Stump a Bible Scholar: What About Israel?

Last updated on: September 2, 2014 at 10:42 pm By Deborah Arca

Think you can stump a scholar? No question is too tough or too radical (this IS the Bible after all — a tough, radical book) for our new Stump a Scholar series at Patheos Progressive Christian. Every Tuesday, we’ll answer your questions about the Bible, Christian history, the Church, theology; and we’re bringing in the experts to tackle your questions. This month, we’re focusing on the Bible and have invited Jerry L. Sumney, professor of biblical studies at Lexington Theological Seminary, to be our resident scholar.... Read more

Viral Slacktivism or Social Media Fundraising Win?

Last updated on: August 29, 2014 at 8:03 pm By Clint Schnekloth

Hey, here’s an idea. Let’s raise money for a charity by daring each other to pour buckets of ice over our heads. Two months ago, if someone had suggested this in a planning session at church, I doubt I would have gotten behind the idea. It never occurred to me that so many people—young, old, famous, obscure—would willingly sit down in front of a video camera and let friends pour vast quantities of ice-cold water over them. I admit that... Read more

Finding Jesus: Ben Corey on What’s Missing in American Christianity

Last updated on: August 29, 2014 at 10:52 pm By Deborah Arca

“The more I wrote about the radical nature of Jesus’ message, the more I felt willing, one hundred times over, to completely sacrifice whatever it takes to continue living it out.” — Benjamin Corey, author, Undiluted The summer of 2014 has been a rich one for Patheos Progressive Christian authors. In the past several months, we’ve seen new releases from the likes of Marcus Borg, Brian McLaren, Christian Piatt, Chris Smith and John Pattison, Tim Suttle, Frank Schaeffer, Peter Enns and Benjamin Corey … all... Read more

An Open Letter to President Obama and Members of the United State Congress: Turn the Grief-Bearing Ship Around

Last updated on: August 28, 2014 at 11:09 pm By Guest Contributor

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By Ellin Jimmerson Dear President Obama and Members of Congress, I am a Baptist minister in Alabama and full-time advocate for unauthorized immigrants and guest workers. My ministry has focused on production of a migrant justice documentary called The Second Cooler, narrated by Martin Sheen. I first felt called to make the documentary because I was heartbroken for the families, especially the mothers, whose children died under the blazing Arizona sun as they were trying to cross the heavily militarized border... Read more

What Jesus Learned from a Courageous Woman (and what we can learn too!)

Last updated on: August 28, 2014 at 6:00 pm By Chuck Queen

One of the more fascinating stories in the Gospels that many Christians conveniently ignore is Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman in Matthew 19:21-28 (par. Mark 7:24-30). Here is how it reads in the NRSV: Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did... Read more

Technology and Faith: On Dave Eggers’ “The Circle” and the Loss of Privacy

Last updated on: August 26, 2014 at 10:56 pm By Clint Schnekloth

Mae Holland, the protagonist in Dave Egger’s terrifying novel The Circle, lands a dream job at the world’s largest innovative tech company. Think Google, Apple, Twitter, Microsoft, and Amazon amalgamated into one mega-corporation. Midway into the novel she turns a device on (the company calls the device SeeChange) that makes her life “transparent” to the rest of the world, live-streaming audio and video of her entire life as it happens. Mae, who has by this point become a leading spokesperson... Read more

Stump a Bible Scholar: Why Genocide?

Last updated on: August 26, 2014 at 5:14 pm By Deborah Arca

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Think you can stump a scholar? No question is too tough or too radical (this IS the Bible after all — a tough, radical book) for our new Stump a Scholar series at Patheos Progressive Christian. Every week, we’ll answer your questions about the Bible, Christian history, the Church, theology; and we’re bringing in the experts to tackle your questions. This month, we’re focusing on the Bible and have invited Jerry L. Sumney, professor of biblical studies at Lexington Theological Seminary, to be our resident scholar.... Read more

How To Be a Midwife In Egypt: A Sermon on Ferguson and Our Choices

Last updated on: August 25, 2014 at 11:12 pm By Eric Smith

Editor’s Note: I share this sermon preached yesterday at the church I attend, First Plymouth Congregational Church, by the Rev. Dr. Eric Smith. In the aftermath of the Ferguson, MO, tragedy and the ensuing protests, I can’t imagine a much better sermon being given in many other churches around the country than this. — Deborah Arca How To Be a Midwife in Egypt Exodus 1:8-2:10 Shiphrah and Puah had a decision to make. Their orders were clear. Their orders were that all the baby boys... Read more

Why “Don’t Say Illegal Immigrant” Is A Problem

Last updated on: August 25, 2014 at 8:59 pm By Guest Contributor

Last month, as Americans focused attention on Central American child refugees, Benjamin L. Corey’s June, 2013 article, “Why We Need To Stop Using The Term ‘Illegal Immigrant'”, appeared on my Facebook feed. In it, Corey said using the term “illegal immigrant” was to bear false witness against our neighbor. I am a Baptist minister and film maker who advocates for illegal immigrants, guest workers in the US legally with a visa, and domestic labor. With enormous respect for those concerned... Read more