Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian

2023-04-07T15:23:08-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Strays, Haircuts, and the Golden Rule

Last updated on: April 7, 2023 at 3:23 pm By Gregory T. Smith

0 Comments

You can make the world a better place by the way you treat the two-legged and four-legged “strays” of the world. Haircuts for Our Neighbors on the Street I’m writing this while waiting to get trimmed at Sunny’s Barbershop in Bellingham, Washington, getting my hair cut by Sunny herself for the first time. Why am I here, when I normally go somewhere else? Two days ago, I brought in a client who is currently experiencing homelessness. The client got a... Read more

Health, Fitness and Religion

Style and Religion

Uncategorized

Bellingham Washington

Golden Rule

Haircuts for the homeless

rescue animals

rescue pets

Sunny's Barbershop

2023-04-07T14:54:11-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What if the Church Cared More About Serving Than Deserving?

Last updated on: April 7, 2023 at 2:54 pm By Gregory T. Smith

0 Comments

In church, you can either serve or deserve. You can’t do both. Leaders who put themselves forward are generally troublemakers. The best church leaders are the ones who initially say “no,” when you ask them to serve. I always preferred those who felt that they didn’t deserve it and had to be convinced to say yes. This is far better than those who put themselves forward as leaders. I’ve met both kinds and probably so have you. Two Types... Read more

General Christian

Relationships and Religion

Home and Religion

Challenging the Church

Reluctant leadership

servant leadership

Sons of Thunder

2023-04-01T10:24:52-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What If the Church Preferred the Path of Jesus to Theology?

Last updated on: April 1, 2023 at 10:24 am By Gregory T. Smith

0 Comments

What if Church membership were based on loving and trying to act like Jesus, instead of agreeing with a statement of faith? What If the Church Preferred the Path of Jesus to Theology? Do You Believe in Jesus? The church has led us to understand that beliefs about Jesus are what faith is all about. When somebody says, “Do you believe in Jesus?” what they’re really asking is something like, “Do you believe in the Trinity? Do you believe that... Read more

General Christian

Religious Events

Home and Religion

Challenging the Church

Theology

Creeds as a litmus test

Do you believe in Jesus?

Doctrinal statements

Jesus washes feet

Knowing About God Vs. Knowing God

Love one another

Maundy Thursday

What if the Church

2023-04-01T07:58:04-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Weaponizing the Bible in Defense of Guns

Last updated on: April 1, 2023 at 7:58 am By Gregory T. Smith

0 Comments

The social media meme says: “A rock in bad hands killed Abel. A rock in good hands killed Goliath. It’s not about the rock.” FALSE! Social media flame wars are no fun—but sometimes you have to say something. Sometimes you just can’t let a bad post go without comment. I hate it when people argue with me on my own page—I have a right to my opinion. I also believe in letting others be wrong on their own page. So,... Read more

General Christian

Politics and Religion

Religion News

Social Justice

Cain killed Abel

David and Goliath

Government does not bear the sword in vain

Governmental use of force

Mass shootings

Meme Cain killed Abel David killed Goliath

Pacifism

School shootings

Second Amendment

Should Christians carry guns

Social media and guns

sword into plowshares

What Jesus said about violence

2023-03-25T07:37:39-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What if the Church Could Have its Cake and Eat it, Too?

Last updated on: March 25, 2023 at 7:37 am By Gregory T. Smith

0 Comments

If the Church embraced paradox with humility, it could have its cake and eat it too. I learned that in forty-odd years of potluck suppers. When bringing food to a church dinner, I’ve found it’s best not to eat what I brought. It’s better to eat what others share and let others enjoy what I contribute. When I want to have some of my own cooking, I can always have the leftovers. And if you’re in ministry, you’re probably... Read more

General Christian

History and Religion

Education and Religion

Challenging the Church

Deconstruction

Christian paradox

Christian wars

Christians killing Christians

embrace paradox with humility

Have your cake and eat it too

2023-03-19T16:09:24-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What if the Church Valued Doubt as Much as Faith?

