Progressive Christianity with Pastor Adam

40 Episodes
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By: Pastor Adam

Pastor Adam explores Christ-centered Progressive Christianity in One Question with Pastor Adam, sermons, and other commentary. In these episodes, Pastor Adam addresses questions about progressive Christianity. Some of the topics to be explored include: the Bible, politics, heaven and hell, who is Jesus, and do you have to be a Christian to be saved? Have a question? Submit it via email to adam@c-ucc.org.

A Progressive Christian Easter Sermon
#11
04/25/2025

In Luke's version of the first Easter morning, there is someone missing. Where is Jesus? See how a progressive Christian answers this question in this Easter sermon by Rev. Adam Ericksen.


How Bishop Budde Exposed Right Wing Christianity
#10
01/28/2025

Bishop Budde asked for mercy and exposed right-wing Christianity for lacking in Christian principles. We discuss in this episode of One Question with Pastor Adam.


How Adam Got His Groove Back (and How You Can, Too!)
#9
01/22/2025

Have you lost your groove? Let's get it back in this episode of One Question with Pastor Adam.


Let's Talk Wicked! with Suzanne Ross, author of the Wicked Truth
#8
01/22/2025

I sit down with Suzanne Ross, author of "The Wicked Truth: Why Good People Do Bad Things" to discuss her book and the phenomenon that is Wicked!


A Progressive Christian View on Christmas
#7
12/16/2024

In this episode, we explore a Progressive Christian view on Christmas. How can Progressive Christians understand the story of Christmas in a way that leads toward justice, peace, and love? We explore that topic in this episode of One Question.


Listener Q&A - Acupuncture, Advent, Bonhoeffer, and More!
#6
12/09/2024

I invited the audience to join me in a Q&A in this episode. Some topics include Advent, Bonhoeffer, the relationship between Christ and the Bible, acupuncture, and more!


Romans 13 and the Authority of Christ
#5
11/26/2024

Christian nationalists want to install a theocracy and force Christ upon others. They claim Romans 13 as justification for the US government to do whatever it wants through violence and coercion. But that's a misuse of Christ and of Romans 13. Check out this episode of One Question for more!


Is this Scapegoating or is this Accountability? with Lyle Enright
#4
11/18/2024

What is the difference between scapegoating someone and holding someone accountable? How can we tell the difference? These are important questions during these times as scapegoating abounds in our culture. Is it possible to hold people accountable without scapegoating them? Check out this episode as we explore these questions with Lyle Enright.


Post-Election Conversation: Where We Go From Here with Matthew Distefano
#3
11/12/2024

Last week's election left us in grief, but once we grieve, where do we go from here? Join me as I talk with Matthew Distefano about the election and hope for the future. We also take listener's questions and comments. Matthew J. Distefano is the author of multiple books, including the wildly popular "Heretic!" and "From the Blood of Abel". He is an audio engineer, the producer of the Heretic Happy Hour podcast, cohost of Apostates Anonymous, and is a regular columnist for Patheos. His website is www.allsetfree.com.


Political Theology and Mimetic Theory with Lyle Enright
#2
11/04/2024

Many people think that Christianity is merely about where you go after you die. But did you know that the New Testament is deeply political? Check out this episode of One Question as Pastor Adam and Dr. Lyle Enright discuss politics, theology, and mimetic theory. Lyle Enright is the Research Director of unRival Network. His blog on Substack is Religion is for Losers. A recent article by Lyle is "René Girard, J. D. Vance, and You".


Reclaiming Christianity and Mimetic Theory: Introduction to Season 5
#1
10/21/2024

I have been highly influenced by mimetic theory to understand how the Bible reveals the nonviolence of God and the human tendency to scapegoat. Tragically, major politicians have started using mimetic theory as a tool for doing precisely what mimetic theory warns us not to do - scapegoat others. In this episode to begin season 5, I talk about reclaiming Christianity and mimetic theory. I hope you enjoy it!


Undoing the Bible's Conquest Story with Dr. Kate Common
#27
05/28/2024

Pastor Adam and Biblical scholar Kate Common discuss her book, "Undoing Conquest: Ancient Israel, the Bible, and the Future of Christianity." The conquest narrative in the Book of Joshua is one of the most troubling parts of the Bible. But what if it never actually happened? Dr. Common separates fact from fiction and provides a deeper understanding of the conquest narrative. To purchase Dr. Common's book and learn more about her, check out her website at https://www.katecommon.com/.


