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Progressive Christian

2013-02-11T17:17:43-05:00

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.

On Popes and Retirement

Last updated on: February 11, 2013 at 5:17 pm By Christy Thomas

I doubt that there is anyone in this connected world who does not know by now that Roman Catholic Pope Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, has announced his retirement as of February 28, 2013. Apparently, many of his closest aides were flummoxed and unprepared for this announcement. And within moments, the cyberworld starts asking, “Is a new scandal concerning the Roman Catholic church starting to break?” And, “How can the RC possibly function with two living Popes?” as... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

Roman Catholic Church

2013-02-07T18:52:03-05:00

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.

A Week In The Life of a Very, Very Tired Pastor

Last updated on: February 7, 2013 at 6:52 pm By Christy Thomas

Saturday: A day in the garden: pulled weeds, planted onions and a tree, got a flower bed rebuilt, cleaned up the yard, got garden ready for rest of early and late spring plantings, did laundry, straightened up the house, dealt with mail, went to bed early, ready in body, spirit and soul for the week. Sunday: Three powerful, rich worship services filled the morning and I acknowledged once again that I work with not just a first-rate team, but with... Read more

a week in the life of a pastor

2013-01-29T19:45:59-05:00

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.

Lawrence Wright, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief

Last updated on: January 29, 2013 at 7:45 pm By Christy Thomas

With both horror and fascination, I just finished reading the Lawrence Wright exposé called Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief. This exquisitely researched book takes us into the bowels of Scientology, a religious group that has apparently systematically lied, cheated, abused its followers, sought to destroy its detractors, devastated families, amassed giant amounts of money which impoverished many and landed in the pockets of very few, and pandered to celebrities whose egos got stroked by the maniacs who run... Read more

2013-01-22T18:26:22-05:00

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.

Controlling the Narrative: Lance Armstrong and the Rest of Us

Last updated on: January 22, 2013 at 6:26 pm By Christy Thomas

“I wanted to control the narrative.” That phrase has sprung out of the otherwise unsurprising Lance Armstrong doping confession. The need to “control the narrative” captures much human motivation and underlies multiple decisions. If we can indeed control the narrative, we can keep ourselves protected, lie with impunity and still look intact, together and successful. Armstrong’s real problems lie far beyond the lying and the doping. Those transgressions can be seen as primarily self-destructive. But Armstrong was other-destructive because he... Read more

Controlling the Narrative

Lance Armstrong

walker railey

2013-01-16T19:42:22-05:00

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.

Sleep, Teens, Church and School

Last updated on: January 16, 2013 at 7:42 pm By Christy Thomas

I was in conversation with several of the young teens at the church tonight during the time I teach them worship skills as a part of our midweek program. We were talking about what it takes to keep them engaged in worship and how easily they became distracted. In conversation, I began to ask them about the school classes in which they felt the most interest and the ones where they had the least interest. They liked best the classes... Read more

2013-01-16T11:39:57-05:00

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.

Cycles of Suffering, Huge Religious Festival and An Important Question

Last updated on: January 16, 2013 at 11:39 am By Christy Thomas

How do you address the suffering that seems to surround us? And especially, how would you address it to a group of people who are convinced that until they attain a certain state of righteousness, they are doomed to endless cycles of being born, suffering, dying and then being born again, dying, suffering, etc? Massive Religious Festival in India Right now, a massive religious festival, the Maha Kumbh Mela, or Grand Pitcher Festival, is taking place in Allahabad, in northern India. ... Read more

Maha Kumbh Mela Festival

remission of sin

2013-01-15T10:33:57-05:00

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.

Gendercide, Theology and the Female Voice

Last updated on: January 15, 2013 at 10:33 am By Christy Thomas

An excellent editorial in the Dallas Morning News reminds us of the enormous amount of hidden “gendercide” that has taken place over the last generation. “Gendercide” is the selective abortion or infanticide of female fetuses and infants, particularly in China and India, but also in the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. Beverly Hill, the article author, states flatly: Contrary to popular belief, the status of women does not improve when females are in short supply. In fact, just the opposite... Read more

The United Methodist Church

violence against women

2013-01-07T21:15:32-05:00

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 Speck Upon a Speck Upon a Speck

Last updated on: January 7, 2013 at 9:15 pm By Christy Thomas

Periodically I need to remind myself of just how unimportant I am. A phrase I’ve heard recently, “We’re just a speck on a speck on a speck,” helps me consider my own insignificance. Surely anyone contemplating the hugeness of the universe—and the actual size of it will probably forever remain a mystery—needs to acknowledge that we’re pretty negligible creatures in the overall scheme of things. In comparison to the whole universe, we don’t even register as big as the tiniest... Read more

insignificance of humanity

plastic bags

tote bags

2013-01-02T09:15:10-05:00

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 World and a People in Need of Healing

Last updated on: January 2, 2013 at 9:15 am By Christy Thomas

We need therapy. We need deep, freedom-giving healing. Why? Well, let’s take a quick look at a few current situations. • The usual political “I want to get re-elected at all costs and I don’t care what happens to ordinary people who don’t load me up with campaign contributions” maneuvering continues in our nation’s capital. • The health care system accelerates its out-of-control spiral, making decent health care less and less accessible to any but the exceedingly rich and lucky and a... Read more

2012-12-19T09:47:52-05:00

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.

Every Child Born Changes the Entire World

Last updated on: December 19, 2012 at 9:47 am By Christy Thomas

Every child born changes the entire world. Whether eagerly longed for or dreaded, male or female, impoverished or ultra-wealthy, every child changes the world. Whether loaded with physical and mental challenges or worry-free healthy, a musical prodigy or profoundly tone-deaf, hair sunny-silky light or wildly curly/kinky dark, skin glorious ebony-rich to albino-like pale, every child changes the world. Whether left or right-handed, born already reading philosophy or never able to read even one word, oldest or youngest or in a... Read more

tragedy in Newtown Connecticut

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