[...] In Olson’s defense, when some Calvinists attribute authorship of sin to God, as does R.C. Sproul, Jr., then I side with Olson. Typically, however, Calvinists — at least in speech and in writing [...]

[...] decreed by God. Most theological determinists deny that God actually is the author of sin and evil (R.C. Sproul, Jr., and those who agree with him, are [...]

[...] where did Adam and Eve’s inclination to disobey the LORD arise? If we accept the teaching of R. C. Sproul, Jr., we will admit that this inclination came from God. One will search Scripture in vain, however, to [...]

[...] children of Calvinists become either non-Calvinists (the Schaeffer route) or hyper-Calvinists (the Sproul route). If you happen to be a level headed second generation Calvinist, there are lots of YCs who [...]

[...] Philosopher Paul Copan takes Sproul to task on this point by citing that all which God creates is good (1 Timothy 4:4, James 1:17, which [...]

[...] of sin,” they are too quick to say, “No, God is not the author of sin.” [R. C. Sproul, Jr. openly admits that God is the author of sin.] And then they twist and turn and writhe on the floor, [...]

[...] Calvinists who, consistent with their Calvinistic theology, confess that God is the author of sin. R. C. Sproul, Jr., for example, in his book Almighty over All: Understanding the Sovereignty of God (which, clearly, [...]

[...] and nature of God is atrocious and nefarious from my perspective, he is at least consistent (as is R. C. Sproul Jr., who affirms that God actually is the author of sin). John Piper, however, seeks to affirm [...]

[...] of sin, responsible for sin, and culpable for decreeing and bringing sin to pass (which renders R. C. Sproul Jr. a hyper-Calvinist [...]

Hello, everyone.

Until yesterday, I wasn’t aware that so many people had commented on my RC Sproul Jr. blog posting. I thought the conversation gradually died down after my posting (around #71 in the first batch).

I typically get emails on any P&P posting in response to my blogs, but not on this one. So I aware of all of your engaging comments, and I won’t start to respond now. As an aside, Michael will be posting shortly my new piece on “Divine Exasperation,” which will may be a topic of interest to many of you. Indeed, it addresses another angle of the topic of God’s sovereignty, grace, sin, and human free will (in response to God’s initiating grace).

I asked Michael Patton to give me one more opportunity to comment before he closes down the discussion. I wanted to inform you that I plan to read all of your comments eventually–and that I’ll be interacting with some of the salient points in an essay I’m writing for a book on evil (coedited by Chad Meister and Norman Geisler). My chapter will be entitled, “Primeval Sin.” So be on the lookout for it in print—in a couple of years!! Actually, I’ll be presenting a paper on at at the International Society for Christian Apologetics in April 2011. (You can follow my itinerary at http://www.paulcopan.com for more details.)

Thanks, folks!