The Progressive Christians Podcast

Faith Deconstruction Explained: Why Doubt Is Not the End of Your Faith

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 12:11:33 -0700

Is faith deconstruction the end of your faith — or the beginning?

If you grew up in church and something started feeling off — like the Christianity around you didn't match the Jesus you read about — this is for you. In this episode, we share the moment our questions started, why doubt isn't failure, and how to rebuild a faith big enough to hold mystery, grief, and justice.

We discuss what deconstruction is and what it isn't, Adam Grant's Think Again hierarchy (cult leader → learner), Fowler's Stages of Faith (why stage 4 questioning is maturity, not rebellion), Jesus in Mark 2:13-17 redefining sin as a failure to bother to love, betrayal trauma in the church, the horseshoe of shame after purity culture, and why some people walk away while others stay to rebuild.

Plus: why Sean Duffy's "Great American Road Trip" reality show perfectly captures the fear of being "brainwashed" by college, and why Dolly Parton's radical hospitality might be the best sermon you'll hear this week.

This is a 3-part series tied to Dr. Carter's 7-week sermon series at The Loft - links below.

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Show Notes:

Think Again by Adam Grant https://adamgrant.net/book/think-again/
Hierarchy of Thinking Styles https://wheatandtares.org/2022/07/13/adam-grants-thinking-styles/
The Religion of Whiteness- https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-religion-of-whiteness-9780197746288
Singers of Soul- https://www.instagram.com/singersofsoul/?hl=en
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/08/cities-terminate-flock-contracts-at-record-pace-in-august/

EP 103: It's Not the End Times, It Just Feels Like It - What Eschatology Actually Teaches

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:34:00 -0700

It feels like the end times - Christian Nationalism, war in Iran, and we can't even trust that our food is safe to eat anymore. A lot of people are carrying summertime sadness and doom-loop anxiety. Given this, what does eschatology actually teach, and how does bad end-times theology fuel fear?

In this episode, we unpack eschatology (the study of the end times) beyond Left Behind theology. We map pre-millennial vs. amillennial vs. realized eschatology, explain why Revelation is resistance literature, not a prophecy chart, and trace how apocalyptic fear is used to justify Christian Nationalism, war, and "invasion" rhetoric about immigration — and how a progressive eschatology of hope teaches salvation as a way of life lived in community. We get honest about doomscrolling, heat waves, and why tech billionaires build bunkers while the rest of us just feel tired — and offer 3 practices to hold sadness without spiraling.

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CHAPTERS: 0:00 Cold Open - Why Everything Feels Like the End 4:45 Book Contest Winners! 7:10 Why Everything Feels Apocalyptic 13:47 What Is Eschatology & The Dangers of Misinterpreting Revelation 18:33 Reading Revelation as a Resistance Narrative 24:55 Different Ways of Thinking About Eschatology (The End Times) 29:26 Premillennialism vs Postmillennialism 40:50 How fear-based Eschatology fuels Greed, Christian Nationalism & War 51:10 Hope as practice: salvation as a way of life 1:06:24 Shout Out to Michael - Our Listeners Give Us Hope

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📩 Watching on YouTube? Like and subscribe. Listening on Apple or Spotify? Rate, subscribe, and leave a comment — it genuinely helps the algorithm find more people like you. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack! The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

EP 102: From the Civil War to the Texas Senate: The Real Fight Christians Refuse to Have

The Progressive Christians — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 06:46:00 -0700

In this episode, we unpack the Texas Senate race between State Rep. James Talarico and State Attorney General Ken Paxton as a theological case study, rather than a political race. Both say they were sent by God - they're reading the same Bible, and yet, two very different Christianities emerge.

In their own words:

"I truly believe that God just delivered me, not because I'm a great person because God is sovereign and he does what he wants to do." — Ken Paxton

"Scripture says you can't love God and hate other people. You can't love God and abuse the immigrant. You can't love God and bully the outcast. You can't love God and oppress the poor." — James Talarico

Can both be faithful readings of the same Jesus?

We trace the debate through: • Providence vs. partnership — is God delivering election results, or inviting us into co-creation? • Christian Nationalism on the ballot — why Talarico called the Texas Ten Commandments bill "idolatrous, exclusionary, and arrogant," and why Rev. Blair calls it "not about the content, it's about the imposition of belief." • The Civil War as a Theological Crisis — how pro-slavery Christians proof-texted "slaves, obey your masters" while abolitionists asked what God reveals about human flourishing, and why we're having the same fight 160 years later. • The sin of dehumanization — "Unless and until we address the sin of dehumanization, we're going to have the same argument over and over again"

CHAPTERS: 0:00 Cold Open 4:25 Two Visions of Christianity in Texas 11:32 The Theology of Providence 18:30 James Talarico - Exegesis, Not Culture War 22:05 Unpacking Ken Paxton's Theological Claims 26:04 How Whiteness is framed as Divine 37:02 The Dangers of Divine Election Allied with Political Power 48:02 The Roots of the Talarico & Paxton Theological Debate Are In The Civil War 1:00:00 The Debate US Christians Refuse to Have - Christianity & Dehumanization 1:14:40 Good News! A Victory for Gender-Affirming Care

Show Notes

Ken Paxton and James Talarico- https://religionnews.com/2026/08/13/paxton-talarico-tap-contrary-versions-of-god-and-christianity-in-appeal-to-texas-voters/
White Too Long by Robert P. Jones- https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/White-Too-Long/Robert-P-Jones/9781982122874
Undoing Conquest by Kate Common- https://orbisbooks.com/products/undoing-conquest-ancient-israel-the-bible-and-the-future-of-christianity
The Civil War as Theological Crisis by Mark Noll- https://uncpress.org/9781469621814/the-civil-war-as-a-theological-crisis/
Maine Protects trans healthcare for youth- https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/maine-continues-gender-affirming-care

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The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion #christianpodcast #JamesTalarico #KenPaxton #ChristianNationalism #TexasSenate

EP 101: Spiritual But Not Religious? Liz Bucar on Wellness Culture and the Theology Nobody Notices

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:05:00 -0700

Is wellness culture actually spiritual, or just another consumer trend? If you identify as spiritual but not religious, there is no shortage of wellness trends promising peace and health without the "baggage" of religion. But when you remove the religious meaning from practices like yoga, you are left with a pretty shallow spiritual practice.

This week we sit down with scholar and author Liz Bucar to dig into her new book, Beyond Wellness. Liz's argument: wellness culture — Goop, energy healing, "manifesting your best life" — runs on Protestant theology with the "god" quietly removed. To go mainstream, every wellness practice had to be "Protestantized": individualized, interior, something you do alone.

We go deep on:

* The "Not God" problem — Liz's candid story about her father's alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous, and why the hardest and most theological step in recovery is simply admitting I am not the higher power.

*Why individualism fails us — Liz's case that real community isn't just who shows up for you, it's who you show up for, and that comes with actual obligation Tech-bro eschatology — how a pessimistic belief that "AI is going to kill us all anyway" quietly gives billionaires permission to stop being ethical right now

* Race, whiteness, and wellness culture — why Liz naming her own entitlement as a white scholar matters, and how that framing lands differently than when marginalized voices are forced to do it alone

* Discomfort vs. danger — the distinction that growth requires sitting in discomfort, and that our instinct to avoid it is really a desire for control

This conversation also continues a real dialogue between our two projects: our take on one of Liz's Substack essays shaped an earlier episode of ours on State Rep. James Talarico — and Liz wrote a follow-up essay directly responding to what we said. Read both: "What if Trevor Noah is right about..." and her response, "Your Eschatology Is Showing."

Chapters: 0:00 - Cold Open & The Hidden Religious Roots of Wellness Culture 5:18 - Meet Dr. Liz Bucar, author of Beyond Wellness 7:25 - Social Media & The Evolution of Theological Discourse 11:44 - Why We Need to Talk About Religious Appropriation 16:00 - How Do We Navigate Boundaries in Spiritual Spaces? 20:42 - Defining "Religion" in the Modern Era 33:12 - The Radical Act of Accepting That You Are Not God 56:34 - Detaching Shame from Our Relationship with Food 1:08:30 - Closing thoughts & Good News!

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Show notes: Liz Bucar can be found on Instagram and TikTok as @LizBucar, and you can subscribe to her Substack at https://lizbucar.substack.com/. You can find all of her books on her website at https://www.lizbucar.com/books.
Brian Johnson's religious roots- https://religionunplugged.com/news/2025/2/4/bryan-johnson-says-he-wants-to-live-forever-what-does-he-really-want
Crime Rates fall in New York City- https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/news/PR009/nypd-fewest-murders-shooting-incidents-shooting-victims-recorded-history-the
NYC Affordable Housing- https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/mamdani-affordable-housing-lift-tracker

EP 100: Not Real Christians: Why Conservatives Keep Questioning Our Faith

The Progressive Christians — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 02:24:00 -0700

We're celebrating 100 episodes 🥳 and marking it with a book giveaway! And by discussing the kind of accusation that led us to start this podcast in the first place. If progressive Christians disagree with conservative Christians about what the core of the faith requires, does that make us not Christian?

A new report from Religion News Service shows Republican politicians questioning whether Democratic clergy are "real" pastors or "real" Christians at all. This is an old tactic, and in this episode we discuss this specific story and how to respond to the accusation that if you're a progressive Christian then you're not a real Christian. We unpack the theological history behind who gets to claim "real" Christianity, and rearticulate the vision that's carried this podcast for 100 episodes: progressive theology isn't a departure from 2,000 years of Christian history. It's rooted in it.

Whether you've been with us since episode one or you just found us this month, this one's for you.

📚 Book Giveaway! 📚Leave a comment on YouTube describing one thing you've learned from listening to this podcast over the last 100 episodes. We'll select 5 random commenters to win a book selected by a member of the pod with a personal note. We will announce the winners on our August 14th episode.

🎙️ New episodes every Friday, on all platforms.

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Chapters 0:00 Cold Open/When Your Faith Is Questioned 3:58 Intro & Celebrating 100 Episodes 10:31 Why Do Conservatives Question Our Faith? 18:53 Deconstructing Conservative Views of the Christian Way of Life 28:28 Why Progressive Ideas Feel Threatening 42:39 Book Giveaway! 44:50 Why We Started This Podcast 58:25 The Mission and Vision of Our Podcast & What's Next 1:04:20 Good News & Closing

99: We Asked 3 Pastors Their Favorite Books—Here's What They Said

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0700

This episode is for all of our book lovers! We're big readers here, and we're always getting questions about what we're reading and what we would recommend. Join our biggest readers: Rev Blair, Dr. Carter, and Julia - as we discuss our faves from fiction to nonfiction, political to fluff, old and new. And drop your faves in the comments! (*Frequent listeners will know that Julia's 'pastor' status is a hotly debated inside joke on the pod, but Julia is currently getting her MDIV so she is pursuing the educational path of a pastor)

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ Audiobook Vs. Physical 6:50 - Julia's Fav Fiction 12:00 - Blair's Fav Fiction 16:00 - Dr. Carter's Fav Fiction 22:00 - Julia's Fav Nonfiction 25:30 - Blair's Fav Nonfiction 29:00 - Dr.Carter's Fav Nonfiction 41:00 - Good News!

Show Notes: -Book Publisher's Lawsuit: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/106RoOj7pQS_sevr0KVa-ftU6-QdnIo1zlsYVuPaB7-0/edit?usp=sharing

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

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98: Being A Billionaire Is A Sin

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:12:00 -0700

What does the Bible say about billionaires and wealth accumulation? Quite a bit, actually! In this episode, we discuss economic inequality and the rising demand for wealth taxes, and explain why hoarding wealth is a sin and what Christians should do about it.

Dr. Carter is a fan of Gary Stevenson @garyseconomics and his documentary "How to Get Filthy Rich" helped inspire this episode. During our conversation, we examined his economic arguments for a wealth tax before addressing the strongest theological and social counterarguments, including conservative interpretations of the Parable of the Talents, private property as a divine gift, and the question of whether wealth taxes even work.

From James 5 to Jubilee to the California ballot box, loving our neighbors must include supporting policies that prevent wage theft and wealth hoarding.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro/ Cold Open

4:30 - Sick Kids are WMD's

7:09 - Hoarding Wealth Is A Sin

19:46 - The Prosperity Gospel

22:50 - Gary Stevenson Documentary

32:37 - Why Do Working Class People

Defend Billionaires?

41:36 - Jubilee Exists Beyond The Bible

45:08 - Proposed Wealth Taxes in the US & UK

48:41 - Zakat (Muslim Economic Principles)

53:46 - Responses To Common Theological Arguments Against Taxes

1:10:00 - What Can Local Churches Do

1:18:14 - Closing

Show Notes:

- Data center moratorium: https://www.reuters.com/world/new-york-becomes-first-state-impose-data-center-moratorium-2026-07-14/

- Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel by Kate Bowler: https://garyseconomics.org/

- This link is to Gary's YouTube page and his four-part (~1h45min) "Understand The Economy" course: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXuOBKrmFYbKytq9mkcd62sJPb6w12vpU&si=cAzbGDHpOuSF5-Go

- Gabriele Zucman, French economist whose most recent book, We Need To Tax Billionaires," was released in May: https://gabriel-zucman.eu/

- Our previous episode on the book Poverty, by America: https://youtu.be/W5o8x1OzATM

- What is a jubilee?: https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/living-economies/opinion/2002/10/01/it-shall-be-a-jubilee-unto-you

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#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion #christianpodcast #BillionaireTax #WealthTax #garystevenson #CaliforniaBillionaireTax #TaxTheRich #ChristianSocialJustice #ProgressiveChurch

97: God Has A Bias For The Poor: What The DSA Wave Means For The Church

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 03:00:00 -0700

If you've been involved in political discourse at all over the last month, you've doubtless heard the panicked predictions or joyous celebrations (depending on who you're listening to) about the Democratic Socialists of America. But who are these Socialists? What do they stand for, why is it surprisingly Biblical - and what does this mean for the future of the Church? We actually have a few DSA members here at the pod, so enjoy this deep dive and let us know what you think in the comments.

