Open and Relational Theology: An Introduction to Life-Changing Ideas

This monograph presents a systematic introduction to open and relational theology, a contemporary theological movement that reconceptualizes divine nature and divine-world relations. Oord structures the work as both primer and manifesto, outlining core tenets while advocating for their transformative potential in addressing perennial theological problems and contemporary existential concerns.

The work identifies five central affirmations of open and relational theology. First, God experiences genuine relationships with creatures, engaging in authentic give-and-take interactions rather than unilateral determination. Second, the future remains genuinely open and undetermined, even for God, who possesses perfect knowledge of possibilities but not certainties. Third, love constitutes God's essential nature, constraining divine action to persuasion rather than coercion. Fourth, God experiences temporal succession and responds to creaturely actions in real time. Fifth, creation possesses genuine though limited freedom, participating with God in shaping reality.

Oord positions these ideas against classical theological frameworks, particularly those emphasizing divine immutability, impassibility, and exhaustive foreknowledge. The work critiques traditional theodicy, arguing that conventional accounts of divine sovereignty render the problem of evil intractable. By contrast, open and relational theology proposes that God cannot unilaterally prevent evil because genuine love requires genuine freedom. This "essential kenosis" model suggests God necessarily self-limits out of love's nature, not voluntary choice.

The monograph engages extensively with process theology, acknowledging debts to Whitehead and Hartshorne while distinguishing open and relational theology's broader tent. Where process thought requires specific metaphysical commitments, open and relational theology accommodates diverse philosophical frameworks united by shared theological convictions. Oord also addresses evangelical concerns, demonstrating compatibility between open theism and biblical authority while challenging deterministic readings of scripture.

Methodologically, the work combines philosophical theology with pastoral sensitivity, illustrating abstract concepts through personal narratives and practical applications. This approach reflects open and relational theology's emphasis on lived experience as theological datum. The monograph's significance lies in its accessible systematization of a movement gaining traction across denominational boundaries, offering resources for reconceiving prayer, providence, and spiritual formation. By presenting God as genuinely responsive and creation as meaningfully free, Oord articulates a vision of divine-human cooperation that preserves both divine goodness and creaturely dignity while addressing post-Holocaust theological challenges.