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

2025-07-02T13:50:22-05:00

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 Anti-Christ Paradox: Human Nature Demands One

Last updated on: July 2, 2025 at 1:50 pm By Christy Thomas

I’m now convinced that in nearly every society an anti-Christ has emerged. It’s not a one-time event, but an event that our human nature demands with boring regularity. The charismatic, powerful leader, seemingly emerging from nowhere, who, if we will only trust him/her/them enough to overlook the subtlety of the evil whispers in his/her/their ear, will solve our problems. Silence and clarity Awed into silence over the frescos on the ceiling of the Duomo de Orvieto, the sunrise of clarity... Read more

2019-10-25T10:40:54-05:00

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.

John MacArthur And Ernst And Young: Grow A Set And GROW UP

Last updated on: October 25, 2019 at 10:40 am By Christy Thomas

So, again, guys, grow a set and GROW UP. Because if you don’t, if you continue to treat women as “less then” and the perpetrators of evil, we are going to take over. It doesn’t have to happen: real partnerships can and do exist and should become the full norm. But if they don’t, just remember: we really, really don’t need you. Anyone who follows religious news probably knows by now that John MacArthur, a long-time leader in the Christian... Read more

2019-09-02T15:18:46-05:00

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 Holy Act Of Sex OR Report Rape After Every Sexual Encounter

Last updated on: September 2, 2019 at 3:18 pm By Christy Thomas

After every single sexual encounter that could possibly lead to pregnancy, all females, especially including any girls or teens who could possibly conceive, need to make police reports and claim rape. The State of Georgia recently passed a so-called “heartbeat law.” This law prohibits abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be heard, generally around six weeks of gestation. Creators of the bill contend that the unborn should be counted as fully human and thus endowed all constitutional rights, including the... Read more

2019-08-27T19:49:53-05:00

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 UMC: Matted Hair And Wrinkled Ladies

Last updated on: August 27, 2019 at 7:49 pm By Christy Thomas

Here’s the deal: The United Methodist Church is a wrinkled old lady. Just like many aging people do, we bought into our versions of magic skin creams to try to push back the damage. However, when it comes down to it, we need a pair of jeans that fit and flatter us. It’s not that hard to do. A little more give here, a little more stretch there, a more realistic, less idealistic look at just how bloated and wrinkled... Read more

The United Methodist Church

wrinkled ladies

2019-08-25T14:07:21-05:00

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.

The Softening Of Seeing Seventy: Presidents, Christianity, And Gymnastics

Last updated on: August 25, 2019 at 2:07 pm By Christy Thomas

But, two children quit gymnastics. Keep this in mind. Two young people, profoundly gifted athletes with supportive families and who could have gone all the way to the top, walked away. Two young, yet amazingly mature, children said, “I want some sanity in my life. I want some playtime. I want to hang out with my friends, pet my dog, and explore what the world has to offer. I want to sleep in on Saturdays, live without all the pressure... Read more

The United Methodist Church

2019-05-27T12:56:29-05:00

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 UMC Inquistion Arrived While The Centrists And Progressives Fiddled

Last updated on: May 27, 2019 at 12:56 pm By Christy Thomas

The centrists and progressives fiddled our love of God and of all and paid no attention to the call for a doctrinally defined church, sure that such an idea would not ever pass sophisticated theological muster, forgetting the people don’t want sophisticated theology that leads to open borders but simple answers and big, massive walls against outsiders. Over five years ago, I warned the good folks in The United Methodist Church that the doctrinal inquisition was soon to come. At... Read more

Bible

Christianity

religion

fundamentalist takeover

Good News

inquistion

IRD

The United Methodist Church

UMC

WCA

2019-05-01T15:36:43-05:00

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 Answer To: “Does The UMC Have A Future?”

