Against Panentheism

This paper offers an argument against panentheism. Although the doctrine has proven difficult to define, this paper provides a working definition of the view, and proceeds to argue that given this way of thinking about the doctrine, it has serious theological drawbacks. It then explores some of these theological drawbacks. In a final section this paper gives some reasons for thinking that the classical theistic alternative to panentheism is preferable, all things considered.

Biography

Oliver Crisp (PhD King’s College, University of London; DLitt University of Aberdeen) is Professor of Systematic Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the author and editor of numerous books, including Saving Calvinism: Expanding the Reformed Tradition (IVP, 2016), The Word Enfleshed: Exploring the Person and Work of Christ (Baker, 2016), Jonathan Edwards among the Theologians (Eerdmans, 2015).