The Measure of a “Genuine” Progressive Christian

Column by Rev. David M. Felten on May, 6 2021

So, what’s the measure of a “genuine” progressive Christian? For some, it’s proficiency in some obscure spiritual discipline. For others, it’s engagement in the work of social justice. Whatever we are, the media seems to believe the 2020s may provide a leg-up for those who are advocates and practitioners of a post-modern, post-evangelical, post-liberal, post-Christian approach to Jesus following.

Charting a New Reformation, Part XXIII – The Seventh Thesis, The Resurrection

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on May, 26 2016

“The Easter event gave birth to the Christian Movement and continues to transform it. That does not mean, however, that Easter was the resuscitation of Jesus’ deceased body …

Charting a New Reformation, Part XX – The Fifth Thesis, Miracles (concluded)

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on May, 5 2016

The nature miracles attributed to Jesus in the gospel tradition were not supernatural events that marked his life as divine. They were rather Moses stories interpretively wrapped around Jesus …

Charting a New Reformation, Part XIX – The Fifth Thesis, Miracles (continued)

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on April, 28 2016

“In a post-Newtonian world supernatural invasions of the natural order performed by either the eternal God or the “Incarnate Jesus” are simply not a …

Charting A New Reformation, Part XVIII – The Fifth Thesis, Miracles (continued)

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on April, 21 2016

Following the Exodus, Moses’ miraculous power was never again so powerfully displayed in the biblical story, but it did not disappear. In a battle against the Amalekites (Exod. 17:8-14) …

The Sources of Political Gridlock and Anger

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on March, 3 2016

It has been a very unconventional political primary season. In the last three weeks two public debates sank to what seem to me to be new lows in presidential …

The Anglican Communion R.I.P.

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on February, 11 2016

It was an historical illusion anyway, a cherished and romantic notion practiced in all kinds of theoretical venues. The idea that the lands that once constituted the British Empire …

Charting a New Reformation, Part VIII – God –“Not a Being but Being Itself” (Cont.)

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on January, 21 2016

It was a 6th century Greek philosopher named Xenophanes who wrote: “If horses had gods, they would look like horses.” Xenophanes was pointing to the reality, which all of …

Re-Creating Easter II: Who Stood in the Center of the Easter Moment?

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on September, 24 2015

Who was the person who stood in the center of the most dramatic moment in Christian history, the experience we call Easter? Who was it who first saw the …