Down with Christian Nationalism
Column by Rev. Dr. Mark Sandlin on August, 3 2023I’d even go as far as to say the modern version of Dominionism, that’s now called Christian Nationalism, is nothing like the teachings of the man who said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Reclaiming Our Progressive Christian Tradition
Column by Rev. Brandan Robertson on July, 27 2023A majority of those who are now identifying as “Progressive Christians” are converts, so to speak, those fleeing other Christian traditions that had no real knowledge of Progressive Christianity.
Yes, The 10 Commandments ARE Un-American
Column by Rev. David M. Felten on July, 20 2023Hooray! Yet another Christian Nationalist effort to strangle American values has gone out with a whimper. This time, it was a Texas Senate Bill that, if passed, would have required the 10 Commandments to be displayed prominently in every classroom in the state.
The Real End Times – From Doom to Faith
Column by Rev. Michael Dowd on July, 13 2023Here we are, immersed in a swirl of biospheric breakdown and societal strife that isn’t going away; in fact, it’s getting worse. The darkness and distress cannot be passed off as the wrath of an angry God. Rather, we ourselves are at cause, and these are the real end times.
Why Call Ourselves Progressive?
Column by Rev. Dr. Caleb J. Lines on July, 6 2023There’s been a lot of conversation recently about whether we still need to use the term “progressive” as a qualifier for Christian. As a movement, we’ve been using the label for about 3 decades, and with so many cultural shifts, it’s only natural to raise the question of whether it still fits.
The Million Woman Walkout
Column by Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers on June, 29 2023Just when you thought things could not get worse, the Southern Baptists have declared that not only can women not be pastors, or anyone in a “position of authority over men,” but that SBC churches already led by women should be purged from the denomination.
You can have PRIDE too!
Column by Rev. Deshna Charron Shine on June, 22 2023Systemic racism and oppression of marginalized folk’s experience is ingrained in all of us and in every system. Even if every person became anti-racist and radically inclusive, our systems would still be a huge barrier to the liberation and equality of all.
From Nuns to Nones: The Future of Western Christianity
Column by Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox on June, 15 2023The facts emerging about the future of organized religion and institutional Christianity in North America are quite sobering indeed.
East Illuminates West
Column by Support - Progressing Spirit on June, 8 2023The East-West spiritual encounter has been profoundly formative for progressive Christianity. Experiencing the meditative practices of the East has inspired us to explore the previously neglected contemplative tradition of our faith.
Beyond Now
Column by Rev. Gretta Vosper on June, 1 2023If you’re on a quest for the afterlife, you’ve plenty of options. Heaven, Nirvana, Paradise; She’ol, Limbo, Purgatory; Jahannam, Hell, the Chinvat Bridge to Darkness.
The Lurking Evil of Christian Nationalism
Column by Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Frantz on May, 25 2023Christian nationalists – who are overwhelmingly white – think they are privileged and that their privileged status comes from God. Historically, they see the United States as the new Israel, a nation designated by God as a shining light on a hill to the rest of the world.
Planting Seeds in the Kin-dom
Column by Rev. Lauren Van Ham on May, 18 2023Ahead of Pentecost, the month of May offers International Labor Day, Beltane, and Mother’s Day (United States). Each one is ripe with spirituality, and combined, they invite us to choose one another, to look out for one another’s wellbeing, and to move continually toward the kin-dom of God.
Blood and Bananas
Column by Dr. Carl Krieg on May, 11 2023We live in a world defined by the cheapness of human life, indeed, all life. Migrants and refugees are treated no better than the Amazon rainforest. And yet, as entanglement shows us and as the tolling bell reminds us, all is One.
Progressive Christianity & Psychedelics
Column by Rev. Roger Wolsey on May, 4 2023There. I said it. I know I’m not the first, and I surely won’t be the last. It’s time to embrace and promote. My way of proclaiming the good news of psychedelic plant medicines as part of our salvation and healing is writing.
The Divine Within
Column by Rev. Dr. Mark Sandlin on April, 27 2023Namasté: “The Divine in me honors the Divine in you.” In my way of seeing it, namasté includes the understanding that we all are one.
Becoming A Digital Evangelist: An Invitation For Progressive Christians
Column by Rev. Brandan Robertson on April, 20 2023Progressive faith communities are rightfully skeptical of the language of “evangelism.” In modern history, the word has come to mean something like “forceful conversion” rather than a demonstration of and an invitation to the way of Jesus.
Retiring Atonement (preferably with extreme prejudice)
Column by Rev. David M. Felten on April, 13 2023Christianity is the only major religion where many followers believe the death of their founder is more important than his life.
Conversation Therapy
Column by Rev. Matthew Syrdal on April, 6 2023It has been said that words make worlds. And if this is true, that what we say and how we say it matters. If this is true, language is sacred. For in its origins language would be the Self-expression, not just of the human species—but of the world itself.
We are all wonderfully made
Column by Rev. Irene Monroe on March, 30 2023The Bible is replete with stories of various gender identities in God’s people. These biblical stories affirm that we all are wonderfully made and affirm our God-given right to live them out loud.
Blaming Progressives for the Death of the Church
Column by Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers on March, 23 2023Strangely, this critique of the death of church as spawned by progressives is really another way of saying that we failed to remain intellectually dishonest about how we got the Bible, what it means to call it our flawed but irreplaceable Story of Origin, and what scholars have now shown us about the enormous gap between faith as developed doctrine and faith as discipleship–a commitment to being followers of Jesus, not worshippers of Christ. We may be a lot smaller, but like leaven in the loaf, we may also be more subversive.
I am tired of giving to charities.
Column by Rev. Jess Shine on March, 16 2023Let me say that again for the people in the back. I’m tired of giving money to charities. I’ve served the church in development and parish life for over 20 years. I don’t believe giving is wrong. The Bible tells us God loves a cheerful giver and infers that we can’t out give God. So why do I say I’m tired of giving to charities?
M. D. Chenu’s Very Progressive Christianity
Column by Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox on March, 9 2023Why is a Chenu Institute and a new book about him such good news for progressive Christians today? Because he was a progressive and courageous theologian throughout his life and was unafraid to break the glass in so many areas of culture and religion including theological education.
The Birth and Death of the First Century Church – Part 2
Column by Dr. Carl Krieg on March, 2 2023We began with a description of human nature and used that to try to understand who Jesus was and how he was able to impact people, an analysis that bypasses much of the traditional theology about who and what he was.
Flipping the “He Gets Us” Script
Column by Rev. Jim Burklo on February, 23 2023The people behind HeGetsUs don’t get him. But that doesn’t prevent us from using their campaign to help folks get who Jesus really was – and making his compassionate personality the welcoming face of our progressive faith communities.
What happens when we are gone?
Column by Rev. Gretta Vosper on February, 16 2023What will happen if we disappear? Not “we” as in Earth’s upright and most capable digit-users, though I’m sure we’ll deal with that over the course of time, but “we” as in progressive thinkers in the church. What will happen if we disappear?