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ Cold Open 5:00 - What Is The DSA? 23:00 - When Did The Church Forget About Socialism? 35:00 - Break 36:00 - The Theology Of Solidarity 40:00 - Christianity And Capitalism 45:00 - Christian Socialism 55:00 - Prophetic Imagination 1:02:00 - Good News!

Show Notes: - Democratic Socialists keep winning primaries: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/01/mamdani-new-york-democratic-socialist - Mamdani and The DSA: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/nyc-primary-results-analysis-mamdani-dsa/ - Mayor sleeps at a homeless shelter: https://sentinelcolorado.com/metro/first-person-mayor-coffman-sleeps-at-aurora-homeless-shelter-to-gain-insight/ - Democratic socialists ride wave of momentum in primaries from New York to Colorado: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/01/mamdani-new-york-democratic-socialist - Mamdani and the DSA Just Sent a Seismic Message: The Revolution Is Here to Stay: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/nyc-primary-results-analysis-mamdani-dsa/ - Democratic Socialists of America: https://www.dsausa.org/

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96: The Homophobic Belief Statement That Will Send Foster Children Back To The System

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 03:00:00 -0700

Bethany Christian Services, the nation's largest Protestant adoption and foster care agency, has decided that all staff, board members, foster families, and adoptive families must sign a belief statement defining marriage as "a covenant between one man and one woman." The change takes effect in June 2027(happy pride!)

Obviously, this is unacceptable. But somehow, Bethany Christian Services is defending their discrimination with the Bible. How can they make this claim without the cognitive dissonance breaking their brain? Why did they make this change? What does the Bible actually say about this, and what will the effect be on our society? What will the effect be on these children? Join us to break down this insanity and more, and learn about what you can do to fight back.

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ Cold Open 6:00 - Bethany Christian Services Homophobia 20:00 - Evangelical Christianity + Adoption 28:00 - The Statement Of Faith 40:00 - "Biblical Family" 49:00 - Olmstead Decision 1:04:00 - Good News :)

Show Notes:

Bethany Christian Services Commits to Homophobia Over Helping Kids 1: https://religionnews.com/2026/06/22/is-bethanys-break-with-lgbtq-people-a-bellwether-for-foster-care/
Source 2: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/christian-adoption-giant-reverses
ACLU Statement On Olmstead: https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-statement-on-doj-memo-threatening-the-right-to-community-living-for-people-with-disabilities
Overview of Olmstead Decision: https://thearc.org/blog/doj-opinion-on-olmstead-threatens-the-right-of-people-with-disabilities-to-live-in-the-community/
Lost In America: ‎Lost in America - Apple TV
RFK Says kids should go to "wellness camps" https://www.npr.org/2026/04/29/nx-s1-5798733/rfk-jr-addiction-treatment-centers
Coral Reef Resilience: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-identify-swaths-of-coral-reefs-that-might-be-able-to-withstand-climate-change-offering-new-avenues-for-conservation-180988976/

Wrestling With God: What Jacob's Name Change Teaches Us About LGBTQ+ Identity

The Progressive Christians — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:32:00 -0700

What if the story of Jacob wrestling with God has always been a story about identity, transition, and transformation — and we just didn't see it? In this episode, Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter brings a queer theological lens to Genesis 32, unpacking what happens when Jacob refuses to let go of a divine being until he receives a blessing. At the center of this story isn't just a wrestling match; it's a name change. A transition. A declaration from God: "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel."

These transitions have always been present in Scripture but often go unseen: the stories of Abram becoming Abraham, Simon becoming Peter, Saul becoming Paul — these are stories of transition and transformation. They have always been there.

This episode is for anyone who has wrestled with who they are — and needs to hear that God is with them in the limping, in the transition, and in the resurrection into who they are truly called to be. Happy pride, and we hope you enjoy this little bonus ep!

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95: The SBC Just Banned Women Pastors!? Here's What the Bible Actually Says

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 03:00:00 -0700

The Southern Baptist Convention just voted 6,028 to 2,026 — a 3-to-1 margin — to advance a constitutional ban on women serving as pastors or preaching to their congregations. Dr. Carter and Rev. Blair responded to this news with a theological and biblical analysis of the SBC's arguments, and unsurprisingly, came to a vastly different conclusion.

In this episode, we discuss what the SBC actually voted on, the THREE biblical passages they used to justify their restriction of women in ministry, how reading the passages in Greek changes everything, and argue that the real issue the SBC is concerned about is power, not scripture.

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ The SBC Vote 10:00 - Their Arguments 17:00 - Greek Translation 23:00 - Why Do They Make This Argument? 28:30 - Break 29:40 - Feminism and Christianity 37:00 - Blair's Final Message

Show Notes: - SBC Banning Women Pastors: https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptist-convention-evangelicals-women-pastors-7d85ddc4cc13f3c90a05c1ce3de196b3 - SBC Banning Women Pastors 2: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/06/southern-baptist-constitution-ban-women-pastors/ - The Response to SBC Banning Women Pastors: https://abcnews.com/US/southern-baptists-vote-ban-women-pastors-sparks-outcry/story?id=133747095

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94: Methodist Women Have Only Been Allowed To Preach For 70 Years?!

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 03:00:00 -0700

Join us this week to celebrate 70 YEARS OF WOMEN'S ORDINATION in the Methodist Church! Rev. Blair and Dr. Carter are joined by their boss, Reverend Molly Vetter, and everyone's boss, Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank, to discuss their experiences during different eras of women's rights in the church. One of the most common hate comments we get is from people claiming that women can't be pastors - so just this once, haters - this one is for you.

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ Celebrating 70 Years Of Female Ordination 7:00 - Discussion Begins 9:45 - Call Stories 29:00 - Different Eras Of Sexism 38:30 - What Would You Tell Young Folks? 42:00 - Responding To Sexism 54:00 - HOPE

Show Notes: - Why the 1956 vote matters: https://www.umnews.org/en/news/why-the-1956-women-clergy-vote-matters - Resource UMC's Podcast on the 70th Anniversary: https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/utm-70th-ordination-live-podcast

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#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion #christianpodcast

93: "Coming Out As Christian" With Minnesota Representative Leigh Finke

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 03:00:00 -0700

HAPPY PRIDE! We have another special guest this week: Representative Leigh Finke! The first openly transgender Representative in Minnesota's history, she is a founding member and current chair of the Queer Caucus, and she helped to pass the "Trans Refuge Bill," protecting access to gender-affirming care for Minnesotans.

Leigh Finke is also a practicing Christian, and an author that wrote "Queerfully and Wonderfully Made," a handbook for LGBTQ youth in Christian families. Join us for an incredible conversation on faith, community, and how to build a future that's worth fighting for. AND HAPPY PRIDE!

0:00 - Intro/ Introducing Leigh Finke! 6:00 - Queerfully And Wonderfully Made 15:00 - What Made Christianity Stick? 22:20 - Break 23:45 - Fighting For Gender Affirming Care, And Rights Of Minors 32:00 - Transitioning Is Both Physical And Metaphysical 35:00 - What Does Pride Mean To You? 41:00 - Power Is Obsessed With Trans People 46:20 - Advice For Queer Kids, And Hope 58:00 - Good News!

Show Notes: - Leigh Finke: https://www.leighformn.com/ - Queerfully and Wonderfully Made: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens- https://www.beamingbooks.com/store/product/9781506465241/Queerfully-and-Wonderfully-Made - Trans Theologian Austin Hartke: https://austenhartke.com/ - The Pryde: https://www.lgbtqseniorhousing.org/the-pryde-full

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92: What a Muslim Senate Candidate Taught Us About "Love Your Neighbor" with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 29 May 2026 03:00:00 -0700

This week, we are honored to be joined by the one and only Dr. Abdul El-Sayed! As he loves to remind us, Dr. Carter is from Michigan, and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is currently running in a three-way Democratic primary to be Michigan's Senator against Haley Stevens and Mallory McMorrow. If he wins, he would not only be an unprecedented Progressive voice in Congress, but he would also be the first Muslim Senator in United States History.

Dr. El-Sayed has also been vocal about how his religious views are part of his holistic philosophy - shaping his time growing up in America and the way he is committed to loving his neighbors. You guys have been asking for some more interfaith collaboration on the podcast, and we felt that there was an incredible opportunity for some interfaith religious construction here. Spoilers... Dr. Abdul El-Sayed totally blew us away.

(disclaimer: this interview was recorded the week of May 17th, so our political discussions focus on last week's news cycle)

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ Introducing Dr. Abdul El-Sayed 5:00 - How Christians Can Fight Islamophobia/ How To Build A Better Society 8:00 - Successful Muslim Progressives 12:30 - Is Being Progressive Radical or Religious? 16:30 - What Gives You HOPE? 20:35 - Dr. Abdul's Medical Experience and Medicare For All 25:00 - The Black Church 29:00 - How To Support Abdul 32:00 - Break 33:00 - Post Interview Freak Out/ Debrief 44:00 - "Rededicate 250" 1:08:40 - Good News!

Show Notes: - Find out more about Abdul: https://abdulforsenate.com/ - San Diego attack: https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/18/us/live-news/san-diego-islamic-center-shooting - Green Nobel Prize: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D7tWNrETNQXfIYUu17qjgj3k2QB_IpRsF45skAHlvZo/edit?tab=t.0 - Rededicate 250- https://freedom250.org/celebration/rededicate-250-a-national-jubilee-of-prayer-praise-and-thanksgiving - RNS News Review of Rededicate 250- https://religionnews.com/2026/05/17/trump-allies-lead-thousands-in-prayer-to-rededicate-america-to-god-on-national-mall/ - The Convocation Unscripted- https://convocation.substack.com/

Music by Coma-Media Song: Jazzy Abstract Beat_Chops

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion #christianpodcast

91: The Supreme Court Just Gutted The Voting Rights Act | How Should Christians Respond?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 22 May 2026 03:00:00 -0700

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was born from the Black church. It wasn't just a political achievement — it showed the world the courage and resilience of Black people, the theology of the Civil Rights Movement, and the conviction that loving your neighbor means protecting your neighbor's voice. SCOTUS gutting it isn't just unconstitutional — it's un-Christian.

In this episode, we're breaking down the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais and what it means for democracy, racial justice, and American Christianity. It's just Julia, Dr. Carter, and Westley today - so get ready for a crazy one! No punches pulled - even Jesus showed that leaning into our holy anger is sometimes what we need.

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ Southern Baptist AI Chatbots 4:45 - The VRA Being Gutted 17:00 - John Roberts and the Civil Rights Era 24:00 - The Black Church 38:00 - Break 40:00 - Jesus' Thoughts? 49:30 - What To Do With SCOTUS

Show Notes: - AI "Faithbot" : https://www.christianpost.com/news/imb-sees-over-600000-people-use-ai-tool-faithbot.html - Montgomery and Selma protests: https://alabamareflector.com/2026/05/16/thousands-attend-protests-in-selma-and-montgomery-for-voting-rights/ - Supreme Court Ruling: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/04/supreme-court-louisiana-vra-callais/ - Timeline of the Voting Rights Act: https://www.naacpldf.org/voting-rights-act-history-timeline/

90: Midwestern Christians Did the Largest Refugee Resettlement in US History!? With Dr. Melissa Borja

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 15 May 2026 03:00:00 -0700

We are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Melissa Borja this week, to discuss her new podcast "One Million Neighbors!" The podcast follows the story of the largest refugee resettlement in American history - when Midwestern Christians resettled "One Million Neighbors." Obviously, this is very relevant to our current immigration panic, so we dive deep into the strange role that Christians have played here - and what our theology tells us to do next.

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ Golden Trump Statue 8:00 - "Tax The Rich" is a Slur? 11:15 - Introducing Melissa Borja 16:00 - One Million Neighbors 28:30 - Americans and Missionaries 38:00 - Coastal Elitism vs. Midwestern Coalition Building 44:00 - Matthew 25 50:00 - Refugee Resettlement is Culturally Beneficial 57:30 - Immigrants vs. Migrants vs. Asylum Seekers 1:05:00 - Good News!

Show Notes: - Check out One Million Neighbors: https://www.axismundi.us/podcasts/one-million-neighbors - Politics is for Power by Eitan Hersher: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Politics-Is-for-Power/Eitan-Hersh/9781982116798 - Billionaire says "tax the rich" is a slur: https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/06/business/mamdani-taxes-real-estate - The Trump Gold Statue: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/05/11/donald-trump-gold-statue/90029751007/ - UK emissions at 150 year low: https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-emissions-fall-2-4-in-2025-as-coal-hits-400-year-low/

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

89: Is James Talarico the Game Changer the Right Didn't Expect?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 08 May 2026 03:00:00 -0700

Raise your hand if you've had a clip from James Talarico come across your page in the past year 🤚 We've been following this race closely, and now that he won the Democratic nomination, we have a lot of thoughts. His unique use of Christianity and Christian language in politics has set him apart. It's brought a lot of momentum, but it's also brought a lot of hate - even from the president. We're here to adress this question - Why is the Right so afraid of James Talarico?

