Comments on Progression of Faith: Five Writers Who Changed Me

Great list of books Mike. I'd also have Borg...

2009-07-09T03:01:53.117-05:00

Great list of books Mike.

I'd also have Borg's 'The Heart of Christianity' on my list, and McLaren's 'A Generous Orthodoxy' like Andrew above. I' also recommend a book called 'Towards the Mystery' by someone whose name I can't remember (and the book is packed in a box as I am in transition) and also Bruggemann's 'Cadences of Home.'

Great Blog to Mike - it is great to read a progressive Christian blog - as a Pastor of a fairly conservative church, it is great to have the wider stimulation.

I'm glad i found your blog. I've only cons...

2009-07-04T20:05:40.610-05:00

I'm glad i found your blog. I've only considered myself Christian for the past few months although I've gone to services and read the bible for years. My understanding of scripture, Jesus' life and Christianity in general has been doing flip-flops -every time I think I've reached a deeper understanding some new insight turns it all upside down.

It's late and I'm not thinking too clearly...

2009-06-20T22:48:01.660-05:00

It's late and I'm not thinking too clearly but for sure Brian McLaren's trilogy is on my list. He pointed me toward some positive aspects of postmodernism I now embrace. Joseph Campbell's Myths to Live By and The Masks of God series helped keep me sane or more sane than I would have been.

Very interestingly, I have had similar encounters ...

2009-06-19T09:09:19.056-05:00

Very interestingly, I have had similar encounters with three of the authors you mention in the post. I would add Martin Zender. It was at the beginning of my journey that I encountered Martin's work. His, "Martin Zender Goes to Hell", gave me permission to consider the facts surrounding the creation of hell by the early church. I have left Zender behind and now agree with precious few of Martin's precepts, but thank him for giving me permission to think "outside the box". I will explore some of the authors you find significant in your journey.

I think that we often do, for some reason, need pe...

2009-06-18T15:03:47.347-05:00

I think that we often do, for some reason, need permission. I have found Marianne Williamson's words to be true.

"And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

McLaren's Generous Orthodoxy gave me "permission" to have certain thoughts. And I realize that in some conversations, I have given similar permission to others.

I think that is why the core of fundamentalism is to control thoughts and words... once those thoughts get out there, they spread like fire.