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Progressive Christian

2019-10-17T06:22:52-04:00

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 Tell if You are More Christian Than I Am

Last updated on: October 17, 2019 at 6:22 am By Vance Morgan

If we remembered that water takes its color from the vessel containing it, we would not interfere with the beliefs of others, but would perceive God in every form of belief. James Carse Once a number of years ago, in the early days of a four-month sabbatical at an ecumenical institute, I presented an overview of my sabbatical project to my fellow institute resident scholars during our weekly scheduled seminar. In its early stages, my project was an intended exploration... Read more

2019-10-14T09:23:17-04:00

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.

Happy Birthday, Big Brother

Last updated on: October 14, 2019 at 9:23 am By Vance Morgan

In the 1946 classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Angel Second Class Clarence Oddbody is assigned as George Bailey’s guardian angel. It’s a challenging assignment; George has been driven to the brink of suicide by a series of unfortunate choices and circumstances. More than George’s life rides on Clarence’s success since Clarence, who has been a wingless angel for over a century, is guaranteed by his managing angel Joseph that if Clarence turns George around, he will finally earn his wings.... Read more

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2021-05-31T14:27:45-04:00

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 Story from Syria: Listen to People Other than Yourself

Last updated on: May 31, 2021 at 2:27 pm By Vance Morgan

As the expected chaos and violence in Turkey and Syria continue to develop in the wake of Donald Trump’s decision to pull American troops back from the Syria/Turkey border, then remove them entirely from the area, many of the voices heard pushing back are from people who know what they are talking about. Former ambassadors, retired generals, and advisors to former Presidents and administrations are describing in detail just how ill-advised—and irreversible in terms of consequences—the President’s decision was. In... Read more

2019-10-12T21:33:09-04:00

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.

Has Donald Trump Lost the Mandate of Heaven?

Last updated on: October 12, 2019 at 9:33 pm By Vance Morgan

Evangelical Christian icon and fossil Pat Robertson lost it a few days ago. On his “The 700 Club” show on the Christian Broadcasting Network, Robertson had the following to say about Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from the border between Syria and Turkey, thus exposing our ally Kurds to attack from Turkish forces. The president, who allowed [Washington Post journalist Jamal] Khashoggi to be cut in pieces without any repercussions whatsoever, is now allowing the Christians and the Kurds... Read more

2019-10-11T05:21:21-04:00

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 Liberal’s Worst Nightmare: Bridging the gap between words and actions

Last updated on: October 11, 2019 at 5:21 am By Vance Morgan

One of my teaching colleagues and mentors used to love to tell the story of what happened one day after he and a colleague teamed up for a particularly impassioned lecture in the interdisciplinary course they were team-teaching. I no longer remember what he said the text or topic of the class was, but after class a usually silent back-row-sitting student came up from and said “Wow! You guys really take this stuff seriously!” Which raises the question: What would... Read more

2019-10-09T05:33:38-04:00

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.

Stop Trying to Resurrect a Dead God

Last updated on: October 9, 2019 at 5:33 am By Vance Morgan

One of my greatest joys as a philosophy professor is that I get to be bad on a regular basis. There were a number of people about whom I was told little growing up, other than that they are dangerous and to be avoided like the plague. I work out my rebellion against these restrictions now by ensuring that these thinkers make as many appearances on my syllabi as professional integrity will allow. So I teach Darwin with gusto in the... Read more

2019-10-06T14:19:00-04:00

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.

Who Are You, Really? Think Carefully About Your Answer . . .

Last updated on: October 6, 2019 at 2:19 pm By Vance Morgan

Jeanne and I are great lovers of movies. As I have described in this blog on several occasions, my all-time favorite movie is “Dead Poet’s Society;” Jeanne’s is “Chariots of Fire.” But a different movie that appears on both of our “top ten” lists—a movie that I am thinking of frequently these days as politicians seek to attract the attention and support of the good citizens of the heartland—is “Field of Dreams.” The story is familiar to most everyone—pure magic with Kevin... Read more

2019-10-05T06:57:46-04:00

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.

Spiritual Lessons Learned from an Obese Cat: A reflection for “Blessing of the Animals” Sunday

Last updated on: October 5, 2019 at 6:57 am By Vance Morgan

I was reminded yesterday that exactly eight years ago, one of my favorite pictures of my beloved dachshund, Frieda, was taken. I was the lector for “Blessing of the Animals” Sunday, celebrated at our Episcopal church the first Sunday in October in conjunction with Saint Francis day. Jeanne and I brought our three dogs (two dachshunds and a Boston terrier) to be blessed by our rector and good friend Marsue; I carried Frieda with me to the lectern as I... Read more

2019-10-03T06:24:09-04:00

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.

Possible Responses to the Current Insanity: “Whatever” and “Oh, Well”

Last updated on: October 3, 2019 at 6:24 am By Vance Morgan

Given my teaching schedule this semester, I begin each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday on the aerobic bike at the gym on campus. The only way I can get through the tedium of working out on an aerobic machine is to read—last Tuesday, I read the opening pages of Anne Lamott’s newest book, Almost Everything: Notes on Hope. I love Anne Lamott’s work—her honesty, fearlessness, humor, and insight always resonate deeply. The best comment anyone ever made about my writing was that... Read more

2019-10-01T07:56:52-04:00

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 a “Christian Capitalist” or a “Capitalist Christian”?

Last updated on: October 1, 2019 at 7:56 am By Vance Morgan

For those who claim to be persons of Christian faith and who also are largely unconcerned with the radical inequities of wealth in our contemporary world, last Sunday would have been a good day to stay away from church. The lectionary readings for the day began with Amos announcing divine judgment on those who “are at ease in Zion,” who “lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches,” and who indulge in music, wine, and luxuries while ignoring... Read more

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