Timestamps: 0:00 - Cold Open/ Come To Our Baseball Game! 1:29 - Intro/ The World 5:00 - Why Do They Hate Talarico? 30:00 - Of Course Race Is A Part Of This 33:20 - Jasmine Crockett 43:30 - Break 45:00 - Trevor Noah On Religious Imagination 1:02:00 - The Audacity Of Hope 1:12:40 - Good News!

Show Notes: - Baptist News On Talarico - https://baptistnews.com/article/why-are-evangelicals-freaking-out-over-james-talarico/ - Religion Unplugged on Talarico - https://religionunplugged.com/news/james-talarico-and-the-struggle-over-christianity-in-us-politics - Trevor Noah on Religion - https://lizbucar.substack.com/p/what-if-trevor-noah-is-right-about - The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggeman - https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506449302/The-Prophetic-Imagination - Imagining Argentina by Lawrench Thornton - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/178530/imagining-argentina-by-lawrence-thornton/ - Beloved by Toni Morrison - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/117647/beloved-pulitzer-prize-winner-by-toni-morrison/ - Mills drops out - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/30/janet-mills-maine-senate-dropout-00899664

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

88: Weaponizing Scripture: Unmasking Political Violence & Abuse in the Name of God

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 01 May 2026 03:00:00 -0700

After the newest assassination attempt, we noticed that the manifesto of the perpetrator had a lot of Bible references. Between this, the Trump admin's use of the Bible to justify violence, and the new trend of abusive men bringing their bibles to court, we wanted to speak on violence, nonviolence, and where Jesus fits in all of it.

Show Notes:

- The manifesto: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXpoVeOE5sk/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

- Erica Chenowith: Why Civil Resistance Works: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/why-civil-resistance-works-the-strategic-logic-of-nonviolent-conflict_erica-chenoweth_maria-j-stephan/3292394/item/26513110/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_new_condition_books_high_14637440387&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=545679999522&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=14637440387&gbraid=0AAAAADwY45iwsuDihZsb4ADJDPDwD0CZ9&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2MbPBhCSARIsAP3jP9x1VoRUqR9jDTeQ2xRir0ZN09Cf_5On32MExb4wmliEsdsHv36JDWkaArFxEALw_wcB#idiq=26513110&edition=7970609

- Russell Brand can't find a passage in the bible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QCIqF7K3lE

- Gerlyn Henry on the abusive man to Christian pipeline: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVjLmdzDSEC/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

- Guatemala stops oil drilling in the Maya Biosphere Reserve: https://peterschulte.org/good-news/guatemala-maya-forest-rewilding-oil-fields/

- Rhinos Return to Uganda: https://peterschulte.org/good-news/uganda-rhino-reintroduction-wild-kidep

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

87: Building Leftist Christianity in Dying Empires with Jonty Langley from Shibboleth Magazine

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 03:00:00 -0700

As Americans, we tend to focus a lot on an American perspective - so this week, we are blessed to be joined by a friend who is helping to provide a wider angle! Jonty Langley is co-host and founder of the Beer Christianity podcast, as well as editor of S(h)ibboleth Magazine. Jonty joined us from across the pond to talk about The American Imperial Boomerang, how leftism and Christianity intertwine, and what to understand about America's role in the wider world.

Show Notes: - AOC Quote: "I thought that fascist takeover attempts were going to be architected by evil geniuses. I was not expecting how unearned, nepotistic, mediocre and just dumb so many of the people architecting this were going to be" - Shibboleth Magazine: https://shibbolethmag.com/ - Beer Christianity Podcast: https://www.beerchristianity.co.uk/ - Hope Without Optimism: Terry Eagleton https://www.upress.virginia.edu/title/4948/ - Greenbelt Festival- https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/ - The North Sea Energy Network: https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/north-sea-states-aim-worlds-largest-energy-hub-major-offshore-wind-investment-plan

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

86: Trump Is Fighting With Pope Leo?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 03:00:00 -0700

This week, the Pope Leo vs. Trump news has been insane. How did this happen in an administration that claims to be deeply Christian and Catholic? We discuss the historical precedent of political popes, the wild escalation of conflict that has happened, and where the theology simply doesn't make sense.

Show Notes: - Hungarian Election: https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/12/world/live-news/hungary-election-orban-magyar - Cardinals Speak Out: https://www.americamagazine.org/news/2026/04/13/us-cardinals-60-minutes-trump/ - Our "Biblical vs. Christian" episode: https://youtu.be/MqJgG5JXDiM - Belle Hooks Communion: https://bookshop.org/p/books/communion-the-female-search-for-love-bell-hooks/f218116ab5383b77?ean=9780060938291&next=t - Belle Hooks "Appalachian Elegy": https://bookshop.org/p/books/appalachian-elegy-poetry-and-place-bell-hooks/9bfc4384a9d46ab6?ean=9780813136691&next=t - Pope's Plane: https://cruxnow.com/church/2015/09/fun-facts-and-more-about-life-aboard-the-papal-plane

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

85: The Real Reasons Evangelical Pastors Compare Trump To Jesus

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 03:00:00 -0700

We've got the whole team back for this one! As you may have heard, this week Paula White likened Trump to Jesus (we know, right?). This outrageous statement sparked so much backlash from Christians, it was impossible for us to miss. This week, we don't just want to talk about her words, but WHY Evangelicals find it so important to do something so explicitly blasphemous.

We also want to take this holy week to do some theological construction - where does Easter land in all this chaos? How can we use this time of spiritual rebirth as Progressive Christians? We hope this episode brings you some joy in these trying, yet holy, times.

Show Notes: - Paula White Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iHjbG3jtHM (1:47-2:48 (end of the video)) - Artemis Mission Names Craters: https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2026/04/06/artemis-ii-nasa-astronaut-names-moon-crater-for-late-wife/89488427007/ - Mamdani's Real Cost of Living Plan: https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/04/mayor-mamdani-releases-preliminary-citywide-racial-equity-plan-a

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

84: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Reconstructing Progressive Christianity with Joe Smith

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 03:00:00 -0700

We are thrilled to be joined by Pastor Joe Smith this week! We originally found Joe because of his work on Instagram, and quickly realized that his work combating White Christian Nationalism is essential to the work of Progressive Christianity.

We had Joe on to discuss his journey as an Exvangelical pastor, his thoughts about the state of American Christian Nationalism, and how we can move forward with bringing the message of a homeless Palestinian socialist to the people who refuse to hear it.

Show Notes: Find Joe - https://www.instagram.com/therealjoe.smith/ The Slippery Slope - https://slipperyslope.shop/ Homeowner calls ICE - https://uk.news.yahoo.com/maryland-homeowner-accused-calling-aiding-181658420.html No Kings Protests - https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/03/28/no-kings-protests-marches-record-turnout/ The passage on the Syrophoenician woman - https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Mark%207:24%E2%80%9330&version=nrsv Dr Carter preaches on the Syrophoenician woman - https://theloftla.libsyn.com/loft-gathering-breaking-the-patriarchal-reading-of-the-bible

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

The Questions That Linger After Deconstruction - A Bonus Episode of Special Listener Questions!

The Progressive Christians — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 03:00:00 -0700

We've been promising bonus content… Here it is!

We were inspired to make this episode by Rev. Katie with the Young Adult group at Hyde Park Community UMC in Cincinnati, Ohio, who reached out to tell us they had been using our podcasts for some of their lessons. In honor of how much this means to us, this episode is dedicated to all of them! They wrote us some great questions that they've been dealing with while trying to deconstruct and reconstruct their Christianity into something that more closely mirrors Jesus. Please join us on this fun, less formal dive into our personal beliefs on some of the most difficult Progressive Christian topics.

Show Notes: - This is the episode playlist that Rev. Kate Smith used with the young adult group:

28: Do Progressive Christians Believe in the Bible? 29: What is Sin and Why Do Most Conservatives Get it Wrong? 36: Failing the Group Project: The Problem with Evil with Dr. Becky Copeland 19: What Do Progressives Believe About Evangelism? 34: What Do Progressive Christians Believe About Salvation? 23: Women, Patriarchy, and the Bible with Claire McKeever-Burgett 3: What does progressive Christian masculinity look like 27: Sex, Gender, and Christian Theology 54: I Was a Christian Nationalist and Didn't Know It w/ April Ajoy 47: Debunking MAGA's Biblical Argument Against a Government Social Safety Net 38: How Do We Hold On to Hope in Times of Crisis? 40: Why Are You (Still) A Christian?

- Dr. Prathia Hall Biography: https://www.ugapress.org/9780820361710/freedom-faith/ - Dr Prathia Hall Sermons: https://herringbonebooks.indielite.org/book/9780820361772 - Elephant Seals: https://news.mongabay.com/2026/02/southern-elephant-seals-recover-in-southern-africa-but-global-picture-is-mixed/ - UK Geothermal Power: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cewzg77k721o

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

83: Teens Tracking ICE: Confronting Trump's Deportation Reality

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:06:00 -0700

When the Trump administration began its immigration crackdown in Chicago, teenage brothers Ben and Sam Luhmann became a part of a rapid-response network of volunteers that documents ICE raids and assists families of those detained in the arrests. In the first half of this episode we talk with Ben and Sam about their activism and the role that their Christian faith played in inspiring them to put their faith into action. Then we chat with their mother Audrey and discuss how their faith journey and growing awareness of injustice led them all to reimagine what it means to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Show Notes: - "Teens Tracking Ice" News Coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yKSgM0G1xQ https://www.wbez.org/immigration/2026/01/31/suburban-teen-brothers-on-ice-watch-in-minneapolis-this-is-nothing-like-chicago-this-is-so-much-worse https://religionnews.com/2025/11/25/how-one-conservative-christian-family-is-pushing-back-against-ice/ - Audrey's Social Media: https://x.com/LuhmannAudrey https://www.instagram.com/audreyluhmann/ - Caste: https://www.isabelwilkerson.com/ - The Tears of Things https://thetearsofthings.com/ - EU bans destroying unsold clothes: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/new-eu-rules-stop-destruction-unsold-clothes-and-shoes-2026-02-09_en

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

82: The Political Underside of Contemporary Christian Music with Leah Payne

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0700

If you grew up in certain Christian circles, there is a specific type of music that we all know by heart. But why? Where did it come from? What messages might have been hidden inside this music? This week, we meet with Dr. Leah Payne, author of "God Gave Rock and Roll to You," to discuss the surprisingly long, dark, and conservative history of our modern "Contemporary Christian Music" genre.

Show Notes: - Leah's website: https://www.drleahpayne.com/ - God Gave Rock and Roll To You: https://www.drleahpayne.com/god-gave-rock-and-roll - Ireland's UBI for Artists: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yv389dnk5o - Former Inmate Buys Prison: https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/former-inmate-buys-prison

We have a Substack! Check us out here: https://substack.com/@theprogressivechristians?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

81: Progressive Christians Weigh In On THE OSCARS

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0700

We just launched the Love Your Neighbor Newsletter on Substack! Scroll down for more info!

As if we didn't mention it enough, here is your periodic reminder that we are based in Los Angeles, California... And the Oscars are this week! This year, themes of faith and Christianity were huge for the biggest nominees. Julia and Blair, our most movie-connected hosts, invited some filmmakers from our congregation to have a passionate discussion about movies, faith, and these best picture nominees in particular. (spoiler alert: we're OBSESSED with Sinners!)

Also, for real spoiler alert: there will be spoilers.

The first edition of the Love Your Neighbor Newsletter drops on Saturday, March 14th! The Love Your Neighbor newsletter is an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro/ Our connection to The Movies 14:00 - New Rules 18:50 - General Thoughts On This Year 30:30 - Break

Show Notes: - Oscars new rules: https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/oscar-voters-academy-email-honor-system-watching-movies-rcna243328 - The Oscars: https://www.oscars.org/ - Separation of Church and Hate: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Separation-of-Church-and-Hate/John-Fugelsang/9781668066898 - Support our work! https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

80: Transitioning out of Evangelical Christianity into Progressive Politics with Johanna Whaley

The Progressive Christians — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 16:57:00 -0800

A lot of times we discuss the disturbing rise of MAGA Christian Nationalism on this podcast - but today, we are featuring a progressive politician that has literally flipped that narrative. Joanna Whaley was formerly a conservative evangelical pastor, but had a spiritual journey that culminated in a bid for Michigan State Representative - where she could be the first openly transgender representative in Michigan's history.

How does a story like this unfold? How did Joanna's religious experience lead her to run for office? What does she stand for, and how would she represent the people of Michigan? Find out all that and more in this very special episode!

(And for Michiganders - make sure you're registered to vote for your August 4th primary!)

Show Notes: - Support Joanna - https://www.joannawhaley.com/ - Joanna's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joannawhaleyofficial/ - Joanna's Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannawhaleyofficial/ - Joanna's TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@joannawhaleyofficial - Huffington Post article about Military and end times prophecy - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/troops-being-told-to-prepare-for-armageddon-in-iran_n_69a6ffe3e4b076ac5d63c82c - FedEx class action lawsuit - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fedex-tariff-refunds-lawsuit-consumers/ - Ticketmaster lawsuit - https://apnews.com/article/live-nation-ticketmaster-antitrust-trial-ecfd6cb3e77459412584ed002653bc8f

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

79: The Real Reasons LENT is So Important

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0800

It's the beginning of the Lenten season! Dr. Carter is gone, so Everest is leading us on a journey through the history of Lent all the way to the modern political implications of the holiday. Join us for an especially meditative and spiritual episode of exploring discipline, tradition, and why we practice Christianity the way we do.

