Thomas Jay Oord

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Thomas Jay Oord (b. 1965) is a philosopher and theologian who specializes in research related to love, relational thought (including relational theism), and science and religion.

Thomas Jay Oord

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[edit] Education

Oord holds a PhD and MA from Claremont Graduate University, an MDiv from the Nazarene Theological Seminary and his BA from Northwest Nazarene University (NNU). He has also been ordained in the Church of the Nazarene. He currently teaches in the School of Theology and Christian Ministries at NNU. He has taught courses at Africa Nazarene University, Azusa Pacific University, Eastern Nazarene College, Harvard Divinity School, and Wesley Theological Seminary.

[edit] Philosophical and Theological Contributions

Oord's love studies begin with his own personal definition: to love is to act intentionally, in sympathetic response to others (including God), to promote overall well-being. He proposes novel definitions, with the desire that they might be useful for research in science, religion, and philosophy.

Oord has posited definitions of the classic love archetypes commonly referred to by philosophers and theologians:

  • agape: love that promotes overall well-being when confronted by that which generates ill-feeling (i.e., returning good for ill)
  • eros: love that promotes overall well-being by affirming the valuable or beautiful
  • philia: love that promotes overall well-being when cooperating with others

As a relational theologian, Oord argues that the fundamental nature of all things existing is relational. What it means to exist is decided by the decisions made in relation to the influence of others, including God. Oord says that God is also relational, and God and creatures mutually influence one another. While creatures influence God, God's essence remains constant. But God's influence precedes each moment of creaturely existence. This preceding divine influence is the inspiring and empowering of prevenient grace (See John Wesley).

Oord has been identified (rightly or wrongly) with a number of contemporary theological movements, including Holiness theology, Wesleyan theology, Open theology, Arminian theology, Process theology, Liberation theology, Evangelical, Postmodern, and Feminist theology. The driving force behind his theological interests, however, seems to be his intent to make sense of God as love and the great love commandments given by Jesus.

Oord's contributions to science and religion research are varied. Oord argues that love and altruism are important spiritual and scientific categories for contemporary research. He adopts a form of theistic evolution, which requires a necessary place for both divine and creaturely action. Oord argues that the traditional doctrine of creation out of absolutely nothing argument does not make scientific, philosophic or rationalist sense in light of the problem of evil and the divine love relations.

Thomas Jay Oord is currently theologian and philosopher at Northwest Nazarene University, theological consultant for the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, academic correspondent and contributing editor to Science & Theology News, and officer in a variety of scholarly societies. Oord is also an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene, a small holiness movement evangelical denomination.

[edit] Selected Bibliography

The Many Facets of Love: Philosophical Perspectives. (2007)

Relational Holiness: Responding to the Call of Love. (with Michael Lodahl) (2005)

Science of Love: The Wisdom of Well-Being. (2004)

An Open and Relational Theology of Love. (1999)

As editor and contributor:

Philosophy of Religion: Essay Introductions. (2003)

Thy Name and Thy Nature is Love. (with Bryan P. Stone) (2001)

Generation Xers Talk about the Church of the Nazarene. (1999)

[edit] External links

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