Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian

Dear John

Select a Category Christian Issues Christian Spirituality Dear John En Espanol Everywhere She's Not Humor Look See Pastor Bob's Corner Personal Portuguese Relationships Russian Short-short story Smith Family Chronicles Uncategorized

Select a Month March 2024 August 2022 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 February 2020 December 2019 June 2019 December 2018 May 2018 May 2017 January 2017 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007

May 2013

May 02, 2013

So embarrassed at the gym two days ago I literally couldn’t move

I'm just now settling in to write John's Monthly Newsletter. If you don't know, I do...

April 2013

April 23, 2013

Can a man act too effeminate?

Hi John, I'm an extremely effeminate (not to the point of transgenderism), homosexual man, and...

April 04, 2013

Belief in Jesus brings her mainly self-condemnation and stress

Dear John! I've been reading some of your texts, searching for information and help, but...

April 02, 2013

Christian Polyamory?

The other day I got in this email, with the subject line Christian Polyamory? Hi...

March 2013

March 07, 2013

A Christianity to make Satan proud

Here's a letter I just got in: I was raised Independent Fundamental Baptist; my family...

March 04, 2013

Must he choose between his wife and their gay daughter?

Hi John; I'm reaching out for some help. Aside from a wonderful pastor/friend in our...

March 01, 2013

It’s Mom’s choice: her dogma or her daughter

Hi John. I was raised going to a Baptist church, and consider myself very spiritual and...

February 2013

February 27, 2013

The one sin God cannot forgive

Dear John: Is there any sin so bad that God, through Jesus Christ, cannot forgive...

February 25, 2013

My sister is in a three-person relationship; what should I do?

Dear John, First, I want to thank you for doing what you do. I've been...

February 13, 2013

Can a gay Christian honor his gay-condemning father?

John, I’m a 22-year-old gay Christian, and my father doesn’t approve of the choice I...

January 2013

January 03, 2013

Am I trying to justify my homosexual sins?

Here's a letter I got in this weekend: Good day John. I'd like to say...

November 2012

November 05, 2012

How can you be thankful when others have so little?

Dear John, As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve come to realize that I don’t know how to...

October 2012

October 31, 2012

A reader asks: “How can I believe in God as you do?”

John, you're brilliant. Have you ever written about what gives you faith? Why you actually...

October 30, 2012

A progressive Christian asks “How do I not hate most Christians?”

As a progressive Christian in the red state of Kentucky, I struggle with separating my...

October 18, 2012

What does a woman mean when she says “I need space”?

Dear John, A good friend of mine suggested I contact you. I am now at...

October 15, 2012

“My mom thinks Satan is making me live with my girlfriend”

Got this letter in: I grew up in a very conservative Christian environment and as...

October 09, 2012

A liberal lesbian in a fundy Christian ministry: Not. Good.

Dear John, I am part of a ministry that answers prayers via email and sends...

October 03, 2012

Liberals in conservative churches: leave, or stay to effect change?

Yesterday on my Facebook page I wrote this: I receive letters from closeted liberals in...

October 02, 2012

All her new friends

Lately we've been diving a bit into the swirling dark waters of Christian fundamentalism (The...

October 01, 2012

I’m terrified of my growing attraction to Christ

Dear John, I need to ask about Christian conversion, and I need to ask someone...

September 2012

September 21, 2012

“Help with my anger at being sexually abused as a child”

Dear John, It's amazing to me how rapidly a day can take a turn for...

August 2012

August 17, 2012

“Why has God cursed me with infertility?”

Yesterday I received this email, the subject line of which read My spiritual crisis. Hi...

July 2012

July 23, 2012

“Does my signed pledge make me a traitor to the LGBT cause?” asks a Christian college professor

Dear John Shore, It's taken me forever to write this, because it will reveal me...

July 10, 2012

Pagans and heathens and goats! Oh my!

Received this letter yesterday; my response is below it. Hi John: What's your take on...

June 2012

June 04, 2012

16, Christian, and surrounded by bigots: Dan Savage invites me to answer

Dan Savage asked me to step in and answer a letter he'd received from a...

May 2012

May 21, 2012

“I’m an ex-fundamentalist who misses having faith in God”

Dear John: I grew up in a evangelical church that did not condone questions. Questioning...

May 07, 2012

From gay-hating fundie to righteously angry lesbian. Now what?

Got this in: Hey John, I grew up in a Christian environment since I was...

April 2012

April 23, 2012

Pastor: “You deserve death for supporting gay relationships.”

Got this in: Dear John, I am a supporter of gay rights who is growing...

March 2012

March 29, 2012

Christian woman: “She’s pulled the plug on her own son, whom I love and cared for. How do I deal with my anger?”

She has long cared and loved as a brother a special needs boy her family...

March 23, 2012

Is she addicted to pornography?

Hi John, You seem to be one to never shy away from difficult topics, so...