Show Notes: - A brief history of lent: https://groundworkonline.com/blog/a-short-version-of-the-long-history-of-lent - American women break Olympic record: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/record-setting-winter-olympics-6-152329010.html

78: Liberation Theology? What You Actually Need To Know

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0800

There's been a lot of talk about "deconstruction" in Progressive Christian circles, but we've been hearing that y'all want more talk of "constructing" beliefs. A major philosophy that serves as constructive for many Progressive Christians is known as Liberation Theology. Stemming from marginalized communities in the Americas, Liberation Theology focuses on Jesus' teachings on "the least of these."

Join us for a fun, educational breakdown of this philosophy! We discuss the many origins, the biblical basis, the ways it has been modernized, and even some criticisms of Liberation Theology.

And don't forget to let us know what you think!

Show Notes: - Trump's approval ratings: https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/article/poll-trumps-approval-rating-hits-new-low-as-immigration-backlash-grows-and-ice-withdraws-from-minnesota-204723473.html - Michigan's lawsuit against Big Oil: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/05/michigan-oil-climate-crisis-energy-cost - The Kristi Noem Plane Stuff: https://www.thedailybeast.com/ice-barbies-mile-high-privacy-with-alleged-lover-exposed/ - The Marxist Roots of Black Liberation Theology: https://www.acton.org/pub/commentary/2008/04/02/marxist-roots-black-liberation-theology - What is Black Liberation Theology (bad): https://www.gotquestions.org/black-liberation-theology.html - Gustavo Gutierrez - A Theology of Liberation - James Cone - A Black Theology of Liberation - Cover Art: Jesus of the People by Janet Mckenzie - https://janetmckenzie.com/joppage1.html

77: MAGA's Christian Nationalist Plan for Women

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0800

Project 2025 was all over the news when Trump was first elected. But now that we're a year in - what about Project 2026? The Heritage Foundation hasn't released an official "Project 2026," but they have put out their political priorities for the year, and they look about as bad as you would expect.

This episode, we go through all nine of them, and focus on the ways that the Trump administration is coming after women. From attacking voting rights, to medical autonomy, to trying to force women to be nothing but baby incubators - it's no doubt that they are looking to strip women of their rights in this country. The Heritage Foundation is obsessed with this idea of "The American Family," and in their pursuit of forced conformity to this idea, women and queer people are their first targets.

Show Notes: Rebecca Copeland Entangled Being - https://www.baylorpress.com/9781481321426/entangled-being/ Marriage Improves Men's Health Outcomes - https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/marriage-and-mens-health Marriage Reduces Health Outcomes for Women - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5397241/ Women Lose Earning potential by becoming mothers - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4041155/ Empowered Women Can Transform the World's Poorest Communities - https://time.com/collections/time100-voices/7016128/women-uplift-poorest-communities/ Bad Bunny's Halftime Show numbers - https://www.thebiglead.com/most-watched-super-bowl-halftime-shows-bad-bunny-v/ NASA was saved by grassroots campaigns - https://www.planetary.org/articles/advocacy-success-fy2026-nasa-budget NASA source #2 - https://www.astronomy.com/science/congress-passes-nasa-budget-rejects-trump-cuts/ The Heritage Foundation issues a report on "America's Family Crisis." - https://michiganindependent.com/politics/heritage-foundation-report-families-marriage-education-infertility-fetal-personhood/#:~:text='%E2%80%9D,for%20women%20than%20for%20men.%E2%80%9D The Heritage Foundation Wants to Send Women Back a Century - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/opinion/heritage-foundation-women.html#:~:text=The%20report's%20authors%20know%20they,children%20reared%20primarily%20at%20home.%E2%80%9D The Christian Nationalist Plot to Disenfranchise Women Voters - https://newrepublic.com/article/191420/christian-nationalism-save-act-voter-suppression

76: Progressive Christian Parenting Meets Fascist Reality

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0800

The massive political polarization of today can make fighting for change seem impossible, but there is an extra layer when you're someone responsible for kids. This week, our friend Claire McKeever-Burgett returns to discuss parenting in our Fascist reality. We discuss children's radically empathetic nature, ways to help them (and you) find their place in the resistance, and the importance of keeping an open mind - especially in the last places you would think. This episode is for everyone, not just parents. As Blair says: "everyone is in relationship with children, because children are a part of society." Take a load off and rest with us, knowing you're not alone in this journey.

Support our work here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

Show Notes: - Claire's website: https://www.clairemckeeverburgett.com/ - Claire's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairemckeeverburgett/ - Claire's Substack: https://clairemckeeverburgett.substack.com/ - Spain approves legal pathway for 500,000 immigrants to gain residency https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62n6gw1dp9o - Revolutionary therapy treats "untreatable" blood cancer: "A few years ago this would have been science fiction." https://www.positive.news/society/revolutionary-therapy-treats-untreatable-blood-cancer/ - California court hears two cases to protect kids from the effects of social media: https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2026/01/social-media-addiction-suits-in-california/

75: Alex Pretti & Radical Community in Minneapolis

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:08:00 -0800

We have all been flooded with the horrifying stories out of Minnesota recently. This week, we discuss Alex Pretti and the children who have been kidnapped, along with some of the incredible stories of resistance and community from Minneapolis. Join us to rage, cry, grieve, hope, and plan. And remember, in a world full of evil - Be Good.

Show Notes:

Anti-trans riders COMPLETELY removed from final house appropriations bill. Everyone say thank you Sarah!!!

https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/anti-transgender-provisions-stripped

Judge threatens contempt ruling to ICE head: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/27/ice-chief-todd-lyons-minnesota-court-contempt.html
Minnesota Superintendent comments: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/they-are-circling-our-schools-superintendent-says-after-5-year-old-detained-by-ice
Hatred as Numbness, Listener Ben's Substack: https://substack.com/home/post/p-185636768
John Abernathy's story and photography: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/throwing-camera-thing-photographers-behind-140000257.html
People killed by ICE in 2026: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/27/us-witnessed-many-ice-related-deaths-in-2026-here-are-their-stories
"Jesus Saves" Picture: https://calendar.eji.org/racial-injustice/apr/7
Ground News: https://ground.news/
Our "they like the lying" episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1EJZsATPo8rPramZmOJSLw?si=CDGjRT9USEG2dfxzb1-8Xg
Our empathy episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UeVUgafrOQRskCVcFjF0l?si=f69648c9ede44d32

74: Our First Ever Q+A!

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:56:00 -0800

You've asked for it, and it's here! Our first ever Q+A! But first, we have a big announcement. We have decided to adopt a donation (rather than subscription) model to support the podcast. You can find more information about how to support the podcast further down in the show notes!

This episode is quite out of the ordinary for our podcast, and we tried to keep it very light and fun.

Potential topics include: Our views on Heaven and Hell, our favorite (and least favorite) movies and TV shows, why we are Methodists, what the best place in the world to live is, what a Progressive Christian is, our most controversial hot takes, our thoughts on substitutionary atonement, and Dr. Carter's ADHD.

Thank you so much to everyone who wrote in with questions! If we didn't get to your question, it's probably because it was too meaty for a Q+A and we would like to save it for a full episode. It's the downside of having such wise and insightful listeners! Please comment below to further burden us with this terrible curse <3

Please sign up to be a monthly supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! A one-time donation would be great, or you could sign up to be a monthly supporter. We don't want to deny anyone access to the great content we plan to create, but we need your support to continue and hopefully grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

Show Notes:

Our salvation episode: (episode 34) https://open.spotify.com/episode/2XGSDmaS2k12ni1Cuo0T4I?si=e2e71af3c1884f80
Our episode about reading the Bible: (episode 28) https://open.spotify.com/episode/70u494d2LLgXRu2jNsTzKe?si=933a9d2e12bb4e81
Our episode about being sinful: (episode 29) https://open.spotify.com/episode/3u7TleMsTrtB6vpV1mnTyN?si=7ffc4307d2f4426c
GOOD NEWS: Education Department dropping their lawsuit against universities with "DEI:" Education Department drops appeal over anti-DEI funding threats | AP News
Donate here to support our work: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

73: Renee Nicole Good, And How Just War Theory Makes Room For Christian Authoritarianism

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0800

Only two weeks into 2026, things already feel overwhelming and out of control. In this episode, we discuss how the conservative evangelical understanding of sin as a failure to be obedient to authority figures is being weaponized to justify the shooting of Renee Nicole Good and ICE's violent treatment of protestors and innocent bystanders. Through the lens of the Just War Theory, we try to understand the mindset that allows someone to justify - and even champion - the murder of this young poet.

- Ice Shootings Tracker: https://www.thetrace.org/2025/12/immigration-ice-shootings-guns-tracker/

- White Property, Black Trespass by Andrew Krinks: https://nyupress.org/9781479823857/white-property-black-trespass/

- Just War Principles: https://www2.bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/materials/engl/Bessho/Summer05/101/PrinciplesJustWar.htm

- Mamdani Supporting Universal Childcare: https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/01/mayor-mamdani---governor-hochul-to-launch-free-child-care-for-tw

- Renee Good's Award Winning Poem: https://poets.org/2020-on-learning-to-dissect-fetal-pigs

- The lack of training these ICE agents have: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15345295/ICE-campaign-hire-deportation-officers-unfit-violent-illiterate.html

- Legal refresher sent out to ICE agents after Renee Nicole Good's murder: http://youtube.com/post/UgkxPNe-FPJUxRR5RHd0lkwHJEDyKYtyNTFS?si=QjFdGoCJ-gsorYIs

- The murder of James Reeb (CORRECTION: NOT EUGENE DEBS. They both just have funny last names): https://www.npr.org/2019/04/30/718647599/the-murder-of-the-rev-james-reeb

- White Lies Podcast - True Crime podcast about the death of James Reeb. In 1965, Rev. James Reeb — a Unitarian minister and civil-rights activist — was killed during the voting rights movement in Selma. After three men were tried and acquitted for his murder, the city's white community buried the truth. More than 50 years later, two native Alabamians return to Selma to uncover the truth about who killed James Reeb, and to delve into the systems of oppression and violence that allowed it to happen: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp-wXwmbv3z8HO5FT1SGJrwCU19qWdSn-

72: Is Being Biblical The Same As Being Christian?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 01:00:00 -0800

Christians should not believe IN the bible, we are called to believe in the living God revealed to us THROUGH the bible.

This week, we're releasing a special video minisode to celebrate the New Year (and let our hosts take a vacation)! Join Dr. Carter for a discussion on the similarities - and differences - between being "Biblical" and being "Christian." Is following and/or doing what you believe the bible tells you to do, enough to call an action or policy, or a position on a social subject, Christian?

Remember, the devil can quote the Bible.

Time is seriously running out (we mean it this time) to ask us your questions for the Q+A! Comment below, and feel free to ask anything on your mind - not just biblical questions!

71: Is Artificial Intelligence ANTI Christian?

The Progressive Christians — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 08:53:00 -0800

Time is running out to submit your questions for the Q&A! Comment below or email us to have your questions answered. We encourage silly and personal questions too, not exclusively "serious" or "theological" ones!

This week, we continue our discussion from last week about Artificial Intelligence. In our previous episode, we focused more on the material impacts of AI. This week, we shifted to a more spiritual and metaphorical investigation. We also addressed Everest's original question - is AI ANTI CHRISTIAN? Don't worry, we make sure to look at all angles, and even end with some good news.

CORRECTION: THE "FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT" HOME WE DISCUSSED IS ACTUALLY A "ZIMMERMAN" HOME

Show notes:

70: How Should Christians Feel About Artificial Intelligence?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:16:00 -0800

Have y'all heard about this crazy new thing called Artificial Intelligence? Just kidding, of course you have - it's been impossible to avoid for the last few years. Our co-host Everest felt inspired to talk about the ethics of AI because of a discussion they led during Sunday School a few weeks ago, and oh boy, did we get into it - so much that we had to split the episode into two parts!

This week, we tackle the more "worldly" concerns - AI's impact on ecosystems, people's neighborhoods, people's livelihoods, copyright, education, and the way that AI can change our brains. The ethics of how we use new tools are essential, and we try to approach them with a nuanced yet decidedly Progressive Christian approach.

Next week, we are going to dive into Everest's argument that AI is anti-creation, and possibly even ANTI-CHRISTIAN!?

Show Notes

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/16/politics/candace-owens-erika-kirk-podcast
AI Figures Out Protein Folding- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/one-of-the-biggest-problems-in-biology-has-finally-been-solved/
https://substack.perfectunion.us/p/how-data-centers-are-driving-up-your
More Perfect Union Data Centers Video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGjj7wDYaiI
More Perfect Union Data Centers Danger- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN6BEUA4jNU
Data Center Report from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy- https://www.lincolninst.edu/publications/land-lines-magazine/articles/land-water-impacts-data-centers/
https://www.seroundtable.com/chatgpt-google-aio-sources-39578.html#:~:text=Barry%20Schwartz%20/%20Executive%20Editor,Forum%20discussion%20at%20X.

