22 Comments

Evolution and the Freedom to Love

Contemporary theories in biology rely heavily upon the role of genetics.  Genetic-oriented theories tend toward describing organisms as programmed or controlled by genes.  If we want to affirm evolution and yet affirm the freedom to love, we must overcome the view our genes control us entirely.

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40 Comments

Agape Theology

I heard several references to the work of Anders Nygren at the recent Oxford University conference I attended, “The Evolution of Morality.” Nygren’s agape theology continues to influence more than seventy years after its publication.

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21 Comments

Extra Mile Love

Students in my class on love made a positive difference this semester. The course explores love in theology, science, and society. Students went the extra mile to help others.

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14 Comments

A Six-Word Note on Love

A class I teach explores love from theological, philosophical, and scientific perspectives. It is about to conclude. My students have offered some intriguing perspectives on what they think about love.

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23 Comments

The Love of Jesus

Jesus Christ is rightly regarded as the most important person for helping us understand love.  Especially at this time of year, it seems wise to ponder the love of Jesus.

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22 Comments

Reviewing Love Wins

I have been impressed with the attention Rob Bell’s book, Love Wins, enjoys. Having read the book, I’m now ready to weigh in on its merits.

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Relations and Measuring Love

Some time ago, I posted blogs on the idea that love can be measured. In one blog, I defined love; in a second, I talked about the role of intentions. Now I turn to the role that relations play in measuring love.

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27 Comments

Love, Sex, and Romance

If the lyrics of rock-n-roll songs are a guide, love is about sexual attraction.  Harlan Ellison put it this way, “Love ain’t nothin’ but sex misspelled.” The view that love and sex are identical may seem crass.  But the two words are often swapped in common use.

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25 Comments

Measuring Love Intentions

To some people, scientific research on love is preposterous. Skepticism runs especially high when a researcher claims to explore loving motives and intentions. But research on the motives of love is possible -- and it offers key insights for living well.

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14 Comments

Measuring Love

For the past decade or so, I’ve been thinking about the love, science, and theology interface. The questions about how these three relate are complex. These questions require complex but understandable answers.

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18 Comments

Diversity and Love

Charles Darwin wisely said, “the greatest amount of life can be supported by great diversification of structure.”  I’ve been thinking lately about the potential helpfulness of diversity in the Church.

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47 Comments

Love Stinks! and other Love Lyrics

I’ve often thought it would be fun to write a scholarly essay on love using song lyrics.  Music plays such an important part of our lives, and I confess that music has profoundly shaped the way I see the world.

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36 Comments

Extra Mile Love

I challenged my university students to go “the extra mile” this semester to show love.  I was impressed with how they responded!

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27 Comments

Emergency Intervention and Good Sam

A tragic death forty-six years ago launched an intriguing field of love research: emergency intervention. I’ve been wondering what it means for imitating the Good Samaritan.

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56 Comments

Beyond Wynkoop’s Love Language

Mildred Bangs Wynkoop’s magnum opus, A Theology of Love, presents a powerful argument for love as the Christian's theological priority.  But her work would have been more powerful had she been consistent in her language of love.

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27 Comments

The Nature of Love - Excerpt

I sent the final proofs for one of my new books, The Nature of Love: A Theology, to Chalice Press. I’m very excited for this to come out in June!

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66 Comments

The Well-Being of Love

We use “love” in our everyday speech to mean many things. I think love is best understood and defined in terms of promoting well-being.

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27 Comments

Is Love an Irrational Mystery?

The typical Christian seeks to honor God with his or her mind. Unfortunately, some consider love and reason hostile or at least incompatible. Such Christians think love is a mystery.

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9 Comments

RE: Zamuda, God, and Evil

The problem of evil needs an answer – not just a response. I am writing a book that offers a multi-faceted answer.

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About this website

You’ve reached the online home of Thomas Jay Oord, a professor, author, and theologian from the Pacific Northwest. Read more