Tradition and the need to update church methods and beliefs
Aug 2014 Connections. In his book, American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America (Penguin, 2011), historian and journalist Colin Woodard explains that our continent was originally colonized by 11 different “nations” — cultural groups… Continue reading →
Apr 2013 Downloads. What should churches’ and seminaries’ basic purpose be? What distinguishes church from other community-service groups? Read/download 4-2013 Connections >
Dec 2012 Connections. Emerging church, the landscape of religion in America, as described by Phyllis Tickle. Read/download 12-2012 Connections >
Nov 2012 Connections. Choosing to follow Jesus instead of our ancestors is urgent. Yesterday’s ways turn off many people. Read/download 11-2012 Connections
March 2012 Connections. Scholar/author/pastor Robin Meyers calls for the church to be subversive again. Connections Live! 2012 will happen in Temple Texas in September 2012. Read/download 3-2012 Connections >
Feb 2012 Connections. Books, websites, DVDs, and study courses for exploring Christianity. Read/download 2-12 Connections >
Jan 2012 Connections. Reviews of recent books and announcement of the new United Methodist Insight website. Read/download 1-2012 Connections >
Apr 2011 Connections. Responses to Connections, Misfits, and articles about them make me aware of many people who have progressive views but mistakenly think they’re alone. Read/download 4-2011 Connections >
Dec 2010 Connections. Reactions to a gathering of Connections readers and Barbara’s new book Misfits reflect the need for education and social action by progressive Christians. Read/download 12-2010 Connections >
Oct 2010 Connections. Trusting church doctrines and customs can be idolatry. Some containers that we think hold the sacred keep us from encountering it, so need to be discarded. Read/download 10-2010 Connections >
July 2010 Connections. Many pastors won’t admit being progressive Christians, for fear of losing members. But many members hunger for a progressive form of the Christian message. Read/download 7-2010 Connections >
July 2009 Connections. Oklahoma UCC pastor Robin Meyers says the church is at a fork in a long, winding road. It needs to step backward, then go forward on a less-traveled road. We have come to a fork… Continue reading →
June 2009 Connections. Toronto pastor Gretta Vosper’s book With or Without God urges the church to stop claiming that the Bible is God’s authoritative word for all time. I’ve just read a book that almost made me want to… Continue reading →
Mar 2009 Connections. A central Texas UMC, like the citizens who refused to look through Galileo’s telescope 400 years ago, refused to let its members be given new information. A recent newspaper article reminded me that this year… Continue reading →
Feb 2008 Connections. Many descriptions of God require people to leave their minds behind, finds Val Webb. Such descriptions cause many to leave their religious tradition. Read/download 2-2008 Connections >
Feb 2001 Connections. Probably few members of today’s mainline U.S. churches can legitimately be called fundamentalists. An increasing number, however, share several beliefs with fundamentalists. They pose tests of faith and want to oust members who fail them. Some… Continue reading →
Oct 1999 Connections. In his book The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization (Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 1999), Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas L. Friedman describes the new system that he believes is shaping world affairs. Read/download 10-1999 Connections
June 1999 Connections. The church now lives in a culture tha is mainly electronic, but most mainline churches are still trying to communicate the gospel using the methods of a culture based on print. Read/download 6-1999 Connections
Apr 1999 Connections. Most congregations and denominations are addicted to a lot of self=destructive habits, observes Thomas G. Bandy, a program officer of the United Methodist Church of Canada and a former United Methodist pastor… Read/download 4-1999 Connections