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Progressive Christian

2016-12-23T13:14:10-05:00

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 We Have a Merry Little Christmas This Year?

Last updated on: December 23, 2016 at 1:14 pm By Susan Cottrell

“Have yourself a merry little Christmas, It may be your last. From now on, We all may be living in the past.” These are the original words to the Christmas classic, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” No wonder it almost got thrown out! The song was written for the 1944 movie Meet Me in St. Louis, in a tender scene where Esther (Judy Garland) sings to comfort her young sister Tootie (Margaret O’Brien), both terribly sad that the family... Read more

2016-12-21T12:39:02-05:00

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.

“She’s Gone to Her Sister’s” – How Family Should Love Each Other

Last updated on: December 21, 2016 at 12:39 pm By Susan Cottrell

Do you have family issues that seem to hurt a little more during the holidays? Yep, me too. Why is it that the love and acceptance of family seems so conditional? It sure wasn’t conditional for Mary’s family. Mary and Joseph were scandalized when Mary turned up single and pregnant. “The Holy Spirit did it!” Yeah, right. How many people will believe that?! Those villagers heaped scorn and rejection on Mary… because if there’s one thing religious people know how... Read more

2015-12-11T09:36:30-05:00

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.

Christians… Happy Holidays & Merry Xmas!

Last updated on: December 11, 2015 at 9:36 am By Susan Cottrell

Christmastime is here again, marked by the crisp cold air, the decorated trees popping up, and the endless fight over Xmas, Happy Holidays and the red Starbucks cup. Oh, the things we dream up to fight about. You know Christians… and I really mean fundamental, behavior-focused exclusionary Christians… you could have taken a completely different approach to this. Look at Xmas for example. X comes from the symbol for Christ. It means Christ. What more do you want? Instead of... Read more

2015-12-08T23:11:41-05:00

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 Sin? The Word Just Drips With Shame.

Last updated on: December 8, 2015 at 11:11 pm By Susan Cottrell

Sin. Just the word is heavy. Like a brick. Especially when someone throws it at your head. Have you been told you’re a sinner going to hell (by self-appointed sin police)? If you are in the LGBTQ community, I hardly even have to ask. Just the word sin can trigger fear and shame. People who use sin as a trump card—to tell people they are in trouble with God—are downright abusive. Yet we lob that word around as if we even know what we’re talking... Read more

2019-02-21T12:16:30-05:00

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 Inclusive Explanation of Marriage

Last updated on: February 21, 2019 at 12:16 pm By Susan Cottrell

I saw this “Best Explanation of Marriage” meme being shared around social media by Christians who are anti-LGBTQ and, well… I just couldn’t help myself! I hope you like my corrections. I’m worn out hearing that God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve, followed by a mic drop. Sigh. God created an entire humanity of Adams and Eves, and some 10% of them turned out to be LGBTQ. At this point, many are saying, “Get over it!” I’m... Read more

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Gay Weddings & Marriage

2015-11-22T21:57:35-05:00

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.

Transgender Murder, Suicide – “We Are in a State of Emergency.”

Last updated on: November 22, 2015 at 9:57 pm By Susan Cottrell

Yesterday was Transgender Day of Remembrance. Rob and I spent the evening with some 200 people, most of them trans, many of them family and friends, at a gathering on the steps of Austin City Hall. Together we remembered transgender people who have been murdered this past year, and we celebrated transgender people who are still living. A cold night, a somber night, a night of love for ourselves and each other. Those of us on the program shared our... Read more

2015-11-21T10:02:36-05:00

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.

A Journey of Transparent Truth

Last updated on: November 21, 2015 at 10:02 am By Susan Cottrell

Autymn was just transitioning from male to female when we met her. Rob and I sat in her apartment, as she described the steps of her journey, scariness with job situations, and coming out to people who had known her as Nathan. Oh, and the time some guys nearly beat her up for daring to wear a dress—because they didn’t approve. (So you beat her up??) I sat across from this kind and lovely person and shuddered to imagine her... Read more

2015-11-20T11:52:49-05:00

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.

Houston, You Have a Problem… Lies, Power & Transgender Hate

Last updated on: November 20, 2015 at 11:52 am By Susan Cottrell

I am still just sick about the new lows those Houston anti-gay, unChristlike pastors stooped to, to allow people, who just happen to be LGBTQ, to be stripped of their basic human rights. You know, equal housing, jobs, protection from being targeted and beaten up on the streets. Sickening in the extreme. This ad depicts a man raping a small girl in a bathroom stall. Sickening. I didn’t watch. I still have a terrifying visual in my head from Law... Read more

2015-11-19T11:07:02-05:00

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 Collective Trauma of Terror: Paris, Beirut, Egypt…

Last updated on: November 19, 2015 at 11:07 am By Susan Cottrell

What time is it? Different times elicit different reactions from us. Time holds different meaning for us, depending on a number of factors. I, for instance, don’t know what this time means for you, what each one of you might be going through. We cannot know exactly what it’s like right now for the students who are protesting on college campuses around the country, for those who must proclaim that Black Lives Matter in the face of blatant and covert... Read more

2015-11-17T14:30:50-05:00

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.

Growing Up Different, and Finding Where You Belong

Last updated on: November 17, 2015 at 2:30 pm By Susan Cottrell

There are inherent challenges of growing up different, not only for the different one but for the family they grew up in—the challenge of a different child is its own payback! In Women Who Run With The Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Women Archetype, author Clarissa Pinkola Estes speaks to that. She is talking about the “wildish woman” – the one growing up different – but read it as if it’s about you. It makes it more fun... Read more

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