Last updated on: March 19, 2023 at 4:09 pm By Gregory T. Smith

0 Comments

“Don’t question God,” my Sunday school teacher told me. What they meant was, “You’d be a better robot if you stopped thinking so much.” But what if the Church valued doubt as much as faith? Questioning God Maybe you had the same Sunday school teacher. Perhaps they told you the same thing. Free thought challenges the status quo. My Sunday school teacher felt threatened when I asked questions she couldn’t answer from her Bible or her teacher’s manual. She mistranslated my... Read more

General Christian

Technology and Religion

History and Religion

Challenging the Church

Deconstruction

Asking good questions

Don't question God

Doubting Thomas

Faith and doubt

Galileo and the Inquisition

2023-03-22T11:00:11-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Best Practices for Church Security

Last updated on: March 22, 2023 at 11:00 am By Gregory T. Smith

0 Comments

When my parishioner threatened to bring a gun to church and start shooting, we wished we had some best practices for church security. Are you concerned about safety during worship services and other events? Here’s how your church can begin taking church security seriously and add a measure of safety to your proceedings. The Threat It was playtime at Vacation Bible School, with a hundred children running around our church’s playground. Bill (not his real name) had come to church,... Read more

General Christian

Religious Events

Family, Parenting and Religion

Challenging the Church

For Pastors

active shooters in churches

bouncers for churches

church security

church security cameras

church security team

concealed carry in church

de-escalation training

fire safety for churches

first-aid kits for church

pacifism in church security

self-defense in church

situational awareness training

2023-03-11T13:38:27-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What if the Church Focused On Its Own Sin Instead of the Sins of Others?

Last updated on: March 11, 2023 at 1:38 pm By Gregory T. Smith

0 Comments

Witch hunts are common in the church today. The connection between Saddleback and Salem is people seeing sin in others instead of themselves. Relics of Witch Hunts If you visit the 1692 Salem Witch Museum in Salem, Massachusetts you can see relics of the witch hunts. That museum puts on display all the atrocities that took place when people decided that other people’s sin was their business, and their duty to punish. You can learn about the self-righteousness of those... Read more

General Christian

Travel and Religion

History and Religion

Challenging the Church

Mental Health

Social Justice

grace unmerited favor

hypocritical church leaders

Motivational Interviewing

no condemnation

Pharisees and woman caught in adultery

Puritans

Salem Witch Trials

SBC and gay-affirming churches

SBC disfellowships Saddleback

SBC kicks out Saddleback

Southern Baptist Convention

stages of change

unconditional love

Unconditional positive regard

Witch hunts

2023-03-19T17:31:31-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rethinking Saint Patrick: How It’s Not Nice to Christianize a Nation

Last updated on: March 19, 2023 at 5:31 pm By Gregory T. Smith

0 Comments

AndThese days, we’re learning that not all of our heroes were heroic. What can we learn from the life and faith of St. Patrick? It’s time to start rethinking Saint Patrick, and how it’s not nice to Christianize a nation. Wearing the Green This week many people celebrate one of my favorite holidays, St. Patrick’s Day. For me, It’s a day to remember my Irish heritage and celebrate Ireland’s contributions to society. Click here for Thomas Cahill’s book, How the... Read more

General Christian

Religious Events

History and Religion

Challenging the Church

Deconstruction

Holidays and special days

Social Justice

Theology

Breastplate of Saint Patrick

Christians and Neopaganism

St Patrick and cultural appropriation

St Pattys Day

St. Patrick and conquistadors

St. Patrick's Day

Universal reconciliation

2023-03-19T17:48:08-08:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Climate’s Changing, So What if the Church…

Last updated on: March 19, 2023 at 5:48 pm By Gregory T. Smith

0 Comments

It’s been said that Christianity must change or die. So, too, the church must either change or die. It’s time we asked ourselves, “What if the church…” With all the social change taking place in North America, I’m convinced that the church of the next couple of generations is going to look radically different from the church as we know it today. If it’s going to survive at all, that is. It’s not that the Gospel has become irrelevant to... Read more

General Christian

Style and Religion

Education and Religion

Challenging the Church

For Pastors

Christianity must change or die

church is declining

Church of the next generation

the church of the future

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the name "Jacob" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Full of light Justified Supplanter Friend of God

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Challenging the Church Deconstruction For Pastors Heathen Christianity Holidays and special days Mental Health Social Justice Spirituality Taoism Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian