Tag Archives: free will

Saving Calvinism (Oliver Crisp)

Posted on November 21, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Crisp, Oliver.  Saving Calvinism: Expanding the Reformed Tradition.  Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsityPress, 2016. The Reformed theological tradition is like inheriting a large, albeit old house.  It has many rooms and in these rooms are old treasures. The Young, Restless, and … Continue reading →

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Review: Jonathan Edwards among the Theologians (Crisp)

Posted on November 16, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Crisp, Oliver. Jonathan Edwards Among the Theologians. Grand Rapids, MI: 2015. Oliver Crisp paradoxically expands and summarizes key elements of his previous research. By contrasting Edwards with several Reformed thinkers, Crisp highlights some of Edwards’ unique (and sometimes bizarre) views. … Continue reading →

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Edwards and the metaphysics of Sin, God, and Creation

Posted on November 15, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

This is a review of two of Oliver Crisp’s works on Jonathan Edwards.  They are quite technical but open the door for more reflection on Edwards.  In other words, almost everything you have heard from the Young, Restless, and Reformed … Continue reading →

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Dallas Willard: Renovation of the Heart

Posted on October 25, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

It’s hard to write a new book on spiritual formation. Even the books that are good seem to have covered already-covered ground. What more is there to add? Dallas Willard takes a different angle. Rather than aiming for spiritual formation … Continue reading →

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Dabney on Sensualistic Philosophy

Posted on June 1, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

(Please don’t get started on Dabney or racism.  He was a white supremacist, just like everyone else in America, North or South, at the time.  I condemn his racism as much as I condemn the racism of Lincoln or Sherman.) … Continue reading →

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Witsius, Notes: Vol 1

Posted on May 22, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

This is mainly Books 1-3 of The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man (Reformation Heritage reprint) Book 1 Chapter 1: Covenants in General Generally, covenants signify a mutual agreement between parties, with respect to something (43).  A covenant of … Continue reading →

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Plantinga: God and Other Minds

Posted on May 12, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

And so begins Plantinga’s project. Plantinga evaluates the issue of whether we are rationally *justified* in believing in God. In doing so, he considers the natural theologian’s arsenal, the atheologian’s response, and whether belief in God can be salvaged from … Continue reading →

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Plantinga, God, Freedom, and Evil

Posted on April 14, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Plantinga, summarizing his earlier work in The Nature of Necessity and God and Other Minds, demonstrates that the theist does not face a contradiction in a) asserting God exists and b) evil exists. In this work Plantinga also deals with … Continue reading →

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Analytical Outline of Freedom of the Will

Posted on December 8, 2017 by J. B. Aitken

Terminology: Will: that by which the mind chooses anything (1.1). Act of will: act of choosing.  JE identifies volition with the prevailing act of the soul; what other writers call “voluntary.” Determined: under some influence to a fixed object. Thesis: … Continue reading →

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Edwards, Freedom of Will Part 3

Posted on December 6, 2017 by J. B. Aitken

Part III: Is Liberty inconsistent with moral excellency? The Arminian objects that anything that is necessary cannot be morally praiseworthy. God’s nature and moral excellency are necessary but that doesn’t preclude His being praiseworthy. Indeed, it is commanded. On the … Continue reading →

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