69: How To Survive A Conservative Family Christmas

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:44:00 -0800

This episode goes out to everyone who is feeling anxious about going home for the holidays this week. We get you, and we are you! Here are our thoughts on how to handle toxic family dynamics and ideally improve family communication on contentious topics. We discuss the cognitive dissonance around loving people who hate you, how to stay in community and conversation with them, and even break down specific techniques for the types of conversations you might be having. We finish with a sample conversation and getting to the root of what causes all this tension in the first place, and how to take care of yourself in the middle of it.

We love you guys, Jesus loves you guys, and you got this.

Don't forget to leave a comment or email us for the upcoming Q+A!

Show Notes

68: Samantha Fulnecky, Transphobia, & The Conservative Christian Grift

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:18:00 -0800

On this week's episode, we wanted to talk about some of the current stressors on our queer listeners. We discuss the Oklahoma University "bible essay" situation with Samantha Fulnecky, and the way that Conservative Christian grifters use the bible to leverage hatred for profit. We answer listener questions on how to talk to family members with regressive social views during the holidays. Finally, we talk to our queer listeners and make sure everyone in our community knows how beloved they are. And, as a bonus - this episode has all of the podcast super friends!

Show Notes:

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/04/sport/soccer-world-cup-peace-prize-trump-intl
Assignment criteria: https://archive.is/Iiocy
The Paper Itself: https://archive.is/2Rog1
The TA and Teacher's Notes: https://archive.is/LT0r1
Media Strategy of the Fulnecky women: https://www.readtpa.com/p/same-script-different-target?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share
https://religionnews.com/2025/12/04/oklahoma-university-instructor-on-leave-after-failing-bible-based-essay-on-gender/
https://religionnews.com/2025/12/08/was-a-university-of-oklahoma-teacher-unjustly-punished-for-anti-christian-bias/
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thegodarticle/2011/10/clobbering-biblical-gay-bashing/

67: What Does Progressive Christianity Look Like in a Conservative Area? (with Pastor Ben Stringer)

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:26:00 -0800

In today's episode, Rev. Blair and Rev. Dr. Carter talk with Ben Stringer - an attorney and pastor in Springfield, Missouri. In 2024, Trump won Missouri with almost 20% over Harris. Though Springfield is often referred to as "having a church on every street," Progressive Christianity has often struggled to find advocates in the area.

We talk with Stringer about his experience growing up in a Conservative Baptist family, becoming a Civil Rights Lawyer to live out his calling as a Christian, how the courts are being used to help and hurt people in this turbulent time, and how he eventually heard the call to go into ministry late in his career. In this episode, Ben challenges us on how to define ministry, especially when living in a politically hostile environment. We also discuss how to be an authentic, effective advocate for Jesus' teachings in a world that tells us to do exactly the opposite (often, in the name of "Christianity").

This episode is dedicated to all of our red area listeners out there - we see you, we hear you, and you are not alone.

66: Can Christians Embrace Socialism?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 12:07:00 -0800

If you're a Christian and you're American, you've probably been taught that socialism is unbiblical. That capitalism is God's chosen economic system. That Jesus would be against redistributing wealth, and the early church in the book of Acts was nothing more than a group of friends sharing their stuff. The election of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani and Rev. Blair's viral TikTok in response to Mamdani's election, which appeared on Jesse Watters' nightly Fox News show, prompted us to ask: Should Christians be socialist? Are Christian ethics really at odds with socialism? Or have many of us been taught a version of Christianity that was blended with modern conservative political and economic ideologies that have little to do with the radical call of Jesus Christ? Digging into the bible, we question the idea of capitalism as God's chosen system, offering a different perspective on socialism explained through the lens of Christianity and faith.

Show Notes:

Dead Internet Theory Def - https://www.vice.com/en/article/dead-internet-theory-is-back-thanks-to-all-of-that-ai-slop/
What Makes Us Free- Throughline on NPR https://www.npr.org/2025/07/10/1255443727/what-makes-us-free-07-10-2025
Parable of the Talents- Matthew 25:14-30
Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard- Matthew 20:1-16
Sharing things in Common Acts 2:44-47
Ananais and Sapphira Acts 5:1-11
Working for Bread 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Good Fortune Movie- https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/good_fortune
Leith Ross- I Can See the Future https://leithross.com/
Syrophoenecian Woman- Matthew 15:21-28

65: Is Having Empathy Really A Bad Thing?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 09:36:00 -0800

Conservative figures like podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey and theologian Joe Rigney are leading a campaign against a feeling they consider dangerous and are weaponizing against Christians—empathy. They argue that empathy has been hijacked and can become toxic and sinful. In this episode, we'll explore their distinction between what they call "toxic empathy" and "biblical compassion." We analyze their arguments, their use of the Bible, and how they overlook the teachings and ministry of Jesus to justify their claims. Ultimately, the conservative opposition to empathy helps explain some of the cruelty emerging from the Trump administration and their willingness to starve women and children to make a political point.

Show Notes

64: What is JD Vance's Christian Nationalist Vision?

The Progressive Christians — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 01:21:00 -0800

Vice President JD Vance wants to be the next leader of the MAGA movement. Speaking during a recent Turning Point USA event at Ole Miss, he cast a vision for America that blends Christian Nationalism, white supremacy, and conservative populism. In this episode, we discuss Vance's beliefs about immigration, how his wife, Usha Vance, got caught up in the rhetoric, and how Pope Francis and Pope Leo offer a very different Roman Catholic perspective on how we are to love our immigrant neighbors.

Show Notes

63: The Dangerous Rise of Christian Nationalism in the Military

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:34:00 -0700

This is the second episode in a three-part series on Christian Nationalism and its role in Donald Trump's White House. In this episode, we discuss Pete Hegseth and how his theology is influencing the Department of Defense. Hegseth was affiliated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) in Nashville before his appointment, and he has stated that he affirms the teachings of Doug Wilson, a pastor and co-founder of the CREC. Wilson openly endorses Christian Nationalism and believes that America, and indeed the entire world, should be governed by biblical principles—specifically, his own interpretation of those principles.

Show Notes

62: Christian Nationalism & Its Role in Shaping America's Politics

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 13:03:00 -0700

This is the first of a three-episode series on Christian nationalism and its influence in Donald Trump's White House. In this episode, we define Christian Nationalism and describe how Christian Nationalists use religion to shape American politics. We specifically discuss the impact of Stephen Miller and Russ Vought and how their policies on immigration, border protection, the government shutdown, and public services cannot, in good faith, be called Christian.

Show Notes

Southern Poverty Law Center Profile of Stephen Miller https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/stephen-miller/
The Top 5 Most Awful Things You Need To Know About Stephen Miller https://www.commoncause.org/articles/top-5-most-awful-things-you-need-to-know-about-stephen-miller/
What You Should Know About Russ Vought, Trump's Shadow President https://www.propublica.org/article/about-russell-vought-trump-shadow-president#:~:text=1.,Hill%20colleague%20of%20Vought's%20said.
The Shadow President https://www.propublica.org/article/russ-vought-trump-shadow-president-omb

61: What Happens to the Forgotten Women of the BIBLE?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:25:00 -0700

In this episode, we are joined by Claire McKeever-Burgett, author of In the Beginning Were the Women, to explore some of the well-known and lesser-known women in the Bible. From the mystics to the brave to the misunderstood and overlooked, these women played essential roles in their communities and our faith tradition. Throughout our conversation, you will gain a deeper understanding of how these stories are relevant to our lives today.

Show Notes:

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on YouTube and all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

60: What Are The TOP 5 Myths About Progressive Christianity?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:52:00 -0700

"A Progressive Christian is an oxymoron" is probably the most popular (simple-minded and incorrect) critique that we receive from people trolling our YouTube comments and Apple Music reviews. Given the frequency of the comments, we figured that our amazing listeners probably hear the same comments from people in their own community. So, in this episode, we address five common myths about progressive Christianity. From the bible, to sin and salvation, we wanted to bring some clarity to the conversation.

We have discussed a lot of these topics already, and we have listed each myth and the corresponding episode title where we discussed it below. Please click here to find links to our previous episodes.

Myth 1 - Progressive Christians don't believe in the bible.
- Episode 28 - Do Progressive Christians Believe In The Bible?
Myth 3 - Progressive Christians don't believe in sin.
- Episode 29 - What Is Sin?
- Episode 36 - The Problem of Evil with Dr. Becky Copeland.
Myth 4 - Progressive Christians don't believe in "real" salvation.
- Episode 34 - What Do Progressive Christians Believe About Salvation?
- Episode 56 - Beyond the "Thin Blue Line": Exposing The Religious Roots of Mass Incarceration.
Myth 5 - Progressive theology was created to normalize sinful behavior.
- Episode 27 - Sex, Gender, and Christian Theology

59: Purity, Shame, and Its Impact On A Generation of Christians

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 07:04:00 -0700

Join us as we delve into a nuanced discussion on purity, shame, and "biblical" marriage—topics often surrounded by controversy and misinformation, especially within traditional religious circles. Using the perspectives of liberation, feminist, and womanist theologies, we analyze how religion, economics, and politics have always intertwined, shaping our views on purity, marriage, and divorce.

As progressive Christians, we aim to approach this conversation with empathy and understanding, acknowledging the damage that shame and judgment can cause to individuals, particularly women and members of the LGBTQ community. Whether you're seeking to unlearn purity culture, engage in conversations with conservative friends, or are simply curious about progressive Christian perspectives on intimacy, this episode is for you.

Show Notes

Clobbering Biblical Gay Bashing https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thegodarticle/2011/10/clobbering-biblical-gay-bashing/
Just Love- Margaret Farley https://www.google.com/books/edition/Just_Love/L6p9ZVblRNwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
The Purity Myth- Jessica Valenti https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Purity_Myth/rQ10AIsHNa4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
Clobbering Biblical Gay Bashing by Mark Sandlin https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thegodarticle/2011/10/clobbering-biblical-gay-bashing/
Biblical Perspectives on Homosexuality by Walter Wink https://reconcilingworks.org/images/stories/downloads/resources/003_Homosexuality_and_the_Bible-Wink.pdf
The Great Sex Rescue- by Sheila Wray Gregoire https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Great_Sex_Rescue/x2caEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover

58: What Makes People LEAVE the Church and Then Return?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700

In this episode, we explore the complex factors that lead individuals to depart from their faith communities and the experiences and desires that ultimately bring them back. We explain why progressive Churches are well-equipped to meet the needs of people who are searching for an authentic faith community that engages the social and political realities of our time. We close out the show by answering questions from listeners on gender roles and progressive views of the afterlife.

57: Maybe This Is Who We Are? A Conversation on Violence, Trauma, and Faith

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700

In a society saturated with violence, how do we, as Christians, process ongoing trauma? In this important yet heavy episode, we explore the concept of moral injury with insights from a combat veteran. We confront the dangerous "myth of redemptive violence," examining how it normalizes harm in our culture and even in our faith. This discussion offers an honest look at the widespread trauma we all carry, from personal experiences to the psychological violence caused by living in a culture of misinformation, disinformation, and outright lies

Show Notes

https://benqohelet.substack.com/about
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ethics-and-international-affairs/article/moral-injury-and-the-lived-experience-of-political-violence/DB2C6314078D608514FD78F046F6B1A8

56: Beyond the "Thin Blue Line": Exposing the Religious Roots of Mass Incarceration

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Listener Survey! Please take 5 minutes to complete our listener survey, and help us to keep creating the content that you want.

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In this episode, we examine the connection between faith, justice, and the American carceral system with Dr. Andrew Krinks, author of "White Property, Black Trespass." Dr. Krinks discusses the religious, social, and political roots of mass incarceration and how Christian ideas of sin, salvation, and hell have contributed to mass criminalization in the U.S. We finish our conversation by exploring the spiritual and biblical foundations of abolition, the role of religion in justice, practical ways to challenge the carceral system, and how Christians can imagine a world beyond prisons.

55: Cruelty Disguised As Christianity? Examining The Legacy of James Dobson

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Listener Survey! Please take 5 minutes to complete our listener survey, and help us to keep creating the content that you want.

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Dr. James Dobson's death triggered an onslaught of social, digital, and print media reflections. While some mourned his death, most of the reflections were about the traumatic impact of their parents following his advice, which encouraged practices such as corporal punishment and queer "conversion therapy." In this episode we explore the legacy of James Dobson, Focus On The Family, and how a generation of children raised under Dobson-like rules are finding healing and parenting differently.

Show Notes

https://atoday.org/bitter-fruit-reflecting-on-the-legacy-of-james-dobson/
https://sojo.net/articles/opinion/5-times-we-disagreed-james-dobson
https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/focusing-on-the-family-james-dobson-propel-evangelicals-into-politics/
https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/alliance-defending-freedom/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCAuHH5EYnE

54: I Was A Christian Nationalist & Didn't Know It w/ April Ajoy

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Have you ever wondered what motivates someone to become a Christian Nationalist and what it takes to recognize you're not truly practicing the teachings of Jesus and to leave high-control religion? Then this episode is just for you! We were joined by April Ajoy, author of Star Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith, for a compelling discussion about her book, her role in the Amazon documentary Shiny, Happy People, and how we can help guide people who are questioning out of Christian Nationalism.

