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

2012-04-04T10:21:18-05:00

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.

No Middle Ground: Eliminate the “Try” Word

Last updated on: April 4, 2012 at 10:21 am By Christy Thomas

About a year ago, I was introduced to Paleo eating, and removed all wheat and grain products from my diet and most dairy (I’ve long been lactose intolerant anyway). It was and is a challenging way to eat. It also dropped my blood pressure 30 points, and left me with perfect blood sugar and cholesterol counts (despite intentionally eating a high proportion of saturated fats and a lot of eggs), and reversed what had been a galloping movement toward an... Read more

wheat and grain products

2012-04-03T15:12:36-05:00

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 Biopsy Was Inconclusive

Last updated on: April 3, 2012 at 3:12 pm By Christy Thomas

“The biopsy was inconclusive.” My reaction to these words show me again how much I want certainty. But certainty is not to be. No closure, no absolute answer, no clear direction. I must make a decision with incomplete evidence. Hardly a new experience in the scheme of human history. The idea of “closure” is part of the fantasy of certainty. Closure implies perfect release, decisions made on 100% evidence, freedom from second-guessing. Frankly, very little crossover with reality there. Reality... Read more

inconvenient resurrection

nature of god

neat package

shorter ending of Mark

2012-04-02T18:52:29-05:00

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.

Alone At the Cross

Last updated on: April 2, 2012 at 6:52 pm By Christy Thomas

Rev. Frederick Schmidt, who blogs at Patheos, wrote some words in a post about the Archbishop of Canterbury which describe better the challenges of pastoral leadership better than any I’ve seen before. I’m quoting large parts of his latest post, bolding the sentences that hit me the hardest, because he says so well what I’ve been thinking that I want to make sure I can read these words again the next time I become completely discouraged in my life as pastor:... Read more

archbishop of canterbury

church

God's leading in community

2012-03-28T10:53:21-05:00

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.

The Taught Being the Teacher

Last updated on: March 28, 2012 at 10:53 am By Christy Thomas

During Lent, I’ve been leading a study I called “Doubters Anonymous” which was set up to give those with questions about our faith a place to express them openly and without condemnation. I had no idea what would happen when we began this. I planned to simply let it unfold. What we ended up doing was examining this scenario: a pastor (married), runs off with the choir director (married), both divorce their spouses and then marry each other. Church left... Read more

do justice and love kindness

faith and doubt

faith perspective

forgiveness and reconciliation

lent

need for forgiveness

2012-03-27T17:12:35-05:00

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.

Palms, Power, and Plots

Last updated on: March 27, 2012 at 5:12 pm By Christy Thomas

So just why did people put down palm leaves when Jesus headed into Jerusalem that last time to celebrate the Passover? Quick answer: because palm fronds were readily available. Deep answer: the people were hoping that Jesus might be the Sent One who would deliver them from oppression. His reputation had spread. He healed and fed, taught and touched. He stood up to critics, responding to even the most skilled debaters with ease, intellect, and often devastating retorts to questions... Read more

religious authorities

sacrifice

2012-03-23T11:13:23-05:00

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.

Our Government at Work

Last updated on: March 23, 2012 at 11:13 am By Christy Thomas

I read today in the NY Times an article about the extension of a patent on the best-selling Alzheimer’s drug Aricept. In order to keep the lucrative patent protection, the drug’s maker, Pfizer, just radically upped the dosage in the tablets. After study of the effects of the new dosage, the researcher recommended against its approval. Serious side effects, including nausea and vomiting (especially problematic for the elderly, frail and mentally impaired) and increased death rates (now, that is a pretty serious side effect),... Read more

2012-03-20T10:35:39-05:00

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.

In Heaven As It Is On Earth

Last updated on: March 20, 2012 at 10:35 am By Christy Thomas

I wish I could get it across that what Jesus lived and taught has almost no relationship with the “hate-ianity” that masquerades as Christianity across the press, airways and religious institutions today. What should be a grace-infused, fully-life-giving, all-welcomed, heavenly-spaces-opened, mystery-explored, forgiveness and reconnection-enjoyed experience has turned into a “gotta hate gays, gotta vote republican, gotta be sure and send everyone who believes differently to eternal conscious torment” religious charade. Now, the “gotta-hate” group makes better headlines. And the “gotta... Read more

2012-03-19T10:20:49-05:00

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.

Keeping Silence, and the Destruction of a Generation of Young Women

Last updated on: March 19, 2012 at 10:20 am By Christy Thomas

Those who have been hearing my teaching for a while know how I’ve interpreted the Garden of Evil/Fall story through the breaches of covenant that took place before the woman and man ate the forbidden fruit. The crafty serpent begins the process by inviting them to doubt God’s goodness: “Gosh, all this good food and you can’t eat any of it! How nasty God must be!” The woman perpetuates the process by embellishing the truth: “Sure we can, but not... Read more

generation of young women

Genesis 1-3

religion

the Fall

2012-03-17T16:57:58-05:00

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.

Sacred Space and Rented Facilities

Last updated on: March 17, 2012 at 4:57 pm By Christy Thomas

Three years ago, the congregation I serve moved from their home of 85 years to a new, functional, welcoming and repairable building about one mile east of the historic facility. The church needed to move. Although the new owner has restored the old building and made really important improvements (like adequate and accessible restroom facilities), the limitations there are still huge, particularly for the music ministry and expanded children’s ministry that is part of the core motivation and drive of... Read more

2012-03-17T13:23:12-05:00

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.

Academia, Metrics and the Church

Last updated on: March 17, 2012 at 1:23 pm By Christy Thomas

Recently, I posted a response on the Missional Methodist blog about what I see happening right now in The United Methodist Church. I mentioned that I see huge parallels with what is happening in the academic world and what is happening with the church. Academia is being told: the purpose of education is economic–getting good paying jobs for the graduates. The real purpose of a good liberal education–to teach people to think widely and deeply over multiple disciplines so they... Read more

UMC. clergy effectiveness

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who taught Apollos about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Select your answer to see how you score.

Barnabas Aquila and Priscilla Paul Timothy

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