Last updated on: May 1, 2019 at 3:36 pm By Christy Thomas

I grieve that the answer to “Does the UMC have a future” is “NO.” I grieve so deeply that I’ve been unable to write. I’ve spent endless hours in my garden, knowing yet again that there are two things almost guaranteed to break the heart: gardens and churches. And mine is broken. But the “Bible-believers” won. May God, the one they don’t believe in and have excluded from their fellowship, have mercy upon their souls. No. There is no future... Read more

The United Methodist Church

2019-04-03T10:35:15-05:00

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 Time Off To Heal; Remy Writes Instead

Last updated on: April 3, 2019 at 10:35 am By Christy Thomas

I admit it is difficult for me to identify now with the extremely ununited “United” Methodist Church. Many sit here with me, praying, waiting, watching to see what the power-brokers in the church will do. Part of me wants to contribute to those conversations. Other parts say, “let it go. After all, Remy writes.” After blogging my way through the sad debacle of the specially called 2019 General Conference (i.e., the “sex” conference) of The United Methodist Church, I needed... Read more

Christianity

GC2019

Remy

The United Methodist Church

2019-03-10T14:23:42-05:00

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.

The IRD’s Mark Tooley Reveals All: The Full African Takeover Of The UMC

Last updated on: March 10, 2019 at 2:23 pm By Christy Thomas

Yes, Mark Tooley reveals all. However, I feel sure the Wesleyan Covenant Association people, who now have gotten their hopes fulfilled by continued exclusion of the LGBTQIA community, will be delighted to make sure the African church stays fully funded. It would be unthinkable for them, who hold to the stance that they take the highest of high moral roads, to sever their relationship with the African Methodists now or in the foreseeable future. In an editorial of the Friday,... Read more

united methodist church

2019-03-08T14:05:54-05:00

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 UMC: Leaving Behind The Hope Of Dialogue

Last updated on: March 8, 2019 at 2:05 pm By Christy Thomas

In late February this year, delegates from The United Methodist Church met and, leaving behind the hope of dialogue, pushed the win/lose discussion to its furthest limits. The most likely future: a split that will devastate many and leave what has been a powerful connection in shredded shambles. When my husband and I married about 3 ½ years ago, one particularly difficult task faced us as we combined households: what to do with all the books. Both of us love... Read more

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the younger brother of Moses?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Aaron Solomon Joshua David

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category " obedience abortion accommodation accountability administration adolescence Advent advice an ordinary death anxiety apology apportionments Ash Wednesday ask thoughtfulpastor baptism betrayal Bible bondage calling certainty change character charity children Christianity Christmas church church as garden clergy clergy credentials closure comfort compassion competition compromise Confirmation conservation conservative conspiracy theories consumer conversion coronavirua corruption courage covenant cultural context death Deconstruction discipleship discord divorce doctrine doing good drugs dysfunctional Easter Easter; Resurrection education election entertainment envy escape evaluation evil exclusive church exercise faith faithfulness family fasting fear feast featured film review finances first world problem food forgiveness fundamentalist garden gay marriage General Conference generosity giving thanks GLBT glory good government grace guilt habit happy harmony hateful acts healing health health care heaven hell hello/goodbye heresy hidden agenda holiness homelessness homosexuality humility hymn hypocrisy Imago Dei In training inclusive church indulgence injustice innocents insurance intolerance itinerancy joy Justice kindness Kingdom of Heave kingdom of heaven language laughter laundry lawsuit leadership Lent LGBTQ liberal life Little Things Matter longform meandering thoughts memories mercy metaphor metrics miracle misfortunes morality Mormon Muslim mystery worship natural disasters New Category Name nutrients older adults oppression pain Paleo paperwork partnered pastor peace pension pharmaceutical placebo politics poverty prayer privilege public schools questions quiet racism rain reason reconciliation religion repentance requirements rescue respect rest resurrection retirement Sabbath sacrament sacred salvation same-sex marriage sanctuary schism schooling science SCOTUS secrecy separation of church and state sexism sexuality short cuts silence sin sleep soil spiritual journey stillness suffering surgery sustainable church teacher technology thank you theology therapy thinking tolerance TOS trust truth Uncategorized welcome Why Easter? wisdom women worship

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 December 2025 October 2025 September 2025 July 2025 June 2025 March 2025 February 2025 December 2024 November 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 December 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 July 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 October 2021 July 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 January 2020 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 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 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 July 2007 March 2007

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian