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Progressive Christian

2021-09-05T15:10:56-04:00

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 Question for the 20th Anniversary of 9/11: Are We Tired of Hating People Yet?

Last updated on: September 5, 2021 at 3:10 pm By Vance Morgan

Everyone beyond a certain age can remember clearly what they were doing twenty years ago when they heard the news. I was in my college’s main cafeteria getting coffee and noticed something weird happening on the Today Show broadcast on a television hanging from the ceiling in the corner. At that point all they knew was that one of the Twin Towers was on fire, apparently because an airplane had crashed into it. I had scheduled office hours that morning, so I... Read more

2021-09-07T06:17:13-04:00

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.

When Life Gets Messy

Last updated on: September 7, 2021 at 6:17 am By Vance Morgan

We all know that when life hands you a lemon that you should make lemonade. But what should you do when the lemons come in multiples and so quickly that there isn’t time to look for the juicer? August was that sort of month for Jeanne and me, as we dealt in quick succession with the death of her brother and the loss of our dachshund Winnie on the same day, then the hospitalization of our daughter-in-law followed by the... Read more

2021-09-04T10:34:00-04:00

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.

Jesus and Capitalism: A Labor Day Reflection

Last updated on: September 4, 2021 at 10:34 am By Vance Morgan

There are a couple of sayings attributed to Jesus that Christians often use when attempting to show that following Jesus and a commitment to capitalism are compatible with each other–I’ve encountered each of them over the past few days. In a Facebook thread, a person noted that since Jesus said that “God helps those who helps themselves,” clearly he would endorse the capitalist work ethic of competition and self-promotion. Then yesterday on Twitter someone quoted Jesus as saying that “If... Read more

2021-08-30T11:18:16-04:00

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.

Not Even Jesus Was Always His Best Self

Last updated on: August 30, 2021 at 11:18 am By Vance Morgan

My first teaching position was at a small university in Memphis. My department was the “Department of Religion and Philosophy,” housing four theologians and two philosophers. I taught most of the philosophy courses (five classes per semester—that’s a lot, in case you’re wondering); the other philosopher on staff had a reduced teaching load because he was also the Dean of the School of Humanities. Peter was also the most awkwardly, painfully introverted, and shy adult human being I have ever... Read more

2021-08-19T20:12:54-04:00

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.

I’m Faith and He’s Doubt

Last updated on: August 19, 2021 at 8:12 pm By Vance Morgan

One of my favorite things to do is plan a new course, especially when I’m planning it with a friend and colleague from another discipline with whom I’ll be teaching the course in the near future. I’m currently designing a colloquium called “Faith and Doubt” with a thirty-something friend and colleague from the Political Science department—who also happens to be a Dominican priest. We’re still in the early stages of planning the colloquium, which we will teach for the first... Read more

2021-08-28T15:37:07-04:00

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.

Why Am I a Liberal? Because I Am a Christian

Last updated on: August 28, 2021 at 3:37 pm By Vance Morgan

The continuing theme of this blog for the past nine years has been an exploration of how faith and reason, my faith commitment and my life as a phlosophy professor, interact and work out in real time. So, it’s no surprise that this essay from April 2019–“I am a Liberal Because I am a Christian”–is, by almost a 2-1 margin over its closest competitor, the #1 most read and commented on post in my blog’s history. Enjoy! I am a... Read more

2021-08-19T12:23:50-04:00

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.

Now It Begins . . .

Last updated on: August 19, 2021 at 12:23 pm By Vance Morgan

In last few minutes of Franco Zefferelli’s Jesus of Nazareth, Zerah pokes his head into the tomb where he observed the dead Jesus of Nazareth being buried three days earlier. Zerah is a politically astute, power-hungry Pharisee who has been an enemy of Jesus since he first heard about the roving rabbi three years earlier. Zerah is the one who manipulates Judas into betraying Jesus. Zerah is the one who convinces the Romans to put a beefed-up military presence in front... Read more

Development of Western Civilization

2021-08-23T12:19:15-04:00

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.

Remembering Winnie: What Our Pets Teach Us About What’s Important

Last updated on: August 23, 2021 at 12:19 pm By Vance Morgan

Our dachshund Winnie died a week ago. She spent a bit over twelve years with us; for the first nine of those years, she was part of a three-dog pack where she often struggled to establish herself in the pecking order. I often said that Winnie was the “middle child” of the group. Our Boston Terrier Bean was Jeanne’s favorite, and our other dachshund, Frieda, was my soul mate (as well as the clear alpha-dog in the pack). But Winnie... Read more

2021-08-21T09:19:32-04:00

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.

Bad News for White Evangelical Christians

Last updated on: August 21, 2021 at 9:19 am By Vance Morgan

Coming in at #2 of the most-read posts in the nine years of this blog is an essay that explores a phenomenon that everyone is familiar with–the strong support shown to Donald Trump and his various lies by white evangelical Christians. In this post from November 2019, I discuss how this fascination with Trump and conspiarcy theories has contributed greatly to making Christianity something offensive to the next generation. Noah and his Children: Bad News for White Evangelical Christians Read more

2021-08-19T07:55:14-04:00

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.

The Hypocrisy of Philosophers

Last updated on: August 19, 2021 at 7:55 am By Vance Morgan

I admit it–I am not always kind or politically correct on social media (especially Twitter). I have been known, for instance, to drop an f-bomb on someone who believes that the 2020 election was stolen or that Donald Trump will be reinstated to the Presidency this month. I get into even more trouble when sports are involved. I once said something less than complimentary on Twitter about a fellow sports fanatic, a person who made the mistake of talking trash... Read more

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