Richard Rice (theologian)

Richard Rice (born 1938) is an American theologian known for his work in open theism and his contributions to Seventh-day Adventist theology.

Rice holds a Ph.D. in Religion from the University of Chicago. He taught theology at Loma Linda University for many years and is now a Professor Emeritus of Religion at the university.

Rice's theological positions are characterized by a focus on God's love, freedom, and relationality. He is a prominent advocate for open theism, the view that God does not know the future exhaustively but chooses to leave it open to human freedom and response. This perspective challenges traditional views of divine omniscience and emphasizes the importance of human agency in the unfolding of history.

Key publications include:

• The Openness of God: The Relationship of Divine Foreknowledge and Human Free Will (co-authored with Clark Pinnock, John Sanders, William Hasker, and David Basinger)
• God's Foreknowledge and Man's Free Will
• Reign of God: An Alternative to the Reign of Terror
• No Longer Strangers: Becoming Christian in a Post-Christian World
• The Nature of God
• Suffering and the Sovereignty of God

His work has generated significant discussion and debate within both Adventist and broader evangelical theological circles, particularly concerning the nature of divine foreknowledge and providence. Rice is considered a leading voice in the development and articulation of open theism within the context of Adventism. He remains an influential figure in contemporary theological discussions about the character of God.