We Can Refuse To Be Enemies

June 9, 2014 By Brian McLaren

We can refuse to be silent. We can refuse double standards. We can refuse to be enemies. From my piece on TIME.com: Many of us have avoided facing the unsettling understanding that religious identity can be turned to violent ends in any religion: Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, atheist. To understand religious violence will require us to understand others’ violence, and our own; then demand that our faith leaders set the example of building strong identities that are benevolent, not hostile,... Read more

We Make the Road By Walking (Video)

May 8, 2014 By Brian McLaren

We Make the Road by Walking: Song from brian mclaren onVimeo. This song explores themes that I also explore in my upcoming book (June 2014) of the same name. Please help spread the word. The book releases June 10. Thanks for your support! More information here. Read more

Good Friday Meditation

April 18, 2014 By Brian McLaren

This is from my book Everything Must Change: The cross is an even more dramatic narrative reversal. . . . Rome uses crosses to expose and pronounce a death sentence on rebels; Jesus uses the cross to expose Roman violence and religious complicity with it, while pronouncing a sentence of forgiveness on his crucifiers. His cross doesn’t represent a “shock and awe” display of power as Roman crucifixions were intended to do, but rather represents a “reverence and awe” display of... Read more

Contraception, Hobby Lobby, and Abortion

April 11, 2014 By Brian McLaren

Baptist Christian ethicist David Gushee recently wrote a helpful summary and analysis of the Hobby Lobby case that is before the Supreme Court, with a decision anticipated in June. He summarized his conclusion: This case is the perfect storm: it brings into one case passions many Americans feel about President Obama, health care reform, sexuality, government, women, abortion, science, culture, freedom, and religion, especially Christianity. Now all the Supreme Court has to do is sort it out. This will be no simple... Read more

Q&R: Emerging? Progressive?

March 21, 2014 By Brian McLaren

Here’s the Question: Brian, it seems to me that Emerging Christianity and Progressive Christianity are similar in many ways. What are the unique distinctions and is there any thought of a convergence, in spite of what differences there may be? Here’s my Response: As with many questions, the best answer to this one is “it depends” – on what you mean by Progressive. There is what I call an “old religious left” or “old progressivism” that had many strengths and... Read more

A Letter to Publix Owners and Management

March 10, 2014 By Brian McLaren

Dear Publix Leadership, I should begin by saying that I am in almost all ways a big fan of your company. I often shop in a nearby Publix and shopping there truly is a pleasure. It is clean. The staff are friendly and helpful. The products are good and the prices reasonable. I’m especially impressed with the way Publix hires people with disabilities. To provided a needed service and then go above and beyond in seeking to benefit the community... Read more

Q&R: You, Rob Bell, Donald Miller, and Christianity Today

February 25, 2014 By Brian McLaren

Here’s the Question: Kevin Miller wrote a piece in CT about you, Rob Bell, and Don Miller. It follows other negative articles about you, and them, in CT. Do you think the portrayal was fair, and if not, why not?” Here’s my Response: I read the article a couple times and the first thing that struck me is that Rob, Don, and I function in the article as little more than a convenient apparatus against which to leverage so the author... Read more

Children and Youth Ministry People…

February 4, 2014 By Brian McLaren

I’m really looking forward to being part of Faith Forward’s 2014 gathering in Nashville, May 19-22 (more info at faith-forward.net). I get to join an inspiring line-up of speakers and contributors who are working together to inspire and resource innovation in ministry with children and youth–including Phyllis Tickle, Andrew Root, Ivy Beckwith, Dave Csinos, Romal Tune, Mike King, Anne Streaty Wimberly, Bonnie Miller-McLemore, Melvin Bray, and Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher. For too long, Christians who are forging new kinds of Christianity... Read more

Q&R: Which Denomination?

January 15, 2014 By Brian McLaren

Here’s the Question: First off thank you for all your great work. You have deeply impacted me in many ways. I seem to think along very similar lines as far as I can tell from reading your posts, books, articles etc. I would like to pastor a church in the future, but I am in transition at the moment mostly due to the change in perspective over the last couple of years (still love the people). My question is if... Read more

Q&R: Multiple Religious Identities?

December 5, 2013 By Brian McLaren

Here’s the Question: Hope you’re doing well! I caught your Q&A this morning on Facebook, about why you continue to identify as a Christian. In it, you make reference to the fact that Christianity is your heritage. This is an issue I’ve been wrestling with lately, and was hoping if you found a couple extra moments you could offer some encouragement and/or advice. I have no issues continuing to identify with other Christians–in other words, I don’t feel the need... Read more