Freedom Unlimited: Liberty Autonomy and Response-Ability in the Open Theism of Clark Pinnock

How are we to understand the freedom for which Christ has set us free (Gal 5:1)? Could it be that we have barely glimpsed what this might mean? Most theological accounts of freedom frame the discussion in terms of heteronomy or autonomy. In the Protestant tradition Calvinists are known for championing the former and Arminians are credited with advocating the latter. More recently open theists in significantly modifying the Arminian paradigm argue that neither tradition provides a satisfying account of human freedom and propose a more libertarian form of autonomy. This book joins the debate at this point not in order to take sides but to suggest a theology that can get beyond (not between) the heteronomy and autonomy that seem to exhaust the present theological options. Clark Pinnock serves as the chief protagonist because of his role as a leading figure in the Openness of God movement. Because his own development can be described as a pilgrimage from Calvinism to Arminianism to open theism the present work is able to offer its sympathetic critique in the form of an invitation: that we continue to journey in the spirit of openness beyond both heteronomy and autonomy towards a view of divine and human freedom that is covenantal participatory and unlimited. Hocking pushes the discussion of human freedom and divine power in new and important directions. He seeks to overcome the harsh either/or choice between independent human free autonomy or deterministic divine heteronomy by proposing free human faithfulness. And he proposes a doctrine of divine power that is participatory rather than unilateral. This book makes a profound contribution to how we might best think about Gods love and free creaturely responses! --Thomas Jay Oord author of Creation Made Free: Open Theology Engaging Science Jeffrey S. Hocking (MA Institute for Christian Studies Toronto) is a PhD candidate in the conjoint program at the Institute for Christian Studies Toronto and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.