Richard Rice

T. Richard Rice (1944—) is a Seventh-day Adventist theologian and author. He is a leading proponent of "open theism", a term he invented, which describes a controversial understanding of God. As of 2007 he is professor of theology and philosophy of religion at Loma Linda University in California. [ [http://qod.andrews.edu/presenters.html Presenters :: Questions on Doctrine ] ]

Biography

Rice received an MDiv degree from Andrews University in 1969, and an MA and PhD in Christian theology from the University of Chicago in 1972 and 1974, respectively. He taught at La Sierra University, in Riverside, California until 1998, moving then to Loma Linda University, where he is (as of 2007) a Professor of Religion in the areas of Theology and Philosophy of Religion. [cite book | author = Loma Linda University | title = Faculty of Religion Bulletin: 2000-2002 | publisher = Loma Linda University | date = August 15, 2000 | location = Loma Linda, CA | page = 52 ] He has served as a church pastor."Reign of God", iv]

His introductory theology textbook "The Reign of God" received a very positive review by evangelical Clark Pinnock.

He is married to Gail Taylor Rice.

Open theism

Rice introduced the term "open theism" in his 1980 book "The Openness of God: The Relationship of Divine Foreknowledge and Human Free Will". The book was published by Seventh-day Adventist publisher Review and Herald, but proved controversial within the church and was not reprinted. Later, evangelical Clark Pinnock contacted Rice to convey his deep appreciation of the book, and gave it a positive review. [For example, Pinnock, Clark H. "Reconstructing evangelical theology: is the open view of God a good idea?" in "Andrews University Seminary Studies" 2003, v41, Aut, p215–227 ] It was republished by Pinnock's publisher Bethany House under the title "God's Foreknowledge & Man's Free Will". In 1994, Rice and other theologians contributed to the book "The Openness of God: A Biblical Challenge to the Traditional Understanding of God", which was edited by Pinnock.

It is based on Arminian theology, and many supporters see it as the logical extension of that school of thought. It rejects both Calvinism and the liberal process theology.

Publications

Rice has authored numerous books, and has published articles in the "The Journal of Religion", "Religious Studies Review", "Andrews University Seminary Studies", "Ministry", "Insight" and "Spectrum". His books include:

* Cite book
publisher = Review and Herald Pub. Association
isbn = 0812703030
pages = 95
title = The openness of God: The relationship of divine foreknowledge and human free will
date = 1980
** Republished as: Cite book
publisher = Bethany House Pub
isbn = 0871238454
pages = 107
title = God's Foreknowledge & Man's Free Will
date = 1985-11
* Cite book
publisher = Pacific Press
isbn = 0816305706
pages = 93
title = When Bad Things Happen to God's People
date = 1985-05
* Cite book
publisher = Loma Linda Pub Co
isbn = 0944450075
pages = 310
title = Reason and the Contours of Faith
date = 1991
* Cite book
publisher = InterVarsity Press
isbn = 0830818529
pages = 202
author = Clark H. Pinnock (ed.), Richard Rice, John Sanders, William Hasker, David Basinger
title = The Openness of God: A Biblical Challenge to the Traditional Understanding of God
date = 1994-10
* Cite book
edition = 2nd
publisher = Andrews University Press
isbn = 1883925169
pages = 423
title = The Reign of God: An Introduction to Christian Theology from a Seventh-day Adventist Perspective
url =
date = 1997-01 ( [http://www.andrews.edu/universitypress/catalog.cgi?key=140 publisher's page] )
* Cite book
edition = 1ST
publisher = Association of Adventist Forums
title = Believing, Behaving, Belonging: Finding New Love for the Church
date = 2002 (see his related article [http://www.atoday.com/magazine/2001/11/core-community-reconfiguring-adventist-center From Core to Community: Reconfiguring the Adventist Center] )
* Cite book
publisher = Wipf & Stock Publishers
isbn = 1592446760
pages = 108
title = God's Foreknowledge and Man's Free Will
date = 2004-01
* Cite book
publisher = Loma Linda University Press
isbn = 1594100128
title = Ministryhealing: Toward a Theology of Wholeness and Witness
date = 2006-02

References

See also

* Open theism
* Progressive Adventist

External links

* [http://www.llu.edu/llu/faculty/directory/faculty.html?id=rrice Faculty directory home page] at Loma Linda University
* [http://www.spectrummagazine.org/blog/2007/11/12/richard_rice_discusses_open_theism Richard Rice Discusses Open Theism] , a summary by David Larson

Reviews of his 1980 "The Openness of God":
* "Spectrum", [http://www.spectrummagazine.org/spectrum/archive11-15/index12-1.html September 1981 issue] :
** [http://www.spectrummagazine.org/spectrum/archive11-15/12-1goodwin.pdf The Openness of God: A Compromised Position?] by George L. Goodwin
** [http://www.spectrummagazine.org/spectrum/archive11-15/12-1phillips.pdf The Openness of God: A Logical Position?] by Hollibert E. Phillips

Reviews of "The Reign of God":
* "Spectrum" [http://spectrummagazine.org/spectrum/archive16-20/18-3reviews.pdf 18:3 (1988) Reviews] : "Rice's "Reign of God": An SDA Theology for the Masses?" by Clark Pinnock, and "The Reign of God": Innovative, Helpful, Discreet" by Charles Scriven

* [http://jewel.andrews.edu:82/search/?searchtype=a&searcharg=Rice%2C+Richard&SORT=D&extended=0&SUBMIT=Search&searchlimits=&searchorigarg=aNam%2C+Julius Search for "Rice, Richard" publications] in the Seventh-day Adventist Periodical Index (SDAPI)