Brew Theology Podcast

Get ready for a fun one! In this 196th episode of the Brew Theology Podcast, Ryan and Janel chat with Dr. Thomas J. Oord on reasons we should stop saying "God is omnipotent." Oord suggests a new word, "Amipotence,"which combines two Latin words ami and potens. The first means “love,” and we find it in words like “amicable,” “amity,” and “amigo.” The second is the Latin word for power or influence, and we find it in “potential” and “potency.” Amipotence is pronounced, “am” (as in “Amsterdam”), with a short “i” (as in “it”), and “po-tence” (similar to “moments”). Oord coined this word to stress the priority of love over power in God. Divine love (ami) comes logically and conceptually prior to divine power (potens). Oord believes that we best understand God in general and divine power in particular if we give love pride of place. Love comes first. ///   Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. He is an award-winning author, and he has written or edited more than th