The Death of Omnipotence and Birth of Amipotence

By: Thomas Oord

Narrated by: Thomas Jay Oord

Length: 5 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Omnipotence is dead.

At least it should be. It has no biblical support. And it dies a death of a thousand qualifications in philosophy.

Those harmed and hurting wonder why an omnipotent and loving God doesn't prevent pointless pain. If God is all-powerful, God can stop evil. And yet evil occurs. The problem of evil buries omnipotence six feet under.

But the death of omnipotence is not the death of God.

In this ground-breaking book, best-selling and award-winning author Thomas Jay Oord explains why omnipotence should be rejected. But Oord offers a replacement: amipotence, the power of love.

If we think love shapes and guides God's power, we make better sense of life. We make better sense of the Bible. Amipotence explains why God doesn't prevent genuine evil and it overcomes other obstacles to belief. An amipotent Spirit empowers all that is loving, true, beautiful, and good.

No book makes a bolder but more needed argument for why God is not all-powerful. Those who care about God, love, scripture, and logic will find what they've long been looking for.

Get a copy of The Death of Omnipotence and Birth of Amipotence!

Endorsements:

"Omnipotence has long been considered a basic, non-negotiable, characteristic of God. But is it biblical? And does it push us toward theological landmines that blow up faith? In this book, Oord, with his typical gentle candor, lays out the complex issues in clear and readable chunks. In the end, Oord points to the beauty and comfort of a God who is uncontrolling love." (Peter Enns, professor of biblical studies at Eastern University, author of Curveball)

"Thomas Jay Oord challenges one of the most fundamental attributes of God—omnipotence. He discloses that a narrow view of God as ‘Almighty’ is neither biblical nor adequately describes the God of Jesus Christ. Oord offers a new view of God as ‘amipotent.’ The power of God is the power of love, and the power of unconditional love is our strength. Oord has made an important contribution to restoring the biblical God, a God who is ever faithful in love, not a power over us but the power beneath our wings." (Ilia Delio, OSF, Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology, Villanova University)

"Omnipotence is widely believed to be one of the most important attributes of God. In this book, Thomas Jay Oord proposes a highly original and thought-provoking thesis: instead of omnipotent, God should be considered ‘amipotent.’ This is an important book which can radically change the way we approach central problems in philosophy of religion and philosophical theology." (Yujin Nagasawa, H. G. Wood Professor of the Philosophy of Religion, University of Birmingham)

"Finally God’s love has been saved from God’s control—faithfully, definitively, attractively! In this vibrantly accessible work, Thomas Jay Oord puts to rest the demoralizing, incoherent, and by the way nonbiblical notion of controlling omnipotence, used to justify endless injustice. In its stead, he unleashes ‘amipotence’— code for the power of love. Its time has come: preach it, teach it, live it!" (Catherine Keller, Drew Theological School, and Author of Political Theology of Love)

"This book provides a provocative argument that cannot be easily dismissed. This is the kind of nuance that contemporary debates over models of God need to consider." (R.T. Mullins, Professor of Philosophical Theology, University of Lucerne)

©2023 Thomas Jay Oord (P)2023 Thomas Jay Oord

Much needed for this generation

With so many hurting from bad fundamentalist theology and view of God as paradoxical as he is capricious, Amipotence is a concise solution that’s philosophically robust and Biblically cogent.

Great Thoughts!

I have read Oord's work before and I became a fan. It truly expanded my thinking into the uncontrolling love of God. I adapted this thought into my own spiritual formation, as an open and relational God made more sense. Although I wish he would have pushed the envelope a little further in some places, I appreciate his willingness to start the conversation that allows us to critique and reimagine the God of faith. I enjoyed this work highly.

Awakening Sensible Faith

Oord offers an understandable new look at God that is well articulated. It offers God as continuous and loving partner. I found this thesis one that fosters my own froth in loving God and all others and creation.