Content about Christian theology

Friedrich Nietzsche was a provocative 19th century German philosopher who is still frequently quoted. He was a severe critic of religion, especially the Christian religion. He once suggested, "The last Christian died on the cross." And concerning Christian evangelism, he said, "If the church wants the world to believe in redemption, then the church ought to look a little more redeemed."

There's lots of church-state intersection in Faith and the Common Good on this first official day of fall, so let's get right to it.

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A case involving the firing of a teacher with a disability from a religious school has gone before the U.S. Supreme Court in what many see as a test of the traditional "ministerial exception" regarding hiring practices for religious organizations.

The Rev. James Rowe Adams, an Episcopal priest considered the father of contemporary progressive Christianity, died Sept. 13 in Cambridge, MA, after a long bout with brain cancer. He was 77.

Abraham's Curse: The Roots of Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islamby Bruce Chilton (Doubleday Religion, 2008 ).

Old Testament Professor Seow Choon Leong of Princeton University donated Bruce Chilton's book to Trinity College Library in Singapore. I stumbled upon this book and was captivated by the interpretation that Chilton makes on sacrificial violence.

The Progressive Christian is among contributors to a summer symposium, "Progressive Christianity: What It Is and Why It Matters Today," at Patheos.com.

In partnership with the Wild Goose Festival, Patheos invited a diverse group of renowned scholars, bloggers, pastors, and authors—from mainline Protestants to progressive Evangelicals—to reflect on the nature of progressive Christianity and its significance today.

Every so often, there's a family squabble among Progressive Christians. Over the past two weeks, the tempest has been between the Rev. Jim Wallis and his magazine, Sojourners, and the Believe Out Loud campaign urging Christians to acknowledge publicly their support for LGBT rights.

Thieves In The Temple: The Christian Church and the Selling of the American Soul, by G. Jeffrey MacDonald (New York, Basic Books, 2010). Xiii + 238 pages.

"Our church has no choice but to reinvent itself and be more entrepreneurial in reaching out to young families." I heard that statement at a Staff Parish Relations Committee meeting not too long ago.

Thomas Bokenkotter wrote in his book Church and Revolution: Catholics in the Struggle for Democracy and Social Justice:

Looking over a mountain toward an unknown future can be both exhilarating and scary. That's where I've been for the past 72 hours in Phoenix at the Big Tent Christianity event: exhilarated and a little bit scared – but hopeful.

Reprinted by permission of Princeton Theological Review

It is difficult to describe how much the audience for systematic theology has changed over the last few decades.1 In these few pages I’ll be arguing that theology needs to change just as radically if it’s going to communicate effectively with Gen-Xers, Millennials, and the increasingly large group of non-religious Americans (“non’s”2) over the coming 10-20 years.

Friends, if we had any doubt left that right-wing forces have taken over our mainstream media and religious perspectives, this press release from our friends at Living the Questions should put those doubts to rest. I encourage any of our readers in the Portland area to contact these local stations and let them know you're withdrawing your support of the station because of this clearly biased decision.