Kindelberger reveals God's presence as a source of loving transformation. This book weaves together a theology of divine presence, while inviting readers to respond to the God lovingly present to us.”
“This is about the elephant book in the Bible: Ecclesiastes. And unlike the message of Ecclesiastes, reading this book is not useless! It’s more an exercise of theological play. And when reading it, you may come to some creative discoveries, poetic visions, and useful insights in spite of the vanity!”
Suffering and the Search for Meaning
Theology
“Rice presents an accessible and even-handed overview of the dominant responses to pain and evil. I especially appreciate his bringing together the practical and theoretical aspects, as he weaves together stories and ideas. This book helps to round out the kind of conversations we all end up having about God, pain and the relationship between the two!”
NOTE: Only includes books currently in our catalog; not necessarily a complete list.
Theology
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