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Progressive Christian

2014-11-03T10:36:21-05:00

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.

Expectations: The Heart of Loneliness

Last updated on: November 3, 2014 at 10:36 am By Susan Cottrell

“Loneliness is America’s poverty.” – Mother Teresa How many people in your life could you call in a middle-of-the-night, dire-straits, emergency? Two? One? For most of us, if we don’t count family, we may have no one we can really put our weight on when we need it. This includes those who faithfully attend church every week. For years. I have been in a handful of churches throughout my adulthood. I am a married, articulate, likeable mother of five. I’m... Read more

2014-11-01T09:28:32-05:00

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.

Jesus Blog: How Does God See You?

Last updated on: November 1, 2014 at 9:28 am By Susan Cottrell

More today from my Saturday “Jesus Blog” – a word from Jesus to you… 🙂 What is that you’re saying to yourself? Your frustration with your perceived flaws. Your quick anger at your perceived failures. Your desire to reshape and reorient things about you, and your fear and depression that you cannot. Beloved? Where did you get this picture of yourself? I wish you could see you as God sees you. Because you would see yourself as lovely, and whole,... Read more

2014-10-31T09:41:12-05:00

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.

Dear Susan: Shouldn’t Every Christian Love & Welcome Gays?

Last updated on: October 31, 2014 at 9:41 am By Susan Cottrell

If many Christians and churches truly believe gay people are “lost” – shouldn’t they do everything they can to keep them close, instead of doing things that clearly push them away, and even into tragic, life-threatening situations? Shouldn’t they simply share the unconditional perfect love of God — A love they so freely accept for themselves, but selfishly withhold from those with whom they disagree? Instead of condemning, rejecting, shaming, shunning, and kicking them out of their homes and churches…... Read more

2014-10-30T13:36:06-05:00

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 I’ve Learned as an Ally, an Advocate, and the Christian Mom of a Gay Child

Last updated on: October 30, 2014 at 1:36 pm By Susan Cottrell

“Victory is not won in miles, but in inches. Win a little now, hold your ground, and later, win a little more.” – Louis L’Amour I’m amazed at all I have learned over the last 18 months — since I came out of the closet as the Christian parent of a gay child, and began my work as an ally and advocate for the LGBTQ community. I share what I’ve discovered, along with my takeaway, and hope it speaks to... Read more

2014-10-29T09:44:58-05:00

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.

Parents, Are We Protecting or Destroying Our Gay Children?

Last updated on: October 29, 2014 at 9:44 am By Susan Cottrell

Did anyone see “Twice-Told Tales,” the 1963 horror classic with Vincent Price? It’s a campy retelling of three of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short stories, perfect for Halloween. (I won’t watch for-real scary movies – yikes, are you kidding??!) As I watched the middle story, “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” I thought of you – you’ll see why. Rappaccini is a scientist who infects his daughter with radioactive poisoning, so that anyone who touches her will die. (Uh… Thanks, Dad.) His idea is to protect... Read more

2014-10-28T09:47:08-05:00

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.

Would You Rather Have a Gay Child or a Dead Child?

Last updated on: October 28, 2014 at 9:47 am By Susan Cottrell

I am sorry if the title of this post shocks you, or strikes you as harsh or over-dramatic. But honestly, parents don’t realize what they’re asking of their LGBTQ kids. And they don’t realize what their rejection is doing to them. This is not about inclusion. This is a matter of life and death. By making their children stick to their own expectations and standards for them — whether they really think their gay child is going to hell or... Read more

2014-10-27T09:14:11-05:00

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.

I Wept Over All The Missed Time

Last updated on: October 27, 2014 at 9:14 am By Susan Cottrell

“I started to look at her again as my cousin whom I love, not as a ‘label.’ And I started to grieve. I grieved all the time I judged her, stayed away, labeled her, instead of just loving her. I wept over all the missed time.” When you read this, does anyone come to mind? Your child, parent, brother, sister, family member, dear friend? Someone sure comes to mind for me. We act like we have forever, that we will... Read more

homosexuality and the bible

2014-10-25T08:43:42-05:00

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.

Jesus Blog: The Important Parts of the Body

Last updated on: October 25, 2014 at 8:43 am By Susan Cottrell

More today from my Saturday “Jesus Blog” (or maybe today it’s “Mr. Potato Head Jesus Blog”) – a word from Jesus to you… 🙂 How are you doing? I’ve been thinking about you. I like the image of all of you as ‘part of a body.’ Each has a function, each needs the others, and none is more important than the rest. Every part has a key role to play. And if one part becomes sore or injured, the other... Read more

homosexuality and the bible

Jesus blog

2016-07-10T03:09:42-05:00

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.

Dear Susan: You Are Endorsing What God Calls an Abomination

Last updated on: July 10, 2016 at 3:09 am By Susan Cottrell

What kind of love is it to call a fellow human being, maybe even your own child, an abomination? What kind of love is it to tell someone they are going to hell? That you are disgusted by them because of something they are doing? What kind of love is it to tell someone they are no longer welcome in church, or welcome in their own home because of who they are or what they do?? And how can someone... Read more

homosexuality and the bible

2014-10-23T09:18:05-05:00

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.

Are You Infected With Religion?

Last updated on: October 23, 2014 at 9:18 am By Susan Cottrell

Our friend Bobby was a hemophiliac. At one point, he needed a blood transfusion; unfortunately, Bobby received his transfusion in the 80s, before they thoroughly screened donated blood for the HIV virus. Bobby was among the last children who caught the HIV virus from a blood transfusion. We all have a God-shaped vacuum — I truly believe we do — a vacuum only God can fill. But most of us who have received our transfusion from Jesus got it in the “Christian... Read more

homosexuality and the bible

lgbt

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