Topic: Should Christians Be Compassionate if Their God Is Not?

Presenter: Thomas Jay Oord

This is the topic of Dr. Oord’s presentation at last month’s virtual Parliament of World Religions. Although major Christian theologians say God has no emotions, some admit that an emotionless God cannot be compassionate. But if Christians are to follow the biblical command to imitate God in love, should they not be compassionate? Explore Christian views of divine compassion in light of the Christian tradition and open and relational theology. How can the Christian God be rightly thought of as compassionate? Can Christians imitate God by fighting climate change and acting with compassion for victims?  

Oord explores this in light of open and relational theology, a subject of his recent book. Learn more at his website for the Center for Open and Relational Theology. For access to his latest essays, blogs, and multiple short podcasts, see thomasjayoord.com. Oord completed his Ph.D. in religion at Claremont Graduate School under supervision of David Ray Griffin. He is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene.

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