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Progressive Christian

2015-04-22T15:31:29-05:00

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.

When We Hate One Another and Ignore the Real Issues of Justice and Mercy

Last updated on: April 22, 2015 at 3:31 pm By Christy Thomas

I spent several hours recently perusing a couple of Facebook discussion groups primarily dominated by those who hold to a more conservative (read: no gays) theology than I do. I admit I don’t get the hatred spewed there–but I do believe there is much fear of loss behind it. Fear of loss of scriptural authority, of power, of certainty, of security. But even with compassion over fear since I’ve certainly had my own to deal with, I admit to deep despair today.... Read more

The United Methodist Church

UMC

2016-12-23T15:08:42-05:00

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.

Jehovah’s Witnesses Mystery Worship: Mind Control Warning–Visitors Beware

Last updated on: December 23, 2016 at 3:08 pm By Christy Thomas

I am reaching a point where I think Gutenberg did not do the world a favor. And for the second time in these months in the Mystery Worship mode, I walked about of a service and said, “I need a drink.” Just walking to the door identified us as visitors with outsider status. I wore tailored dress slacks, boots and blazer and my companion was similarly clothed with a dress shirt, jacket and slacks. At the Jehovah’s Witness meeting hall on... Read more

The United Methodist Church

UMC

2015-04-10T08:27:42-05:00

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.

Friday Morning Musings: What Constitutes Salvation for This Man?

Last updated on: April 10, 2015 at 8:27 am By Christy Thomas

This man, Michael Megginson, is seriously mentally ill. He’s been in an out of mental hospitals since he was six years old. Although, according to his mother, he has moments of calm and then is enjoyable to be around, it takes almost nothing to set him off. From the description of his family history, it is likely he suffered brain damage while during the gestation period of his then 16-year-old mother. He’s often violent, abusive and completely uncontrollable. He has stabbed... Read more

The United Methodist Church

UMC

2015-04-08T11:26:45-05:00

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.

Baby as Battering Ram: Good Friday in Jerusalem

Last updated on: April 8, 2015 at 11:26 am By Christy Thomas

We stood in a tight crowd, unable to move, barely able to breathe, waiting our turn. Security guards with high-powered automatic weapons had been charged with crowd control outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Good Friday. Only a few could go in at a time. “Hey, no shoving!” I spoke sharply to the person behind me. I had been pushed hard from behind. A quick look told me that someone in my own tour group had... Read more

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The United Methodist Church

UMC

Via Dolorosa

2015-04-02T13:30:57-05:00

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.

Holy Land Tour Day Six

Last updated on: April 2, 2015 at 1:30 pm By Christy Thomas

Please note: I do not have a computer with me so these articles are dictated to my phone. As a result there are typos and misspellings. Please ignore them and read for the meaning! You know it is a rigorous week when a 6 am wake up call and a 8 am “Be on board the bus” announcement sounds leisurely. I am very behind in posting to this blog because of both connection problems and time issues. Our days are... Read more

2015-03-29T22:28:51-05:00

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.

Pilgrimage to the holy land, day two

Last updated on: March 29, 2015 at 10:28 pm By Christy Thomas

Note: I do not have a computer with me so these articles are dictated. As a result there are typos and misspellings. Please ignore them and read for the meaning! It was the acacia tree that got to me. We had started at the top of the Mount of Olives, and we’re slowly making our way down the unexpectedly steep slope. We stopped at the Dominus Flevit, the chapel of tears actually built in the shape of a teardrop. Planted... Read more

field of Ruth and Boaz

Garden of Gethsemane

thre shepherds field

2015-03-28T22:41:41-05:00

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.

Pilgrimage to the holy land, day one

Last updated on: March 28, 2015 at 10:41 pm By Christy Thomas

Please note: I do not have a computer with me so these articles are dictated. As a result there are typos and misspellings. Please ignore them and read for the meaning! “Sir, sit down. Now!” I heard near panic in the flight attendant’s voice. We had entered Israeli airspace and had been given plenty of warning that no one was to leave their seat at that point. One passenger either didn’t listen to that warning or didn’t think it applied... Read more

Holy Week in the Holy Land

Israel

2015-03-27T10:21:50-05:00

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.

Is it God's Will that Innocent Children Die?

Last updated on: March 27, 2015 at 10:21 am By Christy Thomas

I am sure that many have heard of the exceedingly sad story of a family of Orthodox Jews whose seven children were killed in a house fire last Saturday. The fire was caused by a hot plate left on from Friday afternoon in order to keep food warm for the Sabbath. This is a common practice among the Orthodox because it keeps them from violating a commandment not to strike a fire on the Sabbath. Turning on a stove (or... Read more

Holy Week in the Holy Land

ISIS

Orthodox Jew

religious fundamentalism

The United Methodist Church

UMC

2015-03-26T13:35:48-05:00

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.

Was this Pleasantville? Church of Christ vs United Church of Christ

Last updated on: March 26, 2015 at 1:35 pm By Christy Thomas

Below this commentary/rant are two articles I wrote on two recent church visits: the Church of Christ and the United Church of Christ. I felt that I’d just experienced the movie, “Pleasantville” in the move from the safe black-and-white, carefully managed world to one of chaotic color and the messiness of human emotions. One had only a finger snap and four people on microphones as musical accompaniment. The other a full orchestra and two choirs. One was full of older,... Read more

The United Methodist Church

UMC

United Church of Christ

2015-03-26T11:01:47-05:00

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.

Airplanes, Life, Church: It's A Matter of Trust

Last updated on: March 26, 2015 at 11:01 am By Christy Thomas

Like millions of others, I shall board an airplane tomorrow. First a reasonably quick flight to Philadelphia and then an overnight flight to Tel Aviv. Every step of this journey is an exercise in trust. We trust the competence and willingness to abide by traffic rules of our driver and other drivers on the way to the airport. We trust the people who check us in that our luggage will actually arrive with us and that we’ll board the correct... Read more

The United Methodist Church

trust

UMC

UMC schism

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