Advocacy of Arminianism Olson identifies himself as a classical
Arminian, and is known for his stance in favor of Arminianism. He has written several books including
Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities (2006) in which he defined and defended his vision of Arminianism. Olson fundamentally defines Arminianism by God's "limited" mode of
providence and by God's "predestination by
foreknowledge" mode of
election. According to him, adherence to classical Arminianism is defined by being classically
Protestant, affirming
total depravity,
conditional election,
unlimited atonement,
prevenient grace, and that God is in no way, and by no means, the author of sin and evil but that these are only permitted by him. Olson's definition, without taking a position on the
conditional preservation, is close to the view of the
Remonstrants prior to 1618. For Olson, "classical Arminianism" as defined is centered on God's grace and
sovereignty, and is intrinsically an
evangelical theology. Olson also refers to "classical Arminianism" as "evangelical synergism": '
synergism' referring to cooperation between God and creature and '
evangelical' to distinguish it from Catholic or Eastern Orthodox synergism. Olson says that the first principle of Arminianism is "Jesus Christ as the full and perfect revelation of the character of God". This principle has a particular significance within the
Calvinism–Armininian debate, where the character of God (and especially his love) as revealed by Jesus Christ is, for Olson, better represented by the Arminian view. Olson says that, as a consequence of this point, Arminians only believe in
libertarian free will to avoid making God the author of sin and evil, and because it is an experienced reality necessary for
responsibility.
Theology history and analysis Olson wrote a popular and widely acclaimed survey of Christian theology titled
The Story of Christian Theology (1999). He is noted for a broad view of what constitutes Protestant "orthodoxy." For example, on
annihilationism he commented in his 2002 book
The Mosaic of Christian Belief that some evangelical theologians have "resurrected the old polemical labels of heresy and aberrational teaching" in order to marginalize other evangelicals holding the view. Olson has described two "loose coalitions" developing within evangelical theology in response to postmodernism, which he referred to as "Traditionalists" and "Reformists." Olson coined the label "Pannenberg's Principle" for
Wolfhart Pannenberg's argument (1969) that God's deity is his rule – "The divinity of God and the reign of God in the world are inseparable." He was the editor and author of the
Handbook of Denominations in the United States, 14th edition (2018). ==Bibliography==