Click on the link below to learn more about April's work, her podcast "The Tim & April Show," and to purchase her book!

https://linktr.ee/aprilajoy

The Progressive Christians Podcast - Trailer

The Progressive Christians — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 15:38:00 -0700

The Progressive Christians Podcast - New Episodes Available Every Friday - On All Platforms

We're the love your neighbor kind of Christians, not the storm the capitol kind. So, if you're curious about what a socially and politically progressive Christianity looks like, this podcast is for you! In each episode, we discuss politics, pop culture, and anything else we find interesting from the perspective of progressive Christianity.

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church.

53: Seeing Jesus In A Queer Black Woman

The Progressive Christians — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0700

Cynthia Erivo's portrayal of Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Hollywood Bowl has been widely praised as powerful, transcendent, and unsurprisingly criticized by religious conservatives. How could a woman, and especially a Black queer woman, play the role of Jesus? Julia, Rev. Blair, and Everest were in attendance on opening night. In this episode, we discuss Erivo's performance, the role of art in unsettling assumptions and critiquing power, and what it means to see the spark of the Divine in all of us. We end the episode by celebrating the one-year anniversary of our podcast.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make this first year a success! We are excited about our future as we aim to create the best progressive theological podcast that you can find.

Show Notes

52: Israel, Gaza, & The Political Theology of Collective Punishment

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 04:32:00 -0700

Are you struggling to reconcile your faith with the headlines about the human-made famine that is causing the deaths of innocent civilians in Gaza? You're not alone. All people of good conscience should feel unease. When Jesus wept, it was for the suffering of all humanity. What if we applied that same deep empathy to the heartbreaking crisis unfolding right now? In this episode, we are joined by Rev. Dr. Timothy Murphy, the senior pastor at Plymouth Congregational Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to discuss the war in Gaza, his hunger strike to raise awareness about the famine, and what progressive Christians can do to motivate our elected officials to use their power to get humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

Show Notes

Rev. Dr. Timothy Murphy Bio/Church Website- https://www.plymouthfw.org/staff
Rev. Dr. Murphy's Hunger Strike- https://www.journalgazette.net/local/plymouth-pastors-stage-hunger-strike-to-prompt-israel-to-allow-food-other-aid-into-gaza/article_7f53926e-b15e-479d-9cfc-9c9de6eca0f6.html#:~:text=Plymouth's%20senior%20pastor%20was%20on,last%20two%20weeks%20or%20more.
Orientalism- Edward Said https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/159783/orientalism-by-edward-w-said/
The Hundred Years' War on Palestine- Rashid I. Khalidi https://guardianbookshop.com/the-hundred-years-war-on-palestine-9781781259344/?utm_source=editoriallink&utm_medium=merch&utm_campaign=article
Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn- Daniel Gordis https://www.harpercollins.com/products/israel-daniel-gordis?variant=32122925121570
My Name is Rachel Corrie- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Name_Is_Rachel_Corrie
Marjorie Spiegle- The Dreaded Comparison https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Dreaded_Comparison.html?id=8u_tAAAAMAAJ
Caste- Isabel Wilkerson https://www.nationalbook.org/books/caste-the-origins-of-our-discontents/
The Mathematics of Starvation: How Israel Caused a Famine in Gaza https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/31/the-mathematics-of-starvation-how-israel-caused-a-famine-in-gaza
Zeteo report on starvation (Behind a Paywall): https://zeteo.com/p/61-of-everyone-whos-starved-to-death?utm_source=unread-posts-digest-email&inbox=true&utm_medium=email&triedRedirect=true
https://www.btselem.org/publications/202507_our_genocide
The Israel Lobby and American Foreign Policy- John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374531508/theisraellobbyandusforeignpolicy/
Jewish Voice for Peace- On Antisemitism, Anti-Zionism, and Dangerous Conflation https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/2023/11/09/antisemitism-dangerous/
What Antisemitism? - David Klion on Zeteo (Paywall) https://zeteo.com/p/what-antisemitism-adl-prostrated-musk-trump?utm_source=publication-search
Majority of Israelis Do NOT Support Netenyahu's Actions in Gaza- https://www.timesofisrael.com/72-5-of-israelis-believe-netanyahu-should-take-responsibility-for-oct-7-and-resign/
This American Life Episode with reports from American Doctors in Gaza: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/859/transcript
Institute for Middle East Understanding Explainer on ADL https://imeu.org/article/explainer-the-anti-defamation-league-adl

51: Who Wants To Be A Trad Wife? Deconstructing Gender Roles & Traditional Marriage

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 08:28:00 -0700

What is biblical or traditional marriage, and how have Christian understandings of marriage been shaped by economics, politics, and faith? In this week's episode, we explore the rise of the Trad-Wife phenomenon and shed light on the propaganda that pushes this image of family life as normative. We conclude by re-examining our sacred texts to craft a vision of partnership that honors the sacred worth of human beings and the progressive values of relationality and freedom, without abandoning our faith.

Chapters

0:00 - Intro

1:24 - Responding to Listener Comments

3:29 - The Evolution of "Biblical" Marriage

17:05 - Traditional Values Are Actually Just European Values

29:28 - Trad Wives, White Femininity & "Free" Labor

37:31 - Can Our Relationship With God Be A Model For Marriage

42:27 - A Progressive Vision Of Marriage & Gender Roles

1:00:57 - Closing

Show Notes

Just Love by Margaret Farley https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/just-love-9780826429247/
Betty Bowers Explains Traditional Marriage (Warning: Explicit Language) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFkeKKszXTw
Ballerina Farms Interview- https://www.thetimes.com/magazines/the-sunday-times-magazine/article/meet-the-queen-of-the-trad-wives-and-her-eight-children-plfr50cgk
Young Women's Leadership Summit- https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/turning-point-usa-young-women-leadership-summit-agenda/
Young Conservative Women - https://archive.ph/GvyIK

50: South Park Jesus: Examining Christianity's Broken Public Image

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 16:42:00 -0700

Has Christianity lost its positive public perception? The season premiere of South Park revealed a lot about our current political and religious climate. Their portrayal of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount exposes the hypocrisy that an increasing number of non-religious people see within our tradition. In this week's episode, we discuss the declining public image of Christianity, the role evangelical, conservative, and mainline churches have played in speeding up that decline, and what Christians can do to start changing that perception one relationship at a time.

Show Notes:

Chapters 0:00 - Intro 3:29 - Listener Review, Deconstruction 11:27 - Polling on Public Perception of Christianity 18:48 - South Park's Portrayal of Trump & Jesus 31:50 - Data On Why People Left The Church 35:50 - The Black Church Losing Trust Of The Black Community 39:00 - Progressive Visions For Improving The Image of Christianity 48:00 - Listener Question From Former MAGA Christian on LGBTQ 1:07:47 - Closing

49: The Epstein Files, Trump, & Why This Matters To Conservative Christians

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0700

What if the person you elected president to save the country from a global cabal of child sex-traffickers actually was a part of the cabal? At first glance, this question sounds strange. However, when you consider that a 2022 poll by PRRI revealed that 1 in 5 people and 1 in 4 Republicans believe the QAnon conspiracy theory that the government, media, and financial sector are controlled by a group of Satan-worshipping pedophiles who run a global child sex-trafficking operation, then things begin to make a bit more sense. In this episode, we explore why the Epstein files matter to conservative Christians, how they connect with evangelical purity culture, and how the rapture-like theology of QAnon laid the groundwork for the outrage that we are witnessing.

Please note that we recorded this episode on Wednesday, July 23rd, before it was confirmed that Trump is named in the files in multiple places. We assumed as much, though, to be honest.

Show Notes:

Understanding MAGA's response to the Epstein Files: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8ge16d2y3o
Emily Joy Allison on Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@emilyjoyallison/video/7529523875621784845
Assault Allegations Toward Trump: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/assault-allegations-donald-trump-recapped
Southern Baptist Sexual Offenders List: https://www.npr.org/2022/05/27/1101734793/southern-baptist-sexual-abuse-list-released
Colbert Vs. Trump https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jul/22/stephen-colbert-trump-cbs-bribe
Colbert on Catholic Podcast: The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p9Hx43P5yE
How the QAnon movement entered mainstream politics – and why the silence on Epstein files matters https://theconversation.com/how-the-qanon-movement-entered-mainstream-politics-and-why-the-silence-on-epstein-files-matters-261316

48: How Rapture Theology Influenced The Guadalupe River Flood Response

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 11:14:00 -0700

If you thought the world was ending, how would you spend the last days of your life? While this may be a theoretical question that many of us can use to help discern what we believe are the most essential things in our lives, it is also a very pragmatic question for others. In this episode, we discuss how the eschatological belief in the Rapture has informed our governments' response to the Guadalupe River flood and how they are recruiting people to join ICE.

Show Notes

47: Debunking MAGA's Biblical Argument Against A Government Social Safety Net

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0700

A few weeks ago, at a Bible study on Capitol Hill titled "God's Design for a Societal Safety Net," political conservative and Christian pastor Ralph Drollinger argued that the New Testament never discusses governments helping people. He told the Senators that helping the truly needy is for individuals, then families, then the church, but not the government. With this, he morally justified the suffering of millions as a consequence of passing Trump's new spending bill. In this episode, we discuss how the bill will impact healthcare and immigration, and we explain how the biblical argument used to justify passing it is a perfect example of eisegesis rather than biblical exegesis.

Show Notes

46: A Spirituality of Staying In A Culture Of Leaving

The Progressive Christians — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 23:27:00 -0700

Modern society tells us that we should constantly reinvent ourselves to stay interesting and that we should do whatever it takes to get wherever we want to go. In her book, Here: A Spirituality of Staying in a Culture of Leaving, Lydia Sohn argues for the opposite: stay. Stay and cultivate the immense potential and beauty that currently lies dormant within your circumstances. In this episode, we sit down with Lydia and discuss her book, the necessity of speaking to audiences across faith and spiritual traditions, and how sometimes stability requires a particular type of leaving.

Lydia Sohn is a mom, writer, and United Methodist Pastor currently serving Walnut United Methodist Church. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic and The Christian Century, among others. One of her very first essays, "What Do 90-Somethings Regret Most," received over 700K views, leading it to be one of the top ten most-read essays on Medium.

As a daughter of immigrants who moved to America in search of the American dream (and achieved it), she saw with her own eyes that all can be burned down to begin afresh at any time. But it wasn't until her adult years, after multiple moves and a life of chasing greener pastures, that she began to realize the power of stability and commitment and our miraculous abilities to transform our circumstances from the inside out. She lives in Claremont, California with her husband and three children.

You can purchase her book through her website, and it is available at all major bookstores.

45: Why Young Men Are Struggling & Why It Should Matter To All Of Us

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 08:03:00 -0700

In part one of our episode, we discuss the No Kings Marches across the country, the detainment of NYC Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander by ICE, and the political assassinations of two Minnesota State Representatives. In part two (19:00), we are joined by Jonas Williams, an undergraduate student at UCLA who has been researching the masculinity crisis for a film project. In our conversation with Jonas, we explore why young men are increasingly isolated, depressed, and angry at a time when wealth, economic, and political power are still held mainly in the hands of, you guessed it, men. We covered a lot of ground and therefore didn't have time to discuss a theological response to the masculinity crisis. However, we will address it in a future episode this summer.

Show Notes

Queer Theology by Linn Marie Tonstad https://wipfandstock.com/9781498218795/queer-theology/
Elliot Rodger: How misogynist killer became 'incel hero' https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43892189
Antioch Shooting: https://www.adl.org/resources/article/antioch-tenn-shooter-inspired-broad-extremist-beliefs-and-previous-mass-killers
Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon: https://monoskop.org/images/a/a5/Fanon_Frantz_Black_Skin_White_Masks_1986.pdf
Together by Vivek Murphy: https://www.vivekmurthy.com/together-book
Looksmaxing Intro: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/feb/15/from-bone-smashing-to-chin-extensions-how-looksmaxxing-is-reshaping-young-mens-faces

44: The Spiritual Immaturity of MAGA & A Progressive Theology of Spiritual Formation

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 07:04:00 -0700

No one enjoys being labeled immature, particularly when it comes to our faith journey. However, Paul the Apostle reminds us in his first letter to the Corinthian church that we ought to mature in our Christian faith, recognizing that we currently know God only partially and will ultimately come to know God fully after we transition from this life to whatever is next.

In this episode, we explore two different approaches to assessing our faith journeys and discuss how spiritual "arrested development" can help us understand the current resurgence of White Christian Nationalism.

Show Notes

https://www.institute4learning.com/2020/06/12/the-stages-of-faith-according-to-james-w-fowler/
Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning https://books.google.com/books/about/Stages_of_Faith.html?id=EYlvzgEACAAJ
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr https://store.cac.org/products/falling-upward-revised-and-updated?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=762906715&gbraid=0AAAAADlE41wr9sIjy1pe8OdkZtOT4eSPC&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjJrCBhCXARIsAI5x66WXTNMIUXEOYgmreIM-cDcBNiNbpXSTzsRZ2DLq6J7n6wwidd67fLgaAt8YEALw_wcB
Compassion in Practice by Frank Rogers, Jr. https://upperroombooks.com/book/compassion-in-practice/
Children's Books
1. Old Turtle by Douglass Wood and Cheng-Khee Chee
2. The Book of Belonging by Mariko Clark and Rachel Eleanor
3. What is God Like? by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner
4. The Blessing of You by Mark Batterson and Summer Batterson Daily
5. The Story of Passover by David A. Adler and Jill Weber
6. Little Sid: The Tiny Prince Who Became Buddha by Ian Lendler and Xanthe Bouma

43: ICE Raids, LA Protests, & Progressive Christian Resistance To Tyranny

The Progressive Christians — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 07:09:00 -0700

While LA is not the war zone that Fox News would have you believe, what we are experiencing in our community is not normal. In this episode, Rev. Dr. Carter, Westley, and Everest discuss the immigration raids and protests that have erupted across Los Angeles County, share our thoughts on why Trump is doing this right now, and describe what a progressive Christian response could look like.

