Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
The Risk of Commitment

The Risk of Commitment

Last updated on: February 2, 2026 at 10:33 am by Roger E. Olson

0 Comments

The Risk of Commitment 2026-02-02T10:33:52-05:00 Roger E. Olson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Here I continue discussion of Daniel Taylor’s book The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian and the Risk of Commitment with Chapter 5: The Risk of Commitment. If you have read the chapter, feel free to comment. If not, feel free to ask a question. In any case, be sure to follow the rules laid out at the end here.

On page 113 Dan says “I do not have absolute certainty that anything I believe is true.” One has to admire Dan’s honesty. My response is that it all depends on what “absolute certainty” means. When I am confronted with someone who claims to have absolute certainty of something I tend to doubt him or her. However, when asked if I am absolutely certain of something I stumble to answer. I don’t know what he or she means by absolute certainty. I have turned out to be wrong about some things I thought I was certain about. On the other hand, I find no reason to doubt many things that I believe, even things I cannot prove to someone else. I still wrestle with whether I am one of Dan’s reflective Christians or not.

I was surprised and delighted by this quote in Dan’s story about the prisoner “Alexander Isaevich.” On page 117 he says “There is good and there is evil, and the difference between the is absolute.” With that I agree. I find myself certain of it. I cannot imagine ever doubting or denying that. That says to me that I may not be a fully reflective Christian. On the other hand, if I try hard enough, I find that I can doubt many things I am not supposed to doubt—according to fellow conservative Christians. Yesterday someone asked me what I think about eternal hell as torment of the “wicked.” I discovered instantly that I can doubt it. I don’t deny it; I just find it troubling, hard to believe, in light of my commitment to God as love and Jesus Christ as (potential) savior of all mankind.

The main “gist” of this chapter is Dan’s argument that the reflective Christian has every right to commit to Christianity (not Christendom) without being able to prove it true. In fact, he argues that doubt can open the door to commitment which, to his way of thinking, is more important than belief in doctrines.

I do not think Dan is arguing for Christianity as requiring a “leap of faith” in the sense many people think of that—as a kind of irrational choice, a “will to believe” without reasons. I could be wrong. I hope not.

On thing that caught my attention was Dan’s claim on page 96 that “God Himself has been a risk-taker.” Now this book was published by a leading evangelical publisher BEFORE the big “open theism controversy” broke out. Dan taught at the very same college as Greg Boyd who was so harassed and abused by constituents of the college (and others). Did they not read Dan’s book? Some of them were always heresy-hunting and harassing the president and the faculty over this or that alleged departure from perfect orthodoxy (e.g., believing that women can preach and even pastor). Dan’s statement is more than a hint at open theism. But…Dan taught English and not theology. I suspect that made all the difference to the denomination’s heresy-hunters many of who studied under Dan at some point.

*Note: If you choose to comment or ask a question, be sure to keep it relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of pictures or links.*

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 29, 2026

A Sermon About the Future

Next Post

February 4, 2026 Again I Ask Trump Supporters: What Would It Take?

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"No doubt Lewis was inspired by earlier thinkers. Ironically (or perhaps serendipitously) I am now ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"I am sure Lewis would agree. After all, as a Christian he believed in original ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"If I’m not mistaken, the quote from Lewis is his interpretation of the “Conditioners’” own ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

"Thank you! It's been a great re-read of a thought provoking, but somewhat dense, little ..."

Øyvind J. Karstad

The Abolition of Man: Chapter 3: ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Against Liberal Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In Revelation, what is the correct sequence of events in the End Times?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Dragon cast to earth, beast rises from sea, false prophet rises from earth, mark of the beast given False prophet rises, dragon cast to earth, beast rises from sea, mark of the beast given Mark of the beast given, dragon cast to earth, beast rises, false prophet rises Beast rises from sea, dragon cast to earth, mark of the beast given, false prophet rises