Roger Olson
Roger E. Olson is professor emeritus of Christian theology and ethics at the George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University, where he taught from 1999 until his retirement. Before Baylor he taught for fifteen years at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Olson is one of the most prominent contemporary defenders of Arminian theology against both Calvinism and open theism, and a careful historian of post-Reformation Protestant thought. His one-volume narrative The Story of Christian Theology has become a widely used seminary textbook, and his blog at Patheos is an active venue for accessible theological reflection on evangelical identity, soteriology, and the doctrine of God.
Frequently Asked Questions about Roger Olson
Is Roger Olson a Calvinist?
No. Olson is contemporary evangelicalism's best-known defender of classical Arminianism and a vocal critic of Calvinism. His book Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities argues that Arminianism is a legitimate evangelical theology of grace, not the semi-Pelagianism its critics allege.
What denomination is Roger Olson?
Olson is a Baptist who taught for over two decades at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University's Baptist seminary, after fifteen years at Bethel College in Minnesota. He was raised Pentecostal before moving into Baptist life.
Is Roger Olson retired?
Yes, Olson retired from Truett Seminary in December 2021 and holds emeritus status. He remains active in theological writing through his long-running blog, where he continues series such as 'Why I Am an Evangelical Arminian Christian.'
What is Roger Olson known for?
Olson is known for The Story of Christian Theology, a standard seminary textbook of historical theology, and for his careful distinction between Arminianism and open theism. He describes himself as a 'post-conservative' evangelical who holds to orthodox doctrine while resisting fundamentalist boundary-drawing.