For a Time of Rupture, Distress & Rising Fascism
There is a grief ritual that I can heartily recommend at this time of profound distress and dread and even doom. But also potential grace.
Rabbi Brian’s Highly Unorthodox Gospel is a modern guide to compassion, kindness, and love for others (and self).
It’s that time of year when the natural order of all things brings with it the repeated reminder that former things are passing away. And, at the same time, I watch the evening news broadcast these days with more than a bit of circumspection – if not resignation – that nothing about each successive episode in our human story ever changes; except the names, faces and places.
Today’s passage is from Mark 10, a chapter that includes five stories of people coming to Jesus to have their questions answered, to request a favor, or to be healed.
Awakened: A 52-Week Progressive Christian Devotional
Embark on a transformative journey through 13 powerful themes like diversity, eco-spirituality, mental health, LGBTQ+ inclusion, science, questioning beliefs, and more. Each devotional includes scripture, a reflection on the theme from a progressive Christian perspective, questions for personal reflection or group discussion, and a spiritual practice.
From the very beginning of my Christian journey, I attempted to believe in the providence of God. I wanted to believe in it. I needed to believe in it. But I also had my doubts.
Notes From The Study of The Progressive Professor
St Francis of Assisi died Oct 3, 1226 CE. Siddartha Gautama, more commonly known as the Buddha, lived in SE Asia during the 5th or 6th century BCE. From a historical perspective, they have been separated for almost 2000 years. From a human perspective, they are not separated at all.
Not only do I think that much can and has been learned about God by physics, but I would suggest the provocative idea to many that more can be learned about God from physics and other scientific disciplines than from scripture!
Women are center-stage in this election, but we seem to forget they’ve been center-stage throughout history, including the foundations of Christian history. It’s true the Bible is filled with patriarchy and in ancient times, women were often seen as not much more than possessions.
Queer Sacred Music Collection
Written for Blue Christmas worship services and gatherings.
This issue driven nonpartisan VOTE PSA is produced by Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson & features Rev. Irene Monroe
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
It had taken quite a few decades, but the groundwork was now finished. Income inequality produced a disaffected, disenfranchised class of citizens. Citizens United allowed corporations to contribute unlimited amounts of money to political candidates
Harassed Oregon Church Gets Closure - Leaders to Receive Humanitarian Award
In a settlement reached, the council approved $400k legal fees, rescinded what Federal Magistrate Mark Clarke called an “ill-conceived ordinance” to control and limit church feedings and dropped an abatement measure threatening to fine the congregation $720-a-day unless it stop undefined “social services.”
Anyone who has even a small measure of gratitude for the extraordinary gift of life, and awe for the magnificent beauty, complexity and wonder of our cosmos, cannot help but sense an overwhelming feeling of spirituality and the presence of a Creative Force beyond human comprehension. A Force of Love, in my mind.
“God loves us all, but I’m His favorite.” It may make for a cute bumper sticker, but it points to a far more serious problem that impacts much of what we read and interpret in the Bible.
Too many political candidates and their collaborators, including fellow faith leaders, want American voters to believe they are devout Christians, but they adhere to a conflation of Christianity and American politics called Christian Nationalism. And Christian Nationalism is not Christian.
By Rev. Dr. Mark Sandlin and Rev. Dr. Caleb Lines
But rather than folding our arms in disgust and writing off those friends, family and neighbors who are checking out and sitting out this election, what if we turned from the harsh political rhetoric to Jesus’ teachings for clarity?
In this engaging book, Martin Thielen, best-selling author, ex-megachurch pastor, and founder of Doubter’s Parish shares his story of deconstructing and reconstructing faith.
When I saw the church persistently losing members, I proceeded to defend it by first finding out why. Surveys suggest that the main reason for disaffiliation is intellectual. This suggests that orthodoxy, which supported Christianity for two millennia, is now one of the main factors causing people to leave because, for discerning people, its creed of miracles is no longer realistic and relevant.
American Christians often wonder exactly how their faith and politics ought to intersect. It’s an understandable confusion, especially for those who value freedom of belief and religious diversity. I often hear that we should “keep politics out of the pulpit,” but doing so is a theological impossibility for those who take Jesus’ teachings seriously because Christianity is inherently political.
