Against Liberal Theology

Putting the Brakes on Progressive Christianity

By: Roger E. Olson

Narrated by: James Donaldson

Length: 5 hrs

Publisher's summary

Liberal Christian theology is a big topic in today's churches and seminaries. But what does liberal theology really mean and why is it so controversial? What does it actually believe about truth, Scripture, and Jesus Christ? And where does it lead?

The term "liberal theology" is often misinterpreted, confused with a set of loose ideologies within the Christian faith and sometimes rallied behind by genuine Christians who are simply concerned about modern social justice issues. It's also been wrongly leveled against churches and even entire denominations that don't adhere to the tradition of liberal theology.

Against Liberal Theology is written in a direct and conversational tone that makes sense of this theological movement by:

• Defining liberal theology and explaining its beliefs about central Christian doctrines.
• Giving its history and progression—beginning with 18th-century German theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher and leading up to today.
• Making distinctions between liberal theology and simple moderate or progressive Christian thought, much of which is still biblically committed and doctrinally orthodox.
• Discussing the arguments of specific liberal theologians and what their words mean in regard to everyday Christian living and faith.

Sincere and to the point, professor and theologian Roger E. Olson is not interested in grinding axes. He openly admits to frustration with fundamentalist Christianity and explains why. But he warns that true liberal theology—more concerned with making Christianity palatable to the modern mind than it is committed to biblical integrity—isn't the right alternative to the cultic tendencies of fundamentalism and has little in common with classical, biblical Christianity.

Against Liberal Theology is perfect for Christians on any side of a cultural debate—for those who consider themselves progressive or conservative or something in between.

It's always unpopular to be against anything. But in order for Christianity to be anything, it has to stand against some things. If Christianity is compatible with anything and everything, it is nothing.

©2022 Roger E. Olson (P)2022 Zondervan

Timely written!

A much needed reminder of what is historical Christian teaching. Highly recommended for those looking for an answer to the extremes of modern liberal theology.

Disappointing Diatribe

This reads much different than Dr Olson’s normal texts, which I usually appreciate. It felt like I was reading a heresy-hunting blogger who had just finished Div school and was confident that they could tell you precisely what the actual boundaries of true Christianity are. Dr. Olson did spend time demonstrating how he read Liberal theologians and at least critiqued them after understanding them. Still, I finished the book wondering why he never addressed the challenges to the tradition that generated Liberal (Christian) theology. Perhaps I took it too personally as a Liberal Christian theologian, but this book was not for a Liberal Christian. It ignores our good faith intellectual questions, reasserts a (possibly narrow) version of the tradition, & then tells us we are really a different religion.

One example that frustrated me was the discussion of naturalism & supernaturalism. Dr Olson acted as if all naturalism were somewhat reductive, and the repeated reason for adopting a naturalist approach is accommodation to the secular culture of science. He knows that many liberal theologians come to affirm a kind of expansive naturalism for theological reasons related to divine action, power, and theodicy. He may think those positions are wrong, but they are not accommodations; they are Christian responses to theological questions.

If I was going to write a book in which the thesis was that a specific part of the Christian community is, in fact, another religion, then I can think of many other places to turn first.