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Progressive Christian

2025-08-16T11:46:58-08:00

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.

Is It a Sin to Get Tattooed or Pierced?

Last updated on: August 16, 2025 at 11:46 am By Gregory T. Smith

People have often asked me, “Is it a sin for a Christian to get tattooed and pierced?” Followers of Jesus have mixed opinions. Many conservatives believe tattoos are of the devil, while other people honor God as the Creator of their bodies by covering them with artwork. I’ve gotten mixed reactions from Christians when they have seen my ink. Some want to know if I can recommend an artist (I can—my daughter Emily in Charlottesville, VA). Others want to know... Read more

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2022-03-26T14:01:19-08:00

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.

Daddy Issues and the Divine: Children of a Disapproving God

Last updated on: March 26, 2022 at 2:01 pm By Gregory T. Smith

Viewing God as our heavenly father is problematic for people who always felt their dads were disappointed in them. Daddy Issues “Are you stupid?” I yelled at my son. Instantly, I heard my own dad’s voice in my words. That’s what he’d said to me when I was the same age as my kid. Without missing a beat, I answered my own question. “Of course, you’re not stupid—you’re way too smart for the stupid thing you’re doing!” But the damage... Read more

Challenging the Church

Deconstruction

Spirituality

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2022-03-19T19:45:40-08:00

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.

Apologize Like a King: 4 Steps to Making it Right Again

Last updated on: March 19, 2022 at 7:45 pm By Gregory T. Smith

As Jewish believers celebrated Purim this past week, I finished my reading of the Greek version of Esther. It’s a much better version than the Protestant canonical one—one that I hadn’t read before. There’s so much to say about this amazing book, especially at Purim which celebrates its events. Today, I want to focus on how to apologize like a king. Reason to Apologize The Persian King Xerxes from the movie 300 had a lot of reasons to apologize. But... Read more

Spirituality

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2022-03-17T18:17:24-08:00

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.

Apocalypse, Part 5: “The God Who Wouldn’t be King”

Last updated on: March 17, 2022 at 6:17 pm By Gregory T. Smith

The world watches in horror as Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine and slaughters his enemies. Are Christians to believe that Jesus wants to do the same? Conquering King The Book of Revelation ends with King Jesus returning on a white stallion. Clad in a robe dipped in blood, he terrifies the nations with eyes of fire. He defeats them with a sword from his mouth, and rules them with a rod of iron. On his robe and tattooed on his thigh... Read more

Challenging the Church

Deconstruction

Theology

Uncategorized

2022-04-24T09:07:08-08:00

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.

What is the Christian’s Source of Ultimate Truth?

Last updated on: April 24, 2022 at 9:07 am By Gregory T. Smith

Do progressive Christians who no longer believe in an inerrant Bible still have a source of ultimate Truth? Recently, someone accused me of not having an ultimate source of truth. As a fundamentalist, he believes that the Bible is the Christian’s ultimate source of truth. As such, anything that diverges from the inerrant Word of God that he believes in must be a lie. Because I believe some of the doctrines he derives from a “plain reading of scripture” (eternal... Read more

Challenging the Church

Deconstruction

Theology

Uncategorized

2022-03-17T18:01:36-08:00

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.

“Apocalypse” Part 4: “Antichrist”

Last updated on: March 17, 2022 at 6:01 pm By Gregory T. Smith

Is Vladimir Putin the antichrist? Yes, and no. Who is the Antichrist? When I was young, it seemed like Christians were always trying to answer the question, “Who is the Antichrist?” Ronald Regan (who has six letters in each of his three names and survived a gunshot) was a possibility. Mikhail Gorbachev (who had the Hebrew letter vav dripping blood on his forehead) was another noteworthy candidate, along with the shah of Iran. So was every leader that emerged in... Read more

2022-03-05T19:34:46-08:00

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.

Apocalypse 3: “The Wrath of God”

Last updated on: March 5, 2022 at 7:34 pm By Gregory T. Smith

Are wars and rumors of wars, natural disasters, climate change, and pandemic signs of God’s wrath? Religion journalist Cathleen Falsani writes: A judge in Nebraska threw out a 2007 lawsuit filed against God by state Sen. Ernie Chambers, who had sought permanent injunction against the Almighty for bringing “acts of terrorism” against the Cornhusker state. Chambers…asked that an order be issued demanding God to cease and desist from causing ‘fearsome floods, egregious earthquakes, horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes, pestilential plagues,... Read more

Challenging the Church

Four horsemen of the apocalypse

plague and pestilence

Revelation

Wrath of God

2022-03-08T20:16:35-08:00

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.

“Apocalypse” Part 2: “Worship for Believers in Exile”

Last updated on: March 8, 2022 at 8:16 pm By Gregory T. Smith

If it’s been a long time since you were in church, you may ask yourself, “Does worship still matter?” Whether it’s due to COVID or because of your own religious deconstruction, you may tell yourself that it’s no longer important. You’ve gotten out of the habit and haven’t missed it. Today in this series on the apocalypse, we examine the theme of worship. Is Worship Important? If you’re questioning and deconstructing your faith, you may have concluded that worship... Read more

2022-03-08T20:18:40-08:00

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.

“Apocalypse,” Part 1: “Fire and Ice”

Last updated on: March 8, 2022 at 8:18 pm By Gregory T. Smith

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many Christians turn their thoughts to the apocalypse. Are these the end times? In this new series, I’ll explore major themes in the book of Revelation. The first is the theme of apocalypse. Removing the Blinders Author Bill Bright writes about Anne Sullivan introducing her blind and deaf student Helen Keller the concept of God: Using a unique form of “finger language,” Anne began “spelling” words into the child’s hand, and eventually Helen recognized... Read more

Theology

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Apocalypse

Apocalyptic literature

2022-03-08T20:24:21-08:00

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.

Is All Scripture God-Breathed?

Last updated on: March 8, 2022 at 8:24 pm By Gregory T. Smith

Giving me that “I’ve got you stumped” look, the deacon folded his arms and tried to make me sweat. “Do you believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God? What do you think of 2 Timothy 3:16?” I had interviewed well so far but wondered if my answer would cause me problems. What Does the Bible Say About Itself? He probably didn’t like it very much when I avoided his chosen scripture and went to another one–Psalm 17:7-11... Read more

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