Jean Sheldon

Jean Sheldon has been a professor of Religion at Pacific Union College since 1995. She was one of the contributors to the book Servant God The Cosmic Conflict Over God’s Trustworthiness (see right column). You can see some of her material at: www.greatnewsaboutgod.org

Here is a sample from her website:

The cosmic conflict view of atonement is a theory within Christian theology, which teaches that Christ, through his incarnation, life, death and resurrection, addressed the existential questions of God’s response to the problem of evil. If there is an all-powerful God and he is good, why does he allow evil to exist? Can he be trusted? In this view, God’s response, through his son Jesus, is said to reveal the truth about both God’s character and the nature of evil. It teaches that this revelation, mediated through Jesus, provides clarification of theodicy questions and invites restoration to a trusting, transforming relationship with God, which is salvific.

Origins of the Conflict and God’s Response
This view of atonement is based on an understanding of a cosmic conflict that began in heaven when the highest-placed created being, Lucifer, the “Light Bearer”, became envious of God and began to question the goodness of God. The theory states that Lucifer’s envy led to rebellion, producing slanderous lies that God is arbitrary, stern, and unforgiving. Further, he insinuated there can be no real freedom under God’s governance. Using deceptive tactics, he persuaded a portion of other created beings to distrust God, including Earth’s first humans.

In response to this challenge, the cosmic conflict view teaches that God has sought to convince us of the truth about himself using transparency and evidence.  Because, in this view, God has been charged with not looking after the best interests of his creatures, mere claims of authority or displays of overwhelming power would not suffice to convince intelligent beings of the goodness of God.

Moreover, this view teaches that this is not God’s way of working. God’s use of any kind of coercive force would merely confirm the charges that his government is based on his use of self-serving power. With these charges originating in the universe at large, God’s answer must be given in that same universal context in order to be ultimately effective.

Jean Sheldon says: “the Great News About God: The Father is just like Jesus!”

Return from Jean Sheldon to the Home Page