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Progressive Christian

2015-12-15T12:52:06-05:00

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.

Ask the Thoughtful Pastor: Public Hypocrites and The Way of Jesus

Last updated on: December 15, 2015 at 12:52 pm By Christy Thomas

Dear Thoughtful Pastor: I have a question about praying in public and the scripture verse from Matthew 6:5. There is a man that dresses in a bright neon yellow robe at night. I’ve seen him in the daytime in a white robe and headdress as well. He carries with him a wooden staff that is longer than he is tall. He is goes all over the city, but mainly stays on a bridge praying for people. Recently he was at... Read more

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UMC

2015-12-10T13:25:57-05:00

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 Possible Take on Donald Trump and Our Seriously Putrid Underbelly

Last updated on: December 10, 2015 at 1:25 pm By Christy Thomas

I’m telling you: this may be the most brilliant analysis of Donald Trump’s campaign ever. Wish I had been smart enough to write it. I encourage you to read it, but below are the particularly salient sentences: “Trump will soon reveal that his campaign is pure satirical theater, a performance artist’s pièce de résistance. He is actually still the liberal he used to be and his rhetoric on the campaign trail is a work of art designed to reveal the darkest... Read more

2016-09-09T13:21:26-05:00

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.

Ask the Thoughtful Pastor: Theology Matters, Especially ISIS Theology

Last updated on: September 9, 2016 at 1:21 pm By Christy Thomas

Dear Thoughtful Pastor: I have been wondering what it is about the Islamic religion that justifies the actions taken against innocent civilians? Certainly people have been making war on each other for as long as we have been called Human A long time ago we decided to formalize this ritual killing into something called war. We set rules. As we got better at war, we set tighter rules. Now most of the world believes it is ok to kill members... Read more

2015-12-03T11:17:09-05:00

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.

Yes, Let's Just Arm Everyone: Time for a Game of "Last Man Standing"

Last updated on: December 3, 2015 at 11:17 am By Christy Thomas

So, after the most recent domestic massacres, the usual mantra pops up, “If the good guys were armed, we could stop the bad guys.” OK, I’m a good person. Let’s put a gun in my hand. Of course, I have no ability to judge distances because of a lack of depth perception. At my age, my arms tremble a bit when I’m holding something heavy so aiming straight would be nearly impossible, plus I’ve never fired a gun, much less... Read more

2015-12-02T12:03:41-05:00

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.

Ask the Thoughtful Pastor: Fear-based Lives and Health Care Disasters

Last updated on: December 2, 2015 at 12:03 pm By Christy Thomas

Dear Thoughtful Pastor: One thing is abundantly clear as I read my newsfeed on social media and the 24-hour news cycle: Much of the world is in fear. When I think about fear in the Bible, I mostly recall angels telling humans “do not be afraid.” Which probably means that angels were frightening to see or experience. Is fear bad for religious people to feel? How should people of faith respond to anxiety and terror? Is there ever an appropriate... Read more

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Medicare

2015-11-23T17:48:27-05:00

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.

Ask the Thoughtful Pastor: Justice Issues and Heaven for Pets

Last updated on: November 23, 2015 at 5:48 pm By Christy Thomas

Dear Thoughtful Pastor: How can “the church” as an institution address or correct social/economic injustices based on race both within the church and in society? How can the church itself restructure to ensure “power sharing” among people of different ethnic backgrounds? The church, generically used as a gathered people of God, carries the responsibility to live out the balance of grace and justice while speaking with prophetic voices. We also know these human tendencies: One, our instinctual fear of the... Read more

2016-09-09T13:22:18-05:00

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.

Ask the Thoughtful Pastor: Forced Rehab and Misplaced Forgiveness

Last updated on: September 9, 2016 at 1:22 pm By Christy Thomas

My mom confronted my sister about her drug problem again. Of course my sister continues to deny it even though we all know she is lying. She has been using her daughter to hide her drugs for her. She keeps saying she can quit on her own but she can’t. She is stealing money from my parents and she and her family free-load off them. It’s killing my parents. They just want to get her help but don’t know how.... Read more

2015-11-13T14:35:12-05:00

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.

Exodus and Secrecy: Mormons Now, UMC's Later?

Last updated on: November 13, 2015 at 2:35 pm By Christy Thomas

A mass resignation of members from the Mormon church is expected to happen Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, over the newly seen rules that essentially ban children of same-sex parents from participating in any Mormon rites of passages until such children reach 18, leave home and disavow their parents. Members now in gay marriages have been declared apostates. Interestingly, according to the New York Times report, It appears that the new rules were not supposed to be made public. They were... Read more

2015-11-12T08:11:31-05:00

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 At the Crossroads: Elitism or Inclusion–or Holy Love?

Last updated on: November 12, 2015 at 8:11 am By Christy Thomas

“Nothing, I would argue, is more effective at driving people away from religion than watching its most elite representatives—the whitest, malest, straightest, most educated, with the biggest platforms—devolve into kindergarteners, ganging up on others, bullying, preaching a Gospel of intractability and exclusion.” The woman who wrote this, Kaya Oakes, is the author of The Nones Are Alright: A New Generation of Seekers, Believers and Those In-Between. Oakes contends that the increasingly tight retrenchment of conservative Christianity (both Catholic and Evangelical)... Read more

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2015-11-11T08:33:08-05:00

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.

Ask the Thoughtful Pastor: Christmas Coffee Cups and Protestant Splinters

Last updated on: November 11, 2015 at 8:33 am By Christy Thomas

Dear Thoughtful Pastor: “There are obviously bigger issues for Christians than whether or not Starbucks celebrates Christmas in any shape or form. Why are so many so upset, what is it that they are really asking for?” I’m going on a rant here, but this statement drives me crazy: “We’ve got to put Christ back in Christmas.” The words suggest that someone has the power to take Christ OUT of Christmas. Can’t be done. Christmas IS the Christ Mass. The... Read more

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