This podcast episode represents the culmination of an enlightening journey into the notion of "amipotence," as articulated by Dr. Thomas J. Oord. On this Good Friday, we engage in a profound discourse regarding Dr. Oord's revolutionary ideas, which challenge the conventional understanding of divine omnipotence, positing instead that God embodies uncontrolling love. Our esteemed guests, Dr. Oord and Josh Patterson, join hosts Joshua Noel and TJ Blackwell to explore the implications of these theological insights, particularly in relation to human agency and the nature of love. The conversation further delves into the narrative complexities presented by characters such as Kilgrave from Marvel's "Jessica Jones," fostering a rich dialogue around the intersections of power, control, and love. This episode not only reflects on previous discussions but also invites listeners to contemplate the broader implications of these ideas in their own lives and faith journeys.

The episode culminates in a rich exploration of the intersection between theology, ethics, and popular culture, utilizing the character of Mr. Purple from the Jessica Jones series as a focal point for our discussions on control, love, and agency. In analyzing Mr. Purple's coercive abilities, we confront the ethical dilemmas posed by his actions and their implications for our understanding of divine love. I assert that if love is to be genuine, it must be free from coercion, prompting a reevaluation of how we perceive power in both divine and human contexts. This leads us to a critical examination of the premise that God's omnipotence should be reconceptualized as omnibenevolence—an all-encompassing love that respects the autonomy of creation. Through this lens, we invite our listeners to consider the transformative potential of adopting a theology that prioritizes relationality and love over mere power, ultimately fostering a more profound connection with the divine and with one another.

Takeaways:

• Dr. Thomas J. Oord's concept of amipotence emphasizes God's nature as all-loving rather than all-powerful, fundamentally altering theological perspectives.
• In examining the implications of Jesus's sacrifice, we must confront the paradox of a suffering God and the nature of divine love.
• The discussions surrounding the character Kilgrave from Marvel comics serve as a poignant analogy for understanding coercive power versus loving influence in relationships.
• The panelists argue that true love cannot exist within a framework of coercion, highlighting the necessity of free will in authentic relationships.
• This episode serves as a culmination of previous dialogues, providing a comprehensive reflection on the evolution of thought regarding omnipotence and its alternatives.
• Dr. Oord invites listeners to engage with his forthcoming systematic theology of love, inviting community input on theological discourse.

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Check out the episode of Systematic Geekology on Mr Purple and amipotence:

https://systematic-geekology.captivate.fm/episode/from-omnipotence-to-amipotence-rethinking-divine-control-through-jessica-jones/

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Listen to our earlier panel episode on Amipotence with Tom, Josh, Nick Polk, and Aaron Simmons:

https://the-whole-church-podcast.captivate.fm/episode/amipotence-a-whole-church-panel-discussion/

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Don't miss any of the episodes we have done with Tom Oord:

https://player.captivate.fm/collection/7908711e-0990-4e7c-b604-e5d4e6b1dba2

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Get your own copy of the two-volume set of essays on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Amipotence-Support-Criticism-Expansion-Application/dp/1958670839/ref=sr_1_3?crid=37T2HMM60OLS6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XEE9LYq38lyfR7OSZhmMpJIbxNfS-PrX64nhU5hKh_usrH33CErhHg8jPjpuQ9SbrPP8XbqE-b9xaQeC5QlfHwDQ_W5eGRx0h9ewI6CTGNPblPSXZqM6ui1gvBoMYIYPX7iSL1NUHsW6wYOheATSwQ.b245iuucSjFK9YeUzkWGptZFBzvVfEDXtzuVw8RM9zc&dib_tag=se&keywords=amipotence&qid=1736648595&sprefix=amipotenc%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-3

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Check out Tom's book, "The Death of Omnipotence and Birth of Amipotence"

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Omnipotence-Birth-Amipotence-ebook/dp/B0C1KJ499N/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2M6OYD0Q9Y6T9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9yL_6uLXRhagOjGAqlVD39as3LQsqk84IsyYMzZL2S2o2s-Urt27w-n9y98qCnSfGtS-0qjj2fWSxHbmEvhkPDWE5OtZrkkNhoWHADAepJ02lStKm3UsovOUPSQ-uz6Y1X3ddYm0CGyWz6qgKmwF6g.VN4vQ2yL-nIrVgxlh5ZSntaWMKLTmD7sXOcVn_mNj7I&dib_tag=se&keywords=death+of+omnipotence&qid=1736648574&sprefix=death+of+omn%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1

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Follow Tom on Substack:

https://substack.com/@thomasjayoord759927

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Listen to (RE)Thinking Faith with Josh Patterson:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-faith/id1438696524

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Check out Nick's book, "Tolkien & Pop Culture":

https://www.amazon.com/Tolkien-Pop-Culture/dp/B0DKTW5XYH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1BQ3Y7MW4WTBO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ae5j5Vy58BVDlXMI9tH-Vw.v9y1BrrWMPgl7vK0cQ5IrBCHgQ2j28eCqOMizVPq1RQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=tolkien+and+pop+culture+nick+polk&qid=1734832777&sprefix=tolkien+and+pop+%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1

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Check out Joshua's Kingdom Hearts substack, The Kingdom Key:

https://thekingdomkey.substack.com/

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Subscribe to Nick Polk's substack, Tolkien Pop:

https://tolkienpop.substack.com/

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Check out more from Joshua on Systematic Geekology:

https://player.captivate.fm/collection/642da9db-496a-40f5-b212-7013d1e211e0

Mentioned in this episode:

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