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Progressive Christian

2022-01-23T21:30:30+00:00

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 Connectedness of All Things

Last updated on: January 23, 2022 at 9:30 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

Have you ever noticed that Christianity can sometimes feel like a bit of an indoor religion? Rows of seats in custom-built auditoriums, platforms and baptistry tanks, and cups of tea in comfortable living rooms? Years ago, a close friend of mine got married in a forest, and I can still remember the awkwardness of the ceremony, which had not been altered in any way to match the venue. In the acoustics of the woodland, the guitar sounded tinny, the singing... Read more

Living in Abundance

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the dangers of isolationism

the power of meditation

2022-01-18T22:53:47+00:00

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 Mythology of Cancel Culture

Last updated on: January 18, 2022 at 10:53 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

I hear a lot of talk about cancel culture these days, especially in church, spoken of in hyped-up, defensive tones, but the warning doesn’t ring true in my ears. The fear seems to be that the liberals are coming for the church, to ban Christians from saying what some believe about homosexuality. In the fever-heat of perceived threat, it is easy to imagine this embargo on religious views being extended to belief in general, evoking fear of creeping persecution. If... Read more

2023-12-17T19:29:58+00:00

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.

Does the Devil Exist?

Last updated on: December 17, 2023 at 7:29 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

It seems like everything is being put to the question these days. It is tempting for Western, modern Christianity to reshape itself according to its cultural context, and to some degree that is a good thing. Faith should always be relevant to the people it’s meant to help, and it’s bizarre to ask new believers to abandon all scientific knowledge and think like someone who lived 2000 years ago. That said, Westerners sometimes live with the conceit that their... Read more

De/reconstruction

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2022-01-07T17:37:24+00:00

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.

Dig Your Own Well

Last updated on: January 7, 2022 at 5:37 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

Over the past few months, I’ve been fascinated, excited and occasionally dismayed by the ongoing discussion around deconstruction. As I argued in a previous post, deconstruction is often a necessity for the thinking believer, but that doesn’t mean it comes without pitfalls. For me, deconstruction is only half a job if not followed by reconstruction, leading to the establishment of a meaningful, peaceful practice of faith. What’s the purpose of deconstruction? Put simply, the purpose of deconstruction is... Read more

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2021-12-30T18:47:01+00:00

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.

Making Resolutions That Work

Last updated on: December 30, 2021 at 6:47 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

Why don’t New Year’s Resolutions work? Why is screwing up our eyes and saying ‘this is the year’ so predictably ineffective? One answer might be that it’s an inorganic approach to the organic process of personal growth. The foundation of effective change is first of all to embrace that life is a journey, and the only mindset to have on a journey is that of a pilgrim. Making resolutions with a settler mindset is like planning an overseas vacation... Read more

2021-12-24T16:24:17+00:00

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.

Incarnation

Last updated on: December 24, 2021 at 4:24 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

The mystery of incarnation never gets old for me. When I read Luke’s account, I can easily imagine the spiritual tension in the air, as the Divine pierced the mortal realm and became flesh. I can feel the awe and wonder of the shepherds as angels ranged across the sky, announcing the birth of Jesus. I thrill with the anticipation of the magi, as they chase the signs and portents of their own religion, in pursuit of the Prince of... Read more

Christ in us the hope of glory

2021-12-21T18:47:10+00:00

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 Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom

Last updated on: December 21, 2021 at 6:47 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

This much-quoted Biblical phrase, from Proverbs 9:10, is often stated to imply that the fear of the Lord is something we should always know, in our dealings with God – that if we lose fear, we are on dangerous ground; that God cannot be resisted or argued with, because of his might; that even when we know the friendship of the Divine, we should step back and remember fear, to keep ourselves balanced. I’m going to argue a different... Read more

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2021-12-17T17:49:54+00:00

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.

Understanding Progressive Christianity, Part 5 – Navigating Deconstruction

Last updated on: December 17, 2021 at 5:49 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

In the final instalment of this series, I want to share the most important truths I’ve learned while deconstructing faith. I hope these will give you the tools to navigate your own voyage of discovery, and find your way to a better, more welcoming destination. Everybody deconstructs, whether they admit it or not Every time the world changes, Christianity moves with it. When slavery was abolished, the Church had to rethink its understanding of texts about the attitudes... Read more

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richard rohr

2021-12-14T17:27:02+00:00

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.

Understanding Progressive Christianity, Part 4 – The Cross

Last updated on: December 14, 2021 at 5:27 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

In the church of my youth, there was only one way of viewing what happened at the cross, and that was Penal Substitution – the idea that Jesus took our place on the cross, receiving the punishment each of us deserves. Progressives largely reject penal substitution, but rather than explain the thoughts of others, I want to examine the cross afresh. Without doubt, the Bible makes it clear that all have sinned, but what does that mean? What is... Read more

De/reconstruction

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Understanding God

Understanding the Bible

deconstruction and reconstruction

law and grace

penal substitution

progressive Christianity

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what happened at the cross

2021-12-10T17:28:49+00:00

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.

Understanding Progressive Christianity, Part 3 – Holding Fast to Jesus

Last updated on: December 10, 2021 at 5:28 pm By Duncan Edward Pile

In the first part of this series, I argued that de/reconstruction is a necessary reaction to the repressive nature of orthodoxy, and in part 2, that there are pitfalls to be aware of as we embark on this journey, using attitudes to sex as an example. In this instalment, I’ll be looking at what, for me, defines whether or not de/reconstruction leads us well or awry. The Bible details several ways in which people stray into heresy. Firstly, denying... Read more

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