Posted on 01/03/2005 8:18:33 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
Open or Closed Case? Controversial theologian John Sanders on way out at Huntington. By Stan Guthrie | posted 12/22/2004
While John Sanders and the Board of Trustees at Huntington College in Indiana disagree on whether God exhaustively knows the future, they agree that his days as a theology professor at the evangelical school are running out. The issue, according to both Sanders and G. Blair Dowden, the college's president, is not Sanders' belief in open theology, but his notoriety in advocating the doctrine. Both acknowledged that others on the faculty hold the same open theology views.
"You can be an open theist," Sanders told CT. "You just can't be a well-known one. That makes this a very interesting case."
After an executive session of the board was held in October, Dowden told members of the faculty that there "was very little support for John's continued employment at Huntington." Neither Sanders nor Dowden expect him back for the 2005-2006 academic year, which begins next fall. Dowden told ct that while the controversy is "directly related" to open theism, there is no requirement for professors on the issue.
"Not at all," Dowden said. "We have some other faculty who are open theists, but they're not teaching theology or Bible. It's not a litmus test."
Sanders, who has taught at the school of about 1,000 students for seven years, has been a focus of controversy over open theism for the past four years, he said. In November 2003, Sanders narrowly avoided being expelled from the Evangelical Theological Society over his beliefs. Some society members believe open theology violates the society's commitment to scriptural inerrancy.
Huntington removed Sanders from the tenure track over the controversy, but school officials attempted to give him some financial security by signing him to three-year rolling contracts, automatically renewable annually, unless the administration or board says No. In the event Sanders were to be dismissed, he would receive payment for the balance of the contract.
Sanders told ct he expects to be relieved of his position shortly, and that Dowden has "made it clear that my contract will not be renewed after the 2004-5 academic year." Sanders said that he is looking into other teaching positions and research grants, but that he has no other options waiting in the wings right now.
Earlier reports in ct and the Chronicle of Higher Education that Sanders had been "fired" were inaccurate. Dowden, who called Sanders a "brilliant scholar" and "excellent teacher," has been a defender of Sanders.
"John has done everything we have asked of him," Dowden said. But Dowden said that the United Brethren in Christ, which sponsors the school, "finds open theism troubling—some [leaders find it] very troubling."
Dowden added that academic freedom, while important, is not absolute. "For all Christian colleges, academic freedom is bounded in some way."
Sanders said the school is not following its own guidelines. "I do believe that the right to publish and academic freedom statements that the professors actually are working under are being violated," Sanders said. "They are being trodden upon."
Some students at the school are upset. Joni Michaud, a senior history major who is a leader in a student group supporting Sanders, said the controversy is "a case study in academic freedom." The group meets weekly to discuss strategy, has sent letters supporting Sanders to the board, and is seeking to raise awareness among other students. Michaud said the treatment of Sanders violates the school's statements lauding the "benefits of controversy" in an academic setting.
"If Dr. Sanders is indeed fired, I will graduate with a much lowered opinion of the institution," said Michaud, a pre-law major. "I will probably not make any financial contribution, and I will discourage people from attending."
Such talk is no doubt troubling to administrators, who have announced a freeze in tuition rates for the 2005-2006 academic year. Huntington College, to be renamed Huntington University in mid-2005, says the annual U.S.News & World Report survey of colleges consistently ranks it as one of the top comprehensive colleges in the Midwest.
Dowden said the board will next meet January 19-23, and the fate of Sanders could be formally decided then.
[Stan Guthrie is senior associate news editor for Christianity Today]
Incorrect use of the word, Dr. I think you meant to say "subject" rather than "subjective."
How do you know your facts are correct? Is there a way to prove them?
I'm not a reformed Christian, but I believe that my knowledge, fruits and every breath, is based on God's will.
I do not understand salvation.
I believe that these are the cards I was dealt.
Everything in existence is an absolute, whether men recognize it or not.
God created everything for one reason -- His good and holy pleasure absolutely.
Men write with gray chalk that eventually fades away. God is the only indelible ink.
You may be right.
More's the pity.
Please define an absolute, so that I may better comprehend what you said.
Num 21:8-9
8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.(emphasis added)
It looks to me we take part in the affair, albeit not deserving of any personal merit. Those who chose not to look, or believed they would survive without looking -- died.
The Gospel is simple, repent (recognize we are fatally bitten in need of salvation) and receive (looking to the cross for the only remedy) the all complete free gift of salvation provided by Jesus Christ.
Jhn 3:27
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
Yes!
Jhn 1:12
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:
And Yes!
Truth is an absolute?
How does one determine between fact, and interpretation?
Why?
"The eagle lands at midnight."
Your turn.
Why, indeed.
God knew that Peter would choose to deny him three times.
God has prophesied the future. If God doesn't know than, he is presumption or he forces to future to occur. But God has prophesied man's sin repeatedly, including: Israel's sin, Peter's sin, Sin of man in the last days, sin of man following the 1000 year reign of Christ.
If God prophesied sin, and yet didn't cause it Himself, then God must know the future. If God did cause it Himself, then how can it be sin?
I believe that when God says He is the Alpha and Omega, that He is already the Omega. He exists at all points in time simultaneously. That is why comments are made in scripture like Jesus' "Before Moses I AM" instead of "Befoe Moses I was". That is why future events are often spoken of in past tense in scripture.
That is a very good question. Do you have an answer?
"Self-evident moral truths" are absolute truths --- true for all people in all places at all times down through history.
(Hint, hint -- ever hear of the Constitution? It's only purpose is to guard absolute moral truth (our inalienable God-given rights) - "We hold these truths to be self-evident that ...."). Unless it is effectively guarding absolute moral truths, it is a meaningless document.
I do not know what you mean?
Why do you say...'more's the pity'?
Check with the Calvanists.
No. If you cannot answer, at least say so.
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