Open and Relational Theology

An Introduction to Life-Changing Ideas

By: Thomas Jay Oord

Narrated by: Thomas Jay Oord

Most theologies suck.

They’re too technical or present a God nobody understands. Sometimes, the God they portray sounds like a controlling boyfriend or an absentee parent. Rather than woo or persuade, many theology books clobber people into submission.

This book is different.

Thomas Jay Oord presents a theology that makes sense. It fits the way we live our lives and matches our deepest intuitions. To the surprise of some, it harmonizes with sacred scripture...at least the good parts. And it promotes a genuinely loving God.

Open and relational theology is controversial.

Oord and others have lost their jobs because they embrace it. Others have been booted from religious communities or shunned by families and friends. It’s that radical! Using understandable language and illustrations from everyday life, Oord explains the core ideas of open and relational theology. He reveals why this way of thinking is life-changing - for good - for so many.

This theology doesn’t suck.

Buckle up!

What they're saying...

"Inviting!" (Beth Hayward, Souls in Soles Podcast)

“Peace-Bringing!” (Chris Harman, Redrawing the Bath Podcast)

"Timely!" (Cody Stauffer and Craig Morton, All That's Holy Podcast)

"Stimulating!" (Greg Boyd and Dan Kent, ReKnew Podcast)

"Accessible!" (Dustin Kensrue, Thrice and Carry the Fire Podcast)

"Thought-Provoking!" (Gabriel Gordon, Misfits Theology Podcast)

"User-Friendly!" (Glenn Siepert, What If? Podcast)

"Tangible!" (Hayden Bruce, Pragmatic Christian Podcast)

"Tantalizing!" (Jim Stump, Language of God Podcast)

"Captivating!" (Jason Elam, Messy Spirituality Podcast)

"Inspirited!" (Jay McDaniel, Conversations in Process Podcast)

“Clear!” (Joe Smith and Drew Dunbar, Crisis of Faith Podcast)

"Relieving!" (Joey Monteleone, Dismantle Podcast)

"Prodigious!" (John Williamson, Deconstructionists Podcast)

“Reinvigorating!” (Jon Steingard, Wonder & Mystery of Being Podcast)

"Exciting!" (Josh Patterson and Marty Fredrick, (Re)thinking Faith Podcast)

"Exceptional!" (Keith Giles, Peace Catalyst Podcast)

“Inviting!” (Kurt Willems, Theology Curator Podcast)

"Compelling!" (Loren Richmond Jr, Future Christian Podcast)

"Clarifying!" (Mary-Anne and Andre Rabe, Question Your Answers Podcast)

"Zesty!" (Mason Mennenga, A People's Theology Podcast)

"Liberating!" (Melanie Mudge and Gary Alan Taylor, Holy Heretics Podcast)

“Enlivening!” (Michael Frost, In the Shift Podcast)

"Cosmic!" (Pete Enns and Jared Byas, Bible For Normal People Podcast)

"Punchy!" (Ryan T. Mullins, Reluctant Theologian Podcast)

"Conceptual!" (Seth Price, Can I Say This in Church? Podcast)

"Radical!" (Shaleen Kendrick and Holland Fields, Desert Voices Podcast)

“R-/evolutionary!” (Tim Victor, Urban Mystic Podcast)

"Interrogating!" (Todd Littleton, Patheological Podcast)

"Trailblazing!" (Todd R. Vick, Reconstruction Rebel Podcast)

"Magnificent!" (Tripp Fuller, Homebrewed Christianity Podcast)

Buy the book!

©2021 Thomas Jay Oord (P)2021 Thomas Jay Oord

Intriguing Viewpoint

Fascinating presentation.

Considered presentation of alternative viewpoints.

This will keep serious readers up at night pondering possibilities.

Doc Heath - TherapyBites Podcast

A Refreshing Perspective on God

Open and Relational Theology, as described by Thomas Jay Oord in this book fits, with my understanding of life, love, and relationship with the divine (if there is one, the verdict is still out for me. Nonetheless I was able to glean meaningful insights on love and relating to our selves, others, and the world). I highly recommend this book to anyone disenchanted with their current faith. Thank you Thomas Jay Oord for writing it!

Cosmic!

Oord’s work in “Open and Relational Theology” provided me a helpful and more precise and expansive articulation of my own intuitions and experiences. Some may find it, at first, unsettling to their long held beliefs, but with further reflection, I believe it will provide answers and reassurances to doubts, questions, and fears - perhaps left unspoken - that most people harbor about faith and the meaning and challenges of life. It may, in fact, be most helpful for those who have rejected faith. While scholarly informed, it is accessible to the average reader.

Mere opinion and personal experience

The author barely addresses scripture and just backs his assumptions up with “it just makes sense”.

Built on a straw man.

Conventional theology is presented by a horrific contortion that represents popular atheism’s view of religion, more than any actual theological view. While partly understandable due to the brevity of the book, very good alternative viewpoints, some of which could be stated briefly, are lumped together as “elaborate and complicated”. Most of the helpful aspects of the authors viewpoint are actually held by the majority of people believing conventional theology, though he argues that this either isn’t so or is contradictory. By the end of the book, you realize that the author is actually a religious atheist rather than an enlightened believer.