Show Notes

42: How Could Progressive Theology Influence Economic Policy?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0700

"The American Government gives the most help to those who need it the least. This is the true nature of our welfare state, and it has far-reaching implications, not only for our bank accounts and poverty levels but also for our psychology and civic spirit." This quote from Matthew Desmond's book, Poverty, by America, is a hard truth, but it is true.

It is certainly not the story we tell ourselves, and it is definitely not the narrative that the writers of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill Act would have us believe. Most Christians recognize that how we spend our money should be influenced by our belief in God, but what this looks like in practice varies greatly. In this episode, we explore what the Bible says about wealth and poverty in light of our current state of affairs and envision what a progressive theology of economics could look like.

41: Ageism & The Fear Of Young Adults In Power

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 30 May 2025 03:00:00 -0700

How do you know when it is time to walk away and retire? The last eight members of Congress to die in office were Democrats. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a trailblazer, and yet her decision to continue serving on the Supreme Court until her death in September of 2020 is a part of her legacy that can't be overlooked. In this episode, we discuss ageism and how it is keeping young people out of both politics and the church.

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have a question that you'd like us to answer on the show, a topic you'd like us to discuss, or want to connect with us, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

Show notes:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwywqg7lq1zo
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/03/the-white-savior-industrial-complex/254843/
https://www.qasimrashid.com/p/breaking-gerry-connolly-resigns-as
https://leaderswedeserve.com/
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/24/politics/dnc-pushes-back-david-hogg-primary-challenge
https://www.thedailybeast.com/desperate-democrats-dying-off-in-retirement-home-congress/

40: Why Are You (Still) A Christian?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 23 May 2025 12:25:00 -0700

Many progressives often find themselves in communities where very few, if any, of their peers identify as religious, let alone as Christians. In America, many people associate the word "Christian" with the type of theological and political conservatism that has theologically justified historic harms against every minority group in our country. Yet, we have chosen to identify ourselves as Progressive Christians, making the word "Christian" deeply significant to our understanding of who we are. In this episode, we explain why we still refer to ourselves as Christians and explore why others, who don't seem committed to acting Christ-like, still see themselves as Christians.

We want to hear from you! If you have a question you'd love for us to discuss on the pod, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

Show notes

39: What Is Fascism & How Progressive Christianity Can Help Us Resist It

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 16 May 2025 04:31:00 -0700

We want to hear from you! If you have a question you'd like us to discuss on the pod, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

There is a lot of talk about fascism in politics today, but what is fascism, and how, if at all, does it impact our faith? In this episode, Everest, Westley, and Rev. Dr. Carter discuss what fascism is, the role conservative Christianity is playing in supporting it in America, and how a progressive Christian vision of community can help us resist the lure of fascist thinking.

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

38: How Do We Hold On To Hope In Times Of Crisis?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 09 May 2025 22:03:00 -0700

We have a new email address and we want to hear from you!

If you have a question you'd love for us to discuss on the pod, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

How do you hold onto hope when everything feels like, or actually is, falling apart? Given the state of US politics and the global lurch to the political right, how, if at all, are you holding onto hope? In this episode, we begin with a conversation about the Roman Catholic conclave and share our thoughts about what we hope for in a new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Then we discuss how neo-apocalyptic conservative theology reinforces a social and economic selfishness that is antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus. We end this episode discussing a progressive theology of hope and the practices we employ to cultivate hope.

37: RFK Jr. Wants To Save Autistic Children But He's Making Things Worse

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 02 May 2025 03:00:00 -0700

We have a new email address and we want to hear from you! If you have a question you'd love for us to discuss on the pod please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org. In addition to our weekly episodes, we hope to publish 1-2 short episodes per month that will be dedicated to answering listener questions about theology, politics, church, parenting, pop culture, or anything else that you'd like our opinion on.

What is a progressive Christian response to meeting the needs of intellectually disabled children? It's pretty much the opposite of what Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been doing since he became the US Secretary of Heath and Human Services. In this episode we discuss what RFK Jr. has been saying about autism and vaccines and how it is contributing to a measles outbreak in Texas. We end our show responding to an email from a listener about how to talk to their parent about theology when you have very different perspectives.

Articles referenced on the podcast

36: The Problem of Evil with Dr. Becky Copeland

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 01:00:00 -0700

We are entangled in systems full of wicked problems that we cannot solve on our own. For Dr. Copeland, sin is the most appropriate theological language for naming what has gone wrong in the world and for beginning to repair those wrongs, despite modern resistance to the use of sin-talk. In this episode, we discuss sin, suffering, and the problem of evil with Dr. Copeland, whose new book, Entangled Being: Unoriginal Sin and Wicked Problems offers a vision of how we might imagine and build a future where we continue to re-solve our society's most wicked problems.

You can follow Dr. Copeland on Blue Sky @beckycopeland.bsky.social and purchase her book here: https://www.baylorpress.com/9781481321426/entangled-being/

35: How Christian Authoritarian Parenting Helps Explain Our Response To The Disappearing Of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0700

"Authoritarian parenting—especially the evangelical variety—isn't just abuse. It's training. It teaches kids that love = fear. That power = safety. That obedience is the highest virtue, and questioning authority gets you a backhand and a one-way ticket to Hell," writes journalist Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez. In this episode we discuss the psychological consequences of authoritarian parenting and how it can help us understand why some can view Trumps immigration policies, lies, and his abuse of power as a type of "love."

Articles mentioned in this episode:

https://alisav.substack.com/p/are-americans-just-stupid
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/16/can-trump-legally-deport-us-citizens-to-el-salvador-prisons
Joe Rogan and Anne Coulter concerned about deportation https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/joe-rogan-ann-coulter-break-with-trump-immigration-rcna199344
https://theintercept.com/2020/01/09/factory-farms-california-animal-rights-criminalization/

34: What Do Progressive Christians Believe About Salvation?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 10:01:00 -0700

How do progressive Christians interpret Christ's life, death, and resurection as reconciling human beings to God? What are the theological implications of conservative Christians viewing Trump as a "messiah" figure? In this episode, we discuss the historical approaches that Christians have used to interpret Jesus' role in mediating salvation for human beings. We also discuss the dangers of conflating specific political outcomes (i.e., Trump was saved from assassination due to God's providence) with theologies of salvation.

33: How To Talk To Conservatives About Politcs & Religion

The Progressive Christians Podcast — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0700

In our polarized culture, it has become increasingly difficult to talk across political or religious differences. Yet we know that in order to get people to see the merits of—or even begin to practice—progressive Christianity, we must speak to them and invite them to do so. In this episode, we are joined by Malynda Hale to discuss her approach to talking to religious and political conservatives.

32: Adolescence, Doechii, and the Wisdom of Youth

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 00:40:00 -0700

In this pop culture minisode, Rev. Blair, Juila, and Westley discuss aspects of arts and culture rattling in their brains this week. We offer our recommendations for what to watch and listen to and close with some more serious reflection on the challenges and opportunities of being in a relationship with emerging generations.

Links from this episode:

31: Project Esther & The Crackdown On Speech That Is Critical of Isreal

The Progressive Christians — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:59:00 -0700

Why was Mahmoud Khalil, a legal resident of the US arrested, and why has his arrest led to hundres of protests across the country? What does it have to do with Project Esther, a policy created by the Heritage Foundation (the same foundation that created Project 2025) to curb speech that critiques Isreal and the US policy on Palestinian civil rights? In today's episode, we discuss the weaponization of deportations as a tool to police speech and its relationship to Christian Nationalism.

Links that we mention in today's episode:

30: They Like The Lying: Trump's Lies & His Support Among Conservatives

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 11:26:00 -0700

A significant percentage of Trump supporters are conservative Christians, and in this episode we ask - how can they support him despite all of his lies? Using Trump's joint address to Congress as a starting point, we examine the current conservative movement's moral flexibility around what is "technically true" and what "feels true." We end our conversation on a high note by discussing some good news from each podcast co-host.

Books referenced: White Too Long- Robert P. Jones, Pamela Cooper-White- The Psychology of White Christian Nationalism

https://www.prri.org/white-too-long-the-legacy-of-white-supremacy-in-american-christianity/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/03/11/trump-lying-politics-polarization/
Cooper-White, Pamela. "'God, Guns, and Guts': Christian Nationalism from a Psychoanalytic Perspective." Religions (Basel, Switzerland ) 14, no. 3 (2023): 292-. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14030292.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js15xgK4LIE
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/11/trump-voters-like-lying-deception-feature/
https://www.vox.com/2017/7/10/15928438/fact-checks-political-psychology
https://sites.nd.edu/truth-and-politics/donald-trump-voters-we-like-the-presidents-lies/
https://www.colorado.edu/today/2024/03/04/facts-ignored-truth-flexible-when-falsehoods-support-political-beliefs

29: What Is Sin?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Failing to bother to love is the scriptural concept of sin Jesus teaches in the gospels. In this episode, we build on this concept of sin and discuss why moral injury can make it difficult for progressive Christians to talk about sin constructively. We then discuss our theology of sin in light of President Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the defunding of USAID.

Links to articles and books we discussed on this episode:

28: Do Progressive Christians Believe In The Bible?

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Christians should not believe in the bible, they should believe in the living God attested by the bible.

This statement used to be reflect an orthodox (i.e., traditional) approach to the bible, but now belief in the bible is often a litmus text for how serious a Christians faith is. In this episode, we describe some of the problematic approaches to the bible, notably the biblicist approach and the belief that the bible is inerrant. We then describe a progressive Christian's approach to the bible and the importance of reclaiming the bible from those who use it as a bludgeon to harm others.

27: Sex, Gender, & Christian Theology

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0800

Can you be queer and Christian? Does gender and sexuality even matter with respect to your theological beliefs? In today's episode we address the surprisingly recent disagreement about whether Christianity can accept the full participation of persons in same-sex relationships and persons whose gender identity does not match the one assigned at birth by medical authorities. We were grateful to be joined by special guest Everest Harvey. If you'd like to connect with Everest about starting a Queer Group at your place of worship, please email them at everest@westwoodumc.org.

Links we mentioned in this episode

26: Undocumented Immigrants & The Sanctuary Movement

The Progressive Christians — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:37:00 -0800

In today's episode we discuss the dangerous and inhumane treatment of undocumented immigrants under the Trump administration. We were grateful to be joined by the Rev. Dr. Britta Meiers Carlson, whose research focuses on the church's engagement with the US immigration system.

Rev. Dr. Meiers Carlson is a Visiting Assistant Professor in Practical Theology at the University of the South and an ordained pastor within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Links mentioned in this episode:

25: Trump's Executive Order for Christian Supremacy

The Progressive Christians — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:49:00 -0800

At the National Prayer Breakfast President Trump announced that he was creating a task force to "eradicate anti-Christian bias" in the government and in institutions that receive federal funding. In this episode we discuss Trump's remarks during the prayer breakfast and the eradicating anti-Christian bias executive order.

Surprise bonus episode! There is a lot going on right now that deserves our attention, and we can't get through it all in a one-hour podcast. For the next few weeks, we will be dropping a few bonus episodes to keep up with the news!

Links mentioned in the podcast:

24: Project 2025: A Progressive Christian Analysis

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 01:00:00 -0800

We read (a lot) of it so you wouldn't have to. In this episode, we discuss the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, the 900-page document that Trump "had nothing to do with" but accurately describes almost everything that his administration has been doing during his first few weeks in office. We examine the four pillars that inform their political ideology, how these pillars are rooted in half-truths and outright lies, and how Trump is using the executive branch to subvert congressional power to implement his agenda.

We planned on covering more than we were able to get to in this episode. Rev. Dr. Carter read nearly 300 pages of the document, and we didn't have time to get to all the policy points because it was difficult to contain our frustration. If you want more information on Project 2025 and don't want to read it, we've included a link to John Oliver's show from June 20th, 2024, where he gives an excellent overview. Lastly, if you are interested in reading it yourself, you can find it on the Heritage Foundation website. We would recommend only reading the Forward because it gives you a good overview of the entire project.

Articles referenced in this episode

23: Women, Patriarchy, & the Bible with Claire McKeever-Burgett

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0800

"Without women we don't have Jesus. We don't have Christianity. We don't have any of it," writes Claire McKeever-Burgett, theologian and author of "Blessed Are The Women: Naming and Reclaiming Women's Stories from the Gospels." In this episode we speak with Claire about her amazing book, what inspired her to write it, and the importance of women's stories in the story of Christianity. Claire's newest book, "In The Beginning Were The Women: Matriarchs, Mystics, Wise Women, and Warriors in the Hebrew Bible", will be available on October 21, 2025.

You can learn more about Claire's work on her website, https://www.clairemckeeverburgett.com, or her substack https://clairemckeeverburgett.substack.com.

22: Trump 2.0 - How Should Progressive Christians Respond To The Second Trump Presidency

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 08:23:00 -0800

It is not worse than we thought—it is exactly what we thought it would be! During our conversation, which felt a bit like our post-election analysis, we examined the first few days of the Trump presidency and discussed how progressive Christians might respond and resist. We also discussed former president Joe Biden's legacy and what's going on with TikTok and Meta.

