Is God Really Omnipotent? The Open & Relational Theology Answer

What if everything you learned about God's power is incomplete — or even wrong? In this conversation, Kwok Pui Lan sits down with Thomas J. Oord to explore one of the most provocative questions in contemporary theology: is God truly all-powerful? Drawing on open and relational theology and process theology, they challenge the traditional doctrine of divine omnipotence and ask what it means to reimagine God as one who is deeply relational, responsive, and present in the midst of suffering. In this episode, we explore: • What open and relational theology actually teaches — and why it matters now • How process theology reframes divine power not as control, but as love • Why the traditional view of an all-powerful God struggles in the face of injustice and pain • What a relational God means for faith communities, especially those on the margins • How postcolonial perspectives reshape our understanding of God's power and vulnerability This is theology that doesn't just stay in the academy — it speaks directly to how we pray, grieve, resist, and hope. Dr. Thomas Oord's recent book is A Systematic Theology of Love, vol. 1, God and Creation.