The fifth part of a seven-part series that looks at the life of Jesus.
What Folks Get Wrong About LGBTQ and the Bible
The anti-LGBT mindset in the U.S. is, unfortunately, rooted in Christianity. It’s also not the easiest topic to dig into. But it’s darn fascinating. And context is key.
This homily was delivered to a courageous congregation, St Timothy’s Episcopal of Brookings OR, recently victorious in a religious liberty struggle with a scofflaw city government over controlling church “soup kitchen” feedings and undefined “social services.”
What Folks Get Wrong About LGBTQ and the Bible
We Christians are good at a lot of things. Potluck dinners. Taking care of church members. Dressing up on Sundays. Weddings. Funerals. Worship. Quoting scripture. And we’re persistently exceptional at misinterpreting that scripture, then running amuck in the world because of it.
Living and learning in harmony with creation and with one another. Sophia is a community of inclusion, of freedom, of safety, of belonging.
Join Mark and Caleb for this live recording as they enjoy a themed drink (or two) and bring their high-octane progressive Christian perspectives in consideration of the animated film "The Wild Robot," based on the New York Time's best selling middle school book of the same name.
... and, in the end, dreaming yet.
This is the world in which I, and millions like me, live. Designed. Built. Regulated. Every bit of it is under the scrutiny of neighbours first, and local legislators later, should the need arise.
Watch the below vision video to see how Pride in the Pews champions the holistic health and wellness of Black LGBTQ+ communities through advocacy and partnerships with Black-serving institutions.
Applications are now open for our transformative 18-month training program: "Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life." This immersive journey is designed to expand your spiritual practices while empowering you to discover a deeper connection to your work, relationships, and community.
Week 42: Video Companion to "A 52-Week Progressive Christian Devotional"
Transformation ought to be an essential part of Christianity, but all too often, it isn't. ProgressiveChristianity.org Co-Executive Director Rev. Dr. Caleb Lines discusses how we must embrace change to experience true transformation.
I was honored to be invited to serve on the Advisory Committee to Kamala Harris’ Director of Faith Engagement, Rev. Jen Butler.
Christians have an obligation to talk about the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v Wade. Not because this decision was not based on best practice and law. Not because it was not based on scientific or medical consensus. But because it was based on Christian misinterpretations of biblical text.
Every Sunday on YouTube we will move verse by verse through the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures to interpret it through the lens of Liberation Theology. In addition to our weekly video Bible commentary, people can gain access to Progressive Christian resources (devotionals, study guides, and digital community.
Even in the warmest and most welcoming evangelical churches, patriarchy looms as an ever-present force, suppressing women’s possibilities and debilitating whole
Join Mark and Caleb for this live recording as they enjoy a themed drink (or two) and bring their high-octane progressive Christian perspectives in consideration of the Elseworlds' Joker movie: "Joker: Folie A Deux.".
Choice Matters
I strongly disagree with the Pope’s characterization of abortion as “assassinating” a baby. I am not a scientist, but my research shows that the Pope was not accurate when he said at one month, a fetus has all the human organs.
First, Jesus was a charismatic human being with a great big heart. Second, he practiced what he preached, he lived his teachings. The question posed in this essay is why it was so easy for him to live the love behind his teachings while so many of us struggle today to achieve a similar goal.
Thou Shalt, and Shalt Not: The “Do’s” and “Don’ts,” for the Righteous and Unrighteous
Now, some political postulators might question this one particular candidate’s ability to distinguish fact from fiction, truth from falsehood, honesty from dishonesty. But the same thing might be said of some religious types, as well.
Week 41: Video Companion to "A 52-Week Progressive Christian Devotional"
Transformation ought to be an essential part of Christianity, but all too often, it isn't. ProgressiveChristianity.org Co-Executive Director Rev. Dr. Caleb Lines discusses how we must embrace change to experience true transformation.
Service and Gathering PlanningProgressiveChristianity.org2023-11-17T00:32:43-08:00
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