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Progressive Christian

2012-09-21T10:41:00-05:00

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.

God Is Not Your Butler

Last updated on: September 21, 2012 at 10:41 am By Christy Thomas

In some of my multi-faceted reading, especially when looking for a column idea, I head to the websites of some well-known advice writers. They receive fascinating arrays of questions like: “My mother has stolen my identity and runs up bunches of bills on my credit card–how can I make her more responsible financially?” “I just found out my boyfriend has this thing for underage girls–how can I make him stop since he is perfect in every other way and I... Read more

Holy Creator of the Universe

manipulative prayers

2012-09-21T10:39:44-05:00

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 Shipwreck of Faith

Last updated on: September 21, 2012 at 10:39 am By Christy Thomas

Last week, we began a study on “The Theology of Sexuality” in order to better equip our youth with a more solid understanding of the nature of their physical selves in relation to their spiritual selves. Today, I saw this article in the Huffington Post Religion section, asking, “What would we our younger selves about faith?” Most respondents, both those quoted in the article and those who are writing in the comments section, essentially said, “don’t believe any of it.”... Read more

education

faith

faith foundations for youth

shipwreck of faith

theology of sexuality

2012-09-18T12:38:38-05:00

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.

Sex and Our Youth

Last updated on: September 18, 2012 at 12:38 pm By Christy Thomas

This past Sunday, our church began a study called “Developing a Theology of Sexuality.” We began it with fear and trembling, knowing we are moving into complex waters. We invited parents and teens and pre-teens. We made it clear: no youth or pre-teens without their parents. This must be a multi-generational discussion. The idea for this sprang from a message series I did last January and February on why we lose so many of our young people when they get... Read more

separation of church and state

sexuality

teacher

biblical marriage

living together before marriage

sex and youth

2012-09-15T19:52:04-05:00

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.

Only One Point of View Tolerated

Last updated on: September 15, 2012 at 7:52 pm By Christy Thomas

When does a religious movement take on the characteristics of a destructive cult? And why do people need to take extreme positions? I’ve been pondering that while considering a strange trial in Ohio. On trial are Amish Bishop Samuel Mullet along with 15 of his followers. The charge: invasion of another Amish community and desecration of its members by cutting off their beards (for the men) and hair (both men and women). Please note that to the Amish, such acts... Read more

2012-09-09T17:05:42-05:00

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.

“All You Can Do Is Pray.”

Last updated on: September 9, 2012 at 5:05 pm By Christy Thomas

“All you can do is pray.” I said this to our Children’s Day Out (CDO) director this past Thursday after a conversation about the increasingly desperate need to purchase a van. The program, CDO, had simply exploded, particularly in the last 20 months when it moved from preschool to a full-service daycare, including before and afterschool care. Which also means transporting a lot of students each day. Determined fundraising had netted about $12,500, but a really good quality and safe... Read more

2018-03-12T15:15:27-05:00

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.

Ten Commandments for the Political Season

Last updated on: March 12, 2018 at 3:15 pm By Christy Thomas

I can’t get through this week without commenting on the political campaigns. Two weeks, two National Conventions, and the airways spew impossible promises, nastiness, low blows and the usual mud-slinging. Yet both parties claim to be full of decent human beings and aiming for the most upright of principles. Ten things I find useful to keep in mind. Perhaps they will help others. 1. The President is NOT the Messiah or the Savior. He (and perhaps someday, she) is and... Read more

2018-03-13T13:24:57-05:00

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.

Are We A Racist Conference? Response to The Rev. Dr. Henry Masters, Sr.

Last updated on: March 13, 2018 at 1:24 pm By Christy Thomas

A racist conference? I don’t think so. This is not the career path of a man who has been held back by race. It is the career path of very, very few clergy in our connection. It is a path of privilege and of increasing prestige, responsibility, and financial comfort. If race has ever been a factor, it was a factor in his favor, not against it. Are we a racist Conference (North Texas) and Jurisdiction (South Central)? An extraordinarily... Read more

North Texas Annual Conference

South Central Jurisdiction

The Rev. Dr. Henry Masters

2012-08-29T08:19:08-05:00

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.

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

Last updated on: August 29, 2012 at 8:19 am By Christy Thomas

Sleep. We all need sleep. Several health articles hit the news this week about the necessity of good sleep, particularly for adolescents and for the elderly. Teens who compromise their sleep also seriously compromise their ability to learn. And because the wisdom that goes with age has yet to be developed, they are not able to see that going without sleep is hurting them so seriously. Older adults apparently run a far greater risk of developing forms of dementia, including... Read more

health

sleep

dementia

national sleep foundation

problems with teen behavior

sleep habits

2012-08-24T10:59:23-05:00

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.

Hate and Intolerance: Where’s the Muslim Protest?

Last updated on: August 24, 2012 at 10:59 am By Christy Thomas

I’m sure that many have heard of this horrific situation in Pakistan. A full story can be found here, but the quick summary is this: an eleven year old Christian girl with Downs Syndrome was seen holding a burned copy of Noorani Qaida, a religious textbook used to teach the Koran to children. After some neighbors reported this to a cleric, the child and her mother were arrested. They are in danger of facing the death penalty. Even if they escape... Read more

Christian girl arrested in Pakistan

Muslim religious intolerance

Noorani Qaida

2012-08-24T10:46:09-05:00

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.

To Do An “Akin”

Last updated on: August 24, 2012 at 10:46 am By Christy Thomas

There is probably not even one halfway awake person in the US who has not heard about the comments made by a formerly obscure candidate in Missouri for a US Senate seat. Last Sunday, Todd Akin suddenly burst from his obscurity with a comment so hateful to women and so stupid in reasoning that I wouldn’t be surprised if a new phrase is formed. Can’t you hear it now? “Oh boy, I just did an “akin.” People might utter that... Read more

many are called few are chosen

Rep Todd Akin

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