News Flash!

You don’t have to agree with Catholicism, to admire Pope Francis.  

You don’t have to agree with Islamic Fundamentalism (a cancer), to stand with Ahmed, the Clock Boy.

You don’t have to agree with Christian Fundamentalism (yet another cancer), to love your neighbor (regardless of who they are) as yourself.

Religious Freedom and Secular State

"Religious freedom is one of the principles that defines the genius of America – but only a secular state can actually defend that principle for all of its citizens. Otherwise, we might have Indiana defending conservative Christian views and another state defending liberal Christian views; one state defending Sharia law and another writing the codes of Leviticus into the law books in favor of a Jewish majority." 

- Russ Dean

Read more: Why do so many Christians think we need government to prop up Jesus?

God's Blessing

"For people to say God is lifting his blessing off of America today, and yet somehow did not lift his blessing off of America through the genocide of native Americans and the enslavement of black people, is disheartening to say the least. Guys, God's blessing has never been on America. It has always been on who Jesus says it is on in the beatitudes. The peacemakers, the pure in heart, the merciful, the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for justice."

- Jacob Wright

Take A Deep Breath

"Take a deep breath, folks. It’s going to be alright. You say you believe that God is in control, right? Do you really believe that? Or are you worried that you have to somehow make that mean anything at all through your own actions? If his power over the world is entirely dependent upon yours, maybe you need to find a bigger God. Or better yet….well, you know, maybe reconsider if you really believe what you say you believe."

- Neil Carter

Read more: To My Evangelical Friends Upon the Legalization of Gay Marriage

To My Evangelical Friends Upon the Legalization of Gay Marriage - See more at: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2015/06/26/upon-the-legalization-of-gay-marriage/#sthash.8pmt9JIR.dpuf

Before You Self-Immolate . . .

“… the extension of legal marriage rights to same-sex couples does not change religious definitions of marriage. Your definition of marriage is based on your faith and is, rightfully so, separate from the state’s definition of marriage. So long as the Church’s definition of marriage doesn’t involve children, multiple partners, or animals, we are free to base our marriages on whatever the Bible says. This also means you are free to not consider gay marriages as “Christian” marriages. And while some Churches are going along with the shifting societal definition of marriage, yours does not have to.

Based on the arguments before the Supreme Court, it is clear that you will always be able to refuse to marry a couple of the same sex. I know everyone points to the ministers in Idaho who were sued for not performing a gay marriage, but they were operating a wedding chapel as a business, not a church ministry. So you won’t have to perform gay marriages nor will you have to change your religious definition of marriage. So why set yourself on fire?”

- Benjamin Dixon

Read more: Dear Pastors: Just Before You Self-Immolate over Gay Marriage, You Should Know…

If you think God is going to smite us...

"If you think God is going to smite us, I’d encourage you to ask why he hasn’t already.”

- Benjamin L. Corey


Read more: Gay Marriage is the Law of the Land- And God Isn’t Going to Freak Out About It

Charleston Shooting

"Think about what happened. Think about why it happened. Talk about what happened. Talk about why it happened. The country must resist the temptation present in anesthetic innocence. It must reject the false comfort of learned disbelief and the narcotic embrace of concocted surprise.  

. . .  

There is a timidity that the country can no longer afford. This was not an unthinkable act. A man may have had a rat's nest for a mind, but it was well thought out. It was a cool, considered crime, as well planned as any bank robbery or any computer fraud. If people do not want to speak of it, or think about it, it's because they do not want to follow the story where it inevitably leads. It's because they do not want to follow this crime all the way back to the mother of all American crimes, the one that Denmark Vesey gave his life to avenge. What happened on Wednesday night was a lot of things. A massacre was only one of them."

-  Charles P. Pierce

Read more: Charleston Shooting: Speaking the Unspeakable, Thinking the Unthinkable

Quit Being The Elder Brother

Q: How to experience what God already has for us, without the weight of "trying to please God"?

A: Quit being the elder brother.

"Stop Trying To Grow Closer to God"

"None of us are “closer” to God than anyone else. We all live with Him. He lives with us! IN us in fact!" 

- Phil Drysdale

Read more: Stop Trying To Grow Closer To God

Unforced Rhythms of Grace

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” 

- Jesus, (Matthew 11:28-30, MSG)