Part II set out the contours of a theodramatic metaphysics, providing categories for describing what God the Father has said and done to renew all things in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Being-in-communicative-activity was the leading concept, and we even went so far as to describe the reality of angels in these terms. Chapter 6 introduced the analogy of authorship in order to set forth the nature of God's distinct communicative agency. The present chapter continues our exploration of authorship as a rubric with which to both distinguish between and relate the respective communicative agencies of God and human beings. In particular, we examine what happens when free human heroes “talk back” to their divine author in ways that either advance the communicative exchange or stop it defiantly in its tracks.

His dark materials: does God author evil?

Surely we have proved too much? If God is the author of the “person-idea” that heroes freely (though necessarily) work out, does it not follow that God is ultimately responsible for what the evil- doing villains do as well?