A Progressive Christian's Blog on Faith, Culture, Doubt, and Secularism
Without a doubt, Easter is a weird one. Not only does it arguably have the worst color palette of any national holiday, but the celebration's pagan roots are also so nakedly apparent it's almost shocking they aren't challenged more often by the people who perpetually claim there's a "War on Christmas." Our word "Easter" is…
Continue reading ➞ Why I (Still) Believe: A Skeptic’s Guide to the Resurrection of Jesus
The word “apocalypse” conjures up images of burning buildings, panicked masses, and the end of the world. This isn’t a particularly new development. Since the beginning of time, people have been preparing for the end of time. Volcano eruptions, meteor showers, and virulent plagues were all once perceived as harbingers of Armageddon. But, in the…
Continue reading ➞ The COVID-19 Pandemic is an Apocalyptic Event. Just Not in the Way You Think.
With flu season ramping up in the United States and fears of a deadly novel-Coronavirus spreading in mainland China, health-related paranoia and delirium in the United States are at an all-time high. For a particular subset of the American population, the solution (and remedy) is obvious: Essential Oils. Derived from the distillation of specific plants,…
On December 14, 2019, two-year-old Olive Heiligenthal passed away in her sleep. Olive's mother, Kalley Heiligenthal, is a worship leader at Bethel Church, a charismatic megachurch based in Redding, California. Following an impassioned worship service the next morning, Heiligenthal took to Instagram and called on the "global church to stand with us in belief that…
Continue reading ➞ Slayed in the Spirit: The Rise and Legacy of Christian Supernaturalism
In 2019, I read 67 books. Which, yes, I know, is a lot of books. I've always been a naturally fast reader, but my secret (to those who ask) is that I simply prioritize reading in my daily routine. As I mentioned in my first blog post of 2019, you'd be surprised by how much…
According to a 2013 Pew Research Survey, 73% of LGBTQ Americans believe evangelical churches are unfriendly toward their communities. And, to be honest, who can blame them? In 2004, Americans opposed same-sex marriage by a margin of 60% to 31%. By 2019, the margin has flipped - 31% of Americans oppose same-sex marriage, while 61% support…
Continue reading ➞ Life in Technicolor: Gay Christians and the Future of Grace
A few weeks ago, an older acquaintance shared a post on Facebook that read, "God is not going to rewrite the Bible for your generation. His Word remains the same forever and always!" I understand the sentiment. I was raised in a "God said it, I believe it, and that settles it" culture of evangelical…
Continue reading ➞ Life in Technicolor: Gay Christians and the Bible
Born in East Texas and raised as a Southern Baptist, I'd only heard one side of the story. If you had come out to me as gay, I would've told you that while God loves and accepts you, He doesn't want you to be in a same-sex relationship. Love the sinner, hate the sin, you…
Continue reading ➞ Life in Technicolor: Gay Christians and the Church
"Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin" is one of those phrases that feels so baked into modern Christianity is almost shocking to discover it never appears anywhere in the Bible. At a fundamental level, there's nothing wrong about "Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin." It seeks to be a more gracious counterpoint to the accusation…
Continue reading ➞ Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin? Why We Should Retire Our Favorite Christian Phrase
Tens of thousands of college students from around the country sat on the edges of their seats. From a circular stage centered in the massive arena, the speaker spoke into a wireless microphone, an atmospheric instrumental track underscoring his somber delivery. "Would you leave behind your families, jobs, friends, colleges, and familiar surroundings if God…
Continue reading ➞ Making Your Life Count For God (and Other Christian Anxieties)
