Patheos 10+1: A Q&A with ‘Bipolar Faith’ Author Monica Coleman

July 19, 2016 By Deborah Arca

“I would like churches to talk about mental health the same ways we talk about every other health challenge. I would like us to combine prayer with other medical and social services that help people. I would like for us to affirm that health challenges are not a reflection of the depth of one’s faithfulness. I’d like us to cultivate communities that can hold grief, pain, anxiety and the inexplicable without sacrificing individual or cultural dignity.” — Monica Coleman, pastor, professor and author I... Read more

“Hate Cannot Drive Out Hate”

July 18, 2016 By Dwight Lee Wolter

My conviction ~ based on an experience of blood, death, hate and hope ~ is that, in immediate and intentional attempts at healing ~ it is possible for a community to go where fear and hate have no dominion over love and peace. Read more

Church: Can We Get Over Ourselves?

July 15, 2016 By Guest Contributor

As Christendom declines and Emergence Christianity continues to blossom in all its messy glory, we in the institutional church face a central question. Can we get over ourselves? Can we give up our self absorbed fretting about how good things used to be so we can see the beautiful possibilities now? Read more

Friday Wrap 7/15: The Week’s Top 10 Progressive Posts

July 15, 2016 By Deborah Arca

Wonder what your fellow Progressive Christians have been reading — and sharing — at Patheos this week? Here are this week’s top 10 Progressive Christian posts, ranked by number of pageviews. #1: Jesus Vs. #AllLivesMatter Our favorite religion professor James McGrath is the king of funny and poignant memes, and this one of Jesus delivering his sermon on the Mount — and being challenged by an #alllivesmatter proponent — resonated deeply with lots of readers. McGrath left us with these pointed questions: If the historical figure... Read more

Three Lessons for Living in America from an Almost Ex-Pat

July 7, 2016 By Guest Contributor

By Andrea Folds It’s not an easy time to be an American abroad. We have a reputation that tops even the un-toppable “W.” days, and that is not a record any of us were trying to beat. Talking with a good friend of mine from Ireland last week, I asked how the public across the pond was reacting to the Orlando tragedy. “Not to sound callous,” he said, “but it’s kind of like typical America at this point…” Our “typical” is political gridlock... Read more

Cultivating New Models of Sisterhood

June 28, 2016 By Guest Contributor

While I share my sisters’ passion for women’s empowerment and witnessed the need for these services, I wanted to go beyond talking among ourselves. I was drawn to the cultivation of healthy interactions with our Black brothers, but I didn’t know what that would look like. Read more

From “No You Can’t” to “I Do”: My Journey to Gay, Married and Christian

June 23, 2016 By David Khalaf

I once voted against same-sex marriage, and now I’m married to a man. Read more

“Will Listen With Love” Launches Tonight for LGBTQIA & Allies

June 17, 2016 By Guest Contributor

Launching in response to the devastating killings in Orlando, the "Will Listen With Love" Project is a national support network comprised of pastors, therapists, spiritual directors and community support providers who have volunteered their time to offer safe and affirming space for grieving members of the LGBTQIA community and their allies to be heard. Read more

This Time Orlando

June 17, 2016 By Deborah Arca

This time there were 49, fifty counting him—one for each star on our flag This time he came during the dark of night—long before the full heat of the sun rose He came before the bars closed—before the last call for alcohol was made He came before the dancers retired to their corners—like boxers in the ring, before the last bell rung He came before the cock cleared his throat to announce the morning’s coming tide— before the sacrifice was made He came... Read more

Count the Killer Among the Victims?

June 15, 2016 By Dwight Lee Wolter

“We don’t really count the shooter as a victim,” FBI Special Agent Paul Wysopal said at a Monday morning press conference and reported today in the New York Post. That makes perfect sense: Perpetrators are not victims; they are victimizers. Therefore, the number of victims in Orlando was changed today from 50 to 49 and we will not see 50 candles burning in memory of the deceased. This should surprise no one. But not everyone feels that way. A pastor... Read more