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

2014-01-26T20:03:49-05:00

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.

And Now Who Pays the Bill?

Last updated on: January 26, 2014 at 8:03 pm By Christy Thomas

I wrote several days ago about this tragic situation of Erick Muñoz being forced by the officials at John Peter Smith Hospital to permit them to perform what was essentially a bizarre medical experiment on the body of his deceased wife. Because she was 14 weeks pregnant at the time she was officially declared brain dead (i.e., all life functions ceased), but was in the hospital when that happened, hospital personnel insisted they had to artificially keep her body functions intact... Read more

compassion

wisdom

bizarre medical experiment

Erick and Marlise Munoz

hospital billing practices

John Peter Smith Hospital

pregnant brain-dead woman

right-to-life

2014-01-23T12:23:15-05:00

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.

Life Support for the Pregnant Dead Woman Dilemma: When Fear Overrides Wisdom

Last updated on: January 23, 2014 at 12:23 pm By Christy Thomas

I’ve been thinking a lot about this tragic situation. Despite her own express wishes, along with those of her husband and her parents, this woman, who is actually dead, is being artificially breathed for, fed, eliminated for, etc. by the medical personal at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. Administrators there (shall we read, “attorneys?” say they can’t legally disconnect her until they can safely deliver a baby. She was 14 weeks pregnant when she died I am not... Read more

compassion

wisdom

Erick and Marlise Munoz

pregnant brain-dead woman

right-to-life

Texas legislature

2014-01-22T11:15:03-05:00

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.

Poverty is Everyone's Problem: Ministry WITH the Poor

Last updated on: January 22, 2014 at 11:15 am By Christy Thomas

Imagine this scenario: You and your family are, as are most people in the US, what is called “asset poor.” That is, if family income suddenly disappeared, you would have inadequate reserve cash to live even at the federal poverty level for three months ($1962.50/month for a family of four) and stay current with your “must pay” bills. Now, a layoff occurs, your car breaks down, and a child becomes quite ill. All normal parts of living. Your few assets... Read more

2014-01-20T15:05:48-05:00

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.

Twenty Days Post Retirement: The Walking Life

Last updated on: January 20, 2014 at 3:05 pm By Christy Thomas

Three weeks ago I retired as active clergywoman in The United Methodist Church. Does that make me un-active clergy? I’ll say this, I am certainly active for being non-active. Earlier today, I learned that I will take 4300 steps if I walk to a recycling center and then head in the opposite direction to a dollar-type store to pick up an incidental (today, a forgotten cleaning supply). Part of my reason for wanting to move to the downtown Denton area... Read more

2014-01-20T14:08:57-05:00

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.

Five Advantages to the Mid-Year Move

Last updated on: January 20, 2014 at 2:08 pm By Christy Thomas

In The United Methodist Church, most clergy moves generally take place in the summer, after our Annual Conferences. This traditional time, along with school year schedules and extended summer vacations, are relics of our agricultural roots. Summer months had to be set aside for the survival needs of crop care, sowing, harvesting, and preserving. It’s one of those traditions that is rarely questioned, but may have served its time. We hardly live in a rural, agriculturally dictated world any longer.... Read more

mid-year clergy moves

The United Methodist Church

UMC

2014-01-17T10:08:21-05:00

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.

Chris Christie and the Bullying God

Last updated on: January 17, 2014 at 10:08 am By Christy Thomas

According to multiple news reports, Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey and someone who clearly covets the Presidential office, has declared, “I am not a bully.” Now, he made this disclaimer after the shocking revelations that his minions and closest advisors apparently decided to play havoc with a little town called Fort Lee, New Jersey. This town hosts feeder lanes to the George Washington Bridge, which connects New Jersey and New York City and is possibly the busiest bridge in the... Read more

George Washington Bridge

God as bully

Governor Chris Christie

reformed theology

TULIP

2016-05-06T13:44:42-05:00

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 Bible Doesn’t Support Inclusion

Last updated on: May 6, 2016 at 1:44 pm By Christy Thomas

It could be that the current move toward a more inclusive church is itself anti-biblical. To be truly biblical may mean we need to move to greater exclusivity. We may need to institute genitalia checks on every man who comes in. The Scriptures clearly state, “No one whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off shall be admitted to the assembly of the Lord” (Deut 23:1). We also need to check and make sure no woman who is... Read more

The United Methodist Church

2014-01-02T09:03:55-05:00

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.

Smaller Portions in 2014, Please

Last updated on: January 2, 2014 at 9:03 am By Christy Thomas

Over Christmas, I saw, Philomena, a well-done movie of evil masquerading as good, the need for closure, the temptation for revenge, and the freedom of forgiveness. Major human life themes combined with great acting: compelling and captivating. The story revolves around an Irish woman trying to find her son, adopted nearly 50 years before. When she learns that he had been adopted by US citizens and grown up here, her immediate concern: “What if he is obese? The portions are... Read more

2013-12-31T10:26:23-05:00

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 Re-thought Life

Last updated on: December 31, 2013 at 10:26 am By Christy Thomas

Although technically, my retirement doesn’t take place until tonight at midnight, for all effective purposes, I retired Sunday at 12 noon. I had picked this last Sunday of the year to say goodbye because it is normally a very low attendance Sunday and I figured I could be in worship with my congregation and then quietly slip out. For several years now, we have set the worship space in tables this day, invited people to bring food, enjoyed brunch together,... Read more

The United Methodist Church

third career

2013-12-26T12:16:59-05:00

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 Long Goodbye

Last updated on: December 26, 2013 at 12:16 pm By Christy Thomas

“My bags are packed, I’m ready to go . . . ” and thus starts one of my favorite songs from my younger days, Leaving on a Jet Plane. Yes, my bags are packed. In fact, essentially my whole life is packed, and safely stored for the time being. No jet plane, but indeed, “O babe, I hate to go.” For months now, I’ve been preparing for this goodbye with my retirement, official on Dec. 31,2013. I search for words to describe what... Read more

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What day is often called the day of rest in the Bible?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Wednesday Friday Monday Sabbath

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