In this episode, Rev. Dr. Carter mentions creating a Discord server as a way to cultivate community for Progressive Christians to meet, learn, and grow together. Is that something you all might be interested in? Please let us know in your iTunes review, Spotify comments or by sending us an email: theloft@theloftla.org

There was some audio issue with Julia's microphone and we apologize for the brief sound distortion.

Articles referenced:

21: MAGA Evangelicalism vs. Jimmy Carter's Progressive Evangelicalism

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 07:09:00 -0800

In today's episode we discuss the impact of the LA fires on our community and dissect the conservative conspiracy theories about the origin of the fires and how they have been handled. We then discuss the legacy of President Jimmy Carter, a Southern Baptist and the first Evangelical president of the United States. We compare and contrast his progressive evangelicalism with what we see in the MAGA movement today. A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was announced while we were recording, and we touched on it briefly and plan to cover it in more detail in the coming weeks.

Articles mentioned on the episode: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/jimmy-carter-evangelical-christianity/ https://www.calpacumc.org/uncategorized/ways-to-help-la-fire-victims/ https://www.qasimrashid.com/p/president-jimmy-carter-has-died

20: L.A. - Where We All Live - Is On Fire

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 19:45:00 -0800

Los Angeles is suffering from a historical fire. Thankfully, Julia, Westley, Rev. Blair, and Dr. Carter are safe, but we are thinking about and actively working on ways to support our local community. If you are interested in supporting, please check out the links below.

In this episode, Rev. Dr. Carter is solo, recording from San Diego, where he and his family have evacuated from the Pallisades and Sunset fires. He discusses the difficulties that lie ahead for their community and what the root causes of the fire really are, and what they are not (hint: it has nothing to do with DEI). We end this episode with a prayer and we hope that you join us in keeping our community uplifted in prayer and support during this difficult time.

Links to organizations that are supporting Angelinos:

https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/how-to-help-la-fire-victims

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-08/how-to-help-victims-of-pacific-palisades-eaton-and-hurst-fires

19: What Do Progressives Believe About Evangelism?

The Progressive Christians — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 12:50:00 -0800

Evangelism is a word you rarely hear in progressive Christian spaces. In this episode, we discuss why that is the case (hint: trauma) and what a progressive Christian vision of evangelism could look like.

This episode is part of our Progressive Christianity 101 "What Is" series. At least one episode per month will examine topics from within the Christian tradition from a progressive Christian perspective.

Authors and books we referenced in the episode

Alice Walker's definition of womanism
Human Liberation in a Feminist Perspective - Letty Russel
Sexism and God-Talk- Rosemary Radford Ruether
Evangelism After Christendom - Bryan Stone
The Divine Dance - Richard Rhor

18: Our Favorite Christmas Traditions

The Prorgressive Christians — Sat, 28 Dec 2024 07:42:00 -0800

Merry Christmas! In this "minisode," the Progressive Christians podcast crew discusses our favorite Christmas traditions. We close the show discussing how grateful we are for each other and for y'all, our amazing listeners. Our goal is to create a platform for Progressive Christians to discuss topics that are important to us in a way that reflects the radical love that we see in our tradition. It is exciting to see this come to fruition!

And while we celebrate the growth of our community we know that there is much work to be done. The next few years will be especially challenging. Given this, we want you to reach out to us and let us know how we can help. What resources do you need? What topics would you like us to discuss?

Feel free to email or DM us on our social media platforms.

theloft@theloftla.org

linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

17: Netflix's Mary & A Progressive Christian Christmas

The Progressive Christians — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:56:00 -0800

In this episode, we discuss what we each have learned about Christmas as a progressive Christian that opened up the Christmas story in new and meaningful ways. We end with a discussion about the Netflix film, Mary, and how paying closer attention to the social and political circumstances that Jesus' mother faced should move Christians towards a feminist (i.e., anti-sexist) analysis of the story of the birth of Christ.

16: Can Murder Be Just? Luigi Mangione & Healthcare In America

The Loft LA — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:47:00 -0800

In this episode, we discuss the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the public reaction to it. While we believe that violence is not the solution to the healthcare crisis in America, we discuss how certain forms of violence, i.e., the violence of denying people the health coverage they have paid for, are the root cause of so much suffering in our country. We conclude by discussing what a progressive Christian vision of healthcare looks like for each of us.

Articles referenced:

Books Referenced:

Engaging the Powers by Walter Wink
The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee

15: Wicked & The Power of Political Propaganda

The Loft LA — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 01:00:00 -0800

Everyone is talking about Wicked, and there is so much to discuss! Throughout our conversation, we discuss the themes related to politics and religion that appear throughout the film and tie them to our contemporary moment. For this episode, we were delighted to be joined by singer, actress, and activist Malynda Hale. Malynda and Julia give us an insider's perspective on the film, which you don't want to miss.

14: Dealing with MAGA Religion at the Thanksgiving Table

The Loft LA — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:41:00 -0800

Many of us typically visit family and friends over the holidays, but the recent elections have complicated what should be a joyous occasion. Can you share a table with someone who voted for candidates who embraced nationalist ideologies? In this episode, we discuss how to "Thanksgiving" with family and friends who voted for Trumpism.

The articles and scripture passages we discussed in this episode are:

Loretta Ross, Call In Culture
https://www.whitesupremacyculture.info/characteristics.html
"Race, Gender, and the Politics of 'Sass': Reading Mark 7:24-30 through a Womanist Lens" by Mitzi Smith
John 11:30-45 Jesus Wept

13: Christian Nationalism helped Trump win the election. What should progressive Christians do now?

The Loft LA — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0800

Given the results of the 2024 presidential election, what is the state of progressive Christianity? In this episode, we discuss the role Christian Nationalism played in the election of Donald Trump and how we plan to respond to it through this podcast. We give our big takeaways from the presidential election, and we end by discussing Rev. Dr. Carter's appreciation of People Magazine's sexiest man alive, John Krasinski.

We really want to hear from our listeners - what do you need from us right now? What type of content would be most helpful for you? Please leave a comment on this episode or in a podcast review. We love you all and our aim is to become a place of refuge, hope, and resistance.

12: A Qualified Black Woman Lost To An Under-Qualified White Male Criminal

The Loft LA — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 09:19:00 -0800

In this episode, recorded on Wednesday November 6th, we begin to digest the results of the 2024 presidential election. It is a lot to process and as you will notice in the episode, we are still trying to figure out what happened.

We apologize for Rev. Dr. Carter's audio. His mic disconnected at the beginning of the recording and we failed to reconnect it. We were a bit tired and overwhelmed during the recording.

11: Christian Nationalism is More Pervasive Than You Realize

The Loft LA — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:53:00 -0700

Congregations aligned with Christian Nationalism are funding state and local political candidates, helping people run for school boards, and training local police departments. How and why is this happening? In this episode we discuss Christian Nationalism, it's political rise, and its growing influence in mainline congregations and politics.

Articles and authors discussed in this episode:

https://www.katecommon.com/ https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/10/new-apostolic-reformation-christian-nationalism/ https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/09/theobros-jd-vance-christian-nationalism/ https://www.splcenter.org/year-hate-extremism-2023/new-dominionism-tries-rule

10: Evangelicals Fear Sexual Assault, But Misplace Their Focus

The Loft LA — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 06:47:00 -0700

During the Million Women March in October 2024, conservative women expressed their concerns that secular society is pressuring their children to change genders and that the bodies of their children are not safe. In this episode we discuss the march, the Christian Nationalist theology that undergurds it, and the truth that conservative clergy, and not the queer community, are the perpetrators of most sexual assault crimes against women and children.

Links to articles we mentioned in today's episode:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/christians-swarm-washington-pray-america-turn-god-electing-trump-rcna175162?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=topic%2Freligion

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/03/us/churches-dallas-fort-worth-sexual-abuse.html

https://www.injuryrelief.com/article/sexual-assault/sexual-assault-by-clergy-members-in-texas/

9: Hurricane Helene and the Christian roots of Environmental Justice

The Loft LA — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 19:26:00 -0700

Over 250 people have died due to the effects of hurricane Helene. In this episode we grapple with the loss of life from this disaster and the politicalization of natural disasters by Donald Trump, and the progressive Christian history of environmental justice.

Note - Rev. Blair was only able to participate in the first half of the podcast and we forgot to mention it during the episode! So please know that she didn't vanish but she had other important work to tend too!

Links to articles we mentioned in today's episode: https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/06/politics/fact-check-trump-helene-response-north-carolina/index.html https://www.ucc.org/what-we-do/justice-local-church-ministries/efam/environmental-justice/a_movement_is_born_environmental_justice_and_the_ucc/ https://fore.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/Blood%20in%20the%20Soil.pdf

8: What Is A Progressive Theology of Immigration?

The Loft LA — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 20:40:00 -0700

Why is immigration a theological issue? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Victor Carmona, Associate Professor of Theology at the University of San Diego and an expert on immigration. He discusses the failures of both political parties and lays out his vision for what a theology of immigration should look like. We also discuss the VP debate and the role conservative religious rhetoric plays in shaping immigration policy.

Articles we mentioned in this episode https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/03/04/us-christians-more-likely-than-nones-to-say-situation-at-the-border-is-a-crisis/ https://www.axios.com/2024/04/25/trump-biden-americans-illegal-immigration-poll https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2021/10/05/1042518732/-the-greatest-heist-in-history-how-haiti-was-forced-to-pay-reparations-for-freed https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/jd-vance-blamed-immigrants-vp-debate-1235123239/

7: Young women are leaving the church, why?

The Loft LA — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 17:52:00 -0700

Young women are leaving the Church because they (rightly) believe that churches do not treat men and women equally. So, why is this information being framed as "young men are more religious than young women?" - patriarchy, that's why. We fell into this trap in the beginning of this episode before pivoting to a deep discussion on how progressive churches can create a culture where women know they belong.

Articles and books we referenced in this episode:

The Gospel According to Mark Robinson - https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/mark-robinson-bible/ With Gen Z, Men Are Now More Religious Than Women - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/23/us/young-men-religion-gen-z.html#:~:text=The%20dynamics%20at%20Grace%20are,likely%20to%20identify%20as%20religious. Young Women Are Leaving Church in Unprecedented Numbers - https://www.americansurveycenter.org/newsletter/young-women-are-leaving-church-in-unprecedented-numbers/ Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God- Kelly Brown Douglas

6: Creating A Church With & For Families With Disabled Children

The Loft LA — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 03:00:00 -0700

All churches, including progressive churches, struggle to create inclusive spaces for people with disabilities. In this episode, we are joined by Melissa Brasher, the mother of two amazing children, one of whom is disabled. We discuss her journey with her disabled son, the impact he has had on her and his community's faith, and what churches can do to create spaces that are welcoming to all types of bodies.

Book Recommendations Mentioned in the Podcast Amy Kenny, "My Body Is Not A Prayer Request" Jessica McCabe, "How To ADHD"

https://guides.garrett.edu/theology-and-disability/books

5: Grump lost the debate but does that matter to Christians who would vote for him?

The Loft LA — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:39:00 -0700

Donald Trump doesn't believe in repentance and cannot ask for forgiveness. Given the centrality of forgiveness in Christianity (i.e., you know, salvation), how and why do conservative Christians continue to support him?

4: Why are Conservatives (J.D. Vance) Obsessed with Childless People?

The Loft LA — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 06:59:00 -0700

Raising children in America is difficult, so difficult that the US Surgeon General is raising concerns about the stress and mental health challenges of parenting. So why are Christian conservatives like JD Vance critical of people who decide not to have kids? We also discuss the Harris/Walz campaign hiring a National Faith Engagement Director, and we end with a discussion about how to be "very demure and very mindful."

Stories we reference in the podcast:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/30/politics/kfile-jd-vance-history-disparaging-people-without-kids/index.html https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/surgeon-general-addresses-growing-stress-and-mental-health-struggles-facing-parents#:~:text=As%20most%20parents%20can%20attest,health%20concern%20for%20the%20kids https://meidasnews.com/news/jd-vance-calls-women-without-children-psychotic-and-deranged https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/30/politics/kfile-jd-vance-history-disparaging-people-without-kids/index.html

3: What does progressive Christian masculinity look like?

The Loft LA — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 03:00:00 -0700

The speeches of Dough Emhoff, President Barack Obama, and Gov. Tim Walls gave us a very different portrayal of masculinity and, unsurprisingly, raised the alarm of some Christian conservatives. In this episode, we discuss what progressive Christian masculinity can look like, and we critique the toxic masculinity of "biblical patriarchy."

The books we mentioned in the podcast were:

The Making of Biblical Womanhood by Beth Allison Barr Mediocre by Ijeoma Oluo

2: The Black Church Shows Up To The DNC

The Loft LA — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 10:46:00 -0700

The persuasive power of the Black Church tradition has been center stage during the first two days of the Democratic National Convention. The speeches of Senator Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock and Michelle and Barack Obama found their footing in the black preaching tradition. In this episode we discuss the connections between the Black Church tradition and progressive politics.

1: Living Single…and being shamed for it.

The Loft LA — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 05:26:00 -0700

Has Western Christianity weaponized marriage and made those who are single, especially women, feel as though they are "bad" Christians? What should progressive Christians think about the Harris/Walz ticket? And breakdancing at the Olympics - wow!

Funky Friday podcast featuring Kirk Franklin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbTAUsXheyg