Following is an excerpt from a piece I wrote for Sojourners on patriotism. You can read the full article HERE. I was five years old on Independence Day in 1976. The United States’ bicentennial fever had overtaken the entire population. Everything was dressed in red, white, and blue. I remember decorating my tricycle in streamers and balloons for the neighborhood parade. It rained through the entire event, and although I crossed the finish line covered in red and blue dye,... Read more
We started a new summer social justice lecture series at our church in downtown Portland this last Sunday. Despite some lingering anxieties from those less familiar with the platform, we endeavored to bring in Jim Wallis via Skype as our keynote speaker for the week. As the resident person under 50 with quasi-hipster sensibilities, I was given the responsibility of pulling the event together. I met with our volunteer in charge of sound engineering earlier in the week to check... Read more
(Following was excerpted from my Heretic’s Guide to the Bible study of the same name. Check out more about the weekly study HERE, or click the banners at the top or bottom of this article.) All of these texts this week remind me of the parable of the faithful servants which comes up to chapters later Luke, in chapter 12. Basically, the moral of the parable is “to whom much is given, much is also expected.” One of the biggest... Read more
I’m certainly not one to advocate for vandalism of private property, but you know, sometimes the right letters just fall clean off a church sign and suddenly unbridled bigotry looks a hell of a lot more like the Greatest Commandment. Just sayin… Read more
We don’t usually drink while recording the podcast since it’s usually morning. But this was late afternoon this time, so we all sipped some Great Divide Oak-Aged Yeti and some Fire Mountain Summer IPA. Things…get a little sloppy. I won’t give too much away, but some violence ensued, and it’s all captured on tape. You will not be disappointed. Christian also had to interview Jay Bakker alone. Jay opens up about his new book, Faith, Doubt, and Other Lines I’ve Crossed,... Read more
(The following is excerpted from a recent “Heretic’s Guide to the Bible” lectionary study, posted on my premium blog. click the link here for more information, or click on either banner at the top or bottom of this post.) Was Jesus more concerned with what happens to us after we die or how we’re living, here and now? This is one of the fundamental questions that seems to divide Christians more than any other. And whereas in the past, Christianity... Read more
There are lots of biases and assumptions about Christians out there, many of which are founded in real-life experience. And yes, we Christians have done our share of damage when it comes to tarnishing our so-called “brand.” But there also seems to be this tendency to understand Christianity and its adherents as one generally monolithic group that can be described in simple (often negative) terms that they would never be acceptable to apply to any other group. Part of this... Read more
I once challenged Jesus to an arm wrestling match. Jesus had me at first, until I did that Stallone “Over the Top” thing. Then he was toast! Read more
For more than a generation, the gay conversion organization known as Exodus International has been one of the most prominent Christian symbols of LGBT intolerance. They have practiced what is commonly called “reparative therapy” to supposedly remove the urges of same-sex attraction from those who seek to become straight. I have personally written at great length about the damage done by such religiously fueled zealotry, but never in my lifetime did I anticipate that the leader of this infamous anti-gay... Read more
(Following is excerpted from a longer, much more detailed study of the same name, found at “Heretic’s Guide to the Bible,” my subscription blog, also found here on Patheos. Click the banners at the top or bottom of this piece to learn more about the Heretic’s Guide community.) When I got to college, I was what I would call and “A–B–C: Anything But Christian.” At my large, progressive and fiercely independent campus, a guy could have gotten more dates admitting... Read more
Christian Piatt
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