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Progressive Christian

2023-03-19T17:51:37-08:00

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.

Can Artificial Intelligence Understand Mysticism?

Last updated on: March 19, 2023 at 5:51 pm By Gregory T. Smith

AI knows a lot about theology—but can artificial intelligence understand mysticism? I asked ChatGPT about the nature of God… Hey, ChatGPT! What is God Like? With all the talk about ChatGPT, I had to try it for myself. As a writer, it’s easy to become intimidated by artificial intelligence that claims the ability to draft your articles for you. What if bots one day put writers out of business? That could happen eventually, for technical writers—but what about religious teachers?... Read more

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2023-03-19T17:57:27-08:00

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.

Pastors (and Others) Exempt from Tithing

Last updated on: March 19, 2023 at 5:57 pm By Gregory T. Smith

Pastors: This tax season, you’re examining your own church donations. Here are reasons why pastors (and others) are exempt from tithing: What is Tithing? In many churches, I’ve heard conversations about how much people should give to the church. But I’ve never heard anyone ask whether pastors should tithe from their income. Many pastors teach that tithing is an important part of the Christian life. Just as important as church attendance, daily prayer, and reading the Bible, they say... Read more

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2023-03-19T18:10:16-08:00

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 it Looks Like When God Takes a Selfie

Last updated on: March 19, 2023 at 6:10 pm By Gregory T. Smith

If God took a selfie, what would it look like? An old man with a beard, doing a duck face? Buddy Christ, giving the thumbs up? You might not think that God is into selfies, but God is the selfie original. We like to share our lives with self-made images, and so does God. But God does it without needing to flash hand signs or strike a pose. Let’s see what it looks like when God takes a selfie. Show... Read more

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2023-02-25T12:20:37-08:00

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.

Why are Evangelicals Afraid of Rumspringa?

Last updated on: February 25, 2023 at 12:20 pm By Gregory T. Smith

If the conservative Amish encourage their young people to experiment and figure out what they truly believe, why are Evangelicals afraid of rumspringa for their own children? What is Rumspringa? According to NPR, Rumspringa is a Pennsylvania Dutch term, usually translated as “running around” and derived in part from the German word Raum, which means “space” in the sense of outside or outdoors space, room to roam. “Running around outside the bounds” is a more complete translation. It’s a time... Read more

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2023-03-10T20:52:21-08:00

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 Gay Subtext of Jesus Revolution

Last updated on: March 10, 2023 at 8:52 pm By Gregory T. Smith

“Jesus Revolution is really about the Queer community,” I whispered to my wife as we watched the film last night. “Yesterday’s hippies are today’s LGBTQIA+ folks.” Today, I learned I was more right than I knew. Read more to find the gay subtext of Jesus Revolution… Hippies for Jesus Ostensibly, the 2023 Lionsgate movie is about the Jesus Movement of the 1970s. It features the dynamics between Chuck Smith, founder of Calvary Chapel, and a young Greg Laurie, senior pastor... Read more

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2023-02-12T15:18:37-08:00

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.

How To Create Sacred Space in Your Home

Last updated on: February 12, 2023 at 3:18 pm By Gregory T. Smith

Every religion in the world has sacred places. Why shouldn’t your home be a sanctuary? Here’s how to create sacred space in your home. Sacred Places When you enjoy your quiet time alone with God, consider having a sacred place to make that time more special. Throughout the Judeo-Christian tradition, people have marked places as holy. Jacob set up a standing stone in the spot where he wrestled with God. He called the place Bethel, which means House of God. The... Read more

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2023-02-25T09:26:44-08:00

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’s The Best Way to Question God and Others?

Last updated on: February 25, 2023 at 9:26 am By Gregory T. Smith

Young children are always asking questions. It’s endearing when they ask, “Mommy, why is the sky blue?” Or, “Daddy, why do the birds fly south for winter?” And every parent has indulged their child when the little one plays the game by asking, “Why, why, why” for every answer given. It can be cute, until it’s not. So, what’s the best way to question God and others? When “Why” is a Defiant Question When teenagers ask, “Why?” there’s often... Read more

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2023-02-20T12:02:27-08:00

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.

Youth Leave U.S. Pews Like Rats from a Sinking Church

Last updated on: February 20, 2023 at 12:02 pm By Gregory T. Smith

Youth are leaving U.S. pews like rats from a sinking Church. Nigerian youth are leaving the country in droves. What do they have in common? Nigerian Japa In an article on All Things Considered, Emmanuel Akinwotu reports: Young Nigerians are leaving the country in increasing numbers in search of a better life. It’s a trend that even has it’s own word — Japa — Yoruba for “to run, or escape.” Japa is a playful Nigerian word that’s trending in that... Read more

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2023-03-19T18:21:01-08:00

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.

Worship Wars: Which Type of Church is Best?

Last updated on: March 19, 2023 at 6:21 pm By Gregory T. Smith

Which type of church is best? Everyone has their opinion about worship style. Let’s examine three main worship styles and find which type of church is best for you. Other People’s Worship Styles I’m tired of hearing folks criticize other people’s worship styles. Religious pundits love to explain why other churches are doing it wrong and theirs is doing it right. In this article, I’ll summarize three worship styles, then look at the cons and pros (in that order) of... Read more

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2023-03-19T18:23:24-08:00

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.

Hey, Church! Stop Denying People Romance!

Last updated on: March 19, 2023 at 6:23 pm By Gregory T. Smith

What if someone told you that you were unworthy of romantic love, but instead, God and the Church could provide all the love you need? You’d probably say that was ridiculous. Yet, there are at least four groups of people to whom the church is saying exactly that. For Singles Awareness Day, I want to focus on these groups, upon whom many in the Church want to impose singleness. 1. LGBTQ Folks The first group are LGBTQ folks. Recently,... Read more

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