What Is Basic Christianity? with James Alison
#26
05/14/2024

Pastor Adam sits down with Fr. James Alison to talk about his upcoming book, "You Can If You Want To," which is a primer on Basic Christianity and inclusion of our LGBTQ siblings.


Is There Life After Doom? - with Brian McLaren
#25
05/06/2024

Pastor Adam and Brian McLaren discuss Brian's upcoming book "Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart." We are facing multiple doom scenarios - war, climate change, economic exploitation, just to name a few. Is there a way out of this doom? Should we feel hope or despair about our future? These are some of the topics discussed in this episode of One Question with Pastor Adam.


How To Deal with Racism: The Equity in Memory and Memorial Project with Dr. Julia Robinson Moore
#24
04/29/2024

In this episode of One Question, Pastor Adam talks with Rev. Dr. Julia Robinson Moore about the Equity in Memory and Memorial Project. Along with her husband Ricky, Julia leads the project that brings together descendants of slaves and slaveholders to reflect on their experiences. Julia talks about the successes and challenges of the project, including confronting the effects of continued racism. Julia joins Pastor Adam as one of the plenary speakers at the 2024 Theology and Peace conference being held near Chicago. The dates of the conference are June 10-13.


What Do I Do with the Dark Night of the Soul?
#23
04/23/2024

Sophia is going through the dark night and wants to know if there is a way out. Have you been through the dark night of the soul? Let's explore in this episode of One Question! "The Rapture Exposed : The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation" by Barbara R. Rossing and  "Changing Our Mind" by David P. Gushee are books mentioned in this episode.


What If I Can't Forgive?
#22
04/15/2024

Jesus says that we are to forgive 7 times 70 times, but forgiveness is hard. What if we just can't forgive? And what does forgiveness mean, anyway? Join Pastor Adam as he discusses forgiveness in this episode of One Question.


The Wounded God
#21
04/08/2024

The Christian religion claims something that other monotheistic religions don't - that humans have killed and wounded God. The Resurrection of Jesus reveals that even when we wound God, God offers us peace. Check out this episode of One Question for more!


When Were You Saved?
#20
04/01/2024

Have you ever been asked the question, "When were you saved?" Well in this episode, Pastor Adam gives you the definitive answer! Check out this episode of One Question for how to answer this question whenever anyone asks it!


What the Voice of God Sounds Like
#19
03/25/2024

Have you ever wondered what the voice of God sounds like? Can you distinguish between God's voice and other voices? Pastor Adam helps us understand the voice of God in this episode of One Question.


Jesus Is Woke Part 4: The Gospel of John
#18
03/18/2024

The Gospel of John is an explosion of wokeness from beginning to end. John starts with describe the Word of God that became flesh in Jesus. If we understand the historical and philosophical context of the Greek term for "Word," we discover that the Christian understanding of the Word is woke. Pastor Adam explores the wokeness of Jesus in part 4 of this series! Check out the new sermon series, Pastor Adam Preaches, wherever you get your podcasts.


Jesus Is Woke Pt 3 - The Gospel of Luke
#17
03/11/2024

Join Pastor Adam as he continues the Jesus is Woke series! Part three is the Gospel of Luke. How are Jesus and the Gospel of Luke woke? Check out part three to find out!


Jesus is Woke Pt 2 - The Gospel of Mark
#16
03/04/2024

From beginning to end, the Gospels are woke! Check out the second part of this series where Pastor Adam discusses the wokeness of the Gospel of Mark.


Was Jesus Woke? Part 1 - The Gospel of Matthew
#15
02/26/2024

Was Jesus woke? Yes. In fact, Jesus was the wokest. Check out this episode of One Question with Pastor Adam as he begins a four part series discussing how each four Gospel shows that Jesus is woke.


What Do I Say to Someone Who Is Suffering?
#14
02/19/2024

Talking with someone who is going through a hard time can be very difficult. What do you say? What shouldn't you say? Join this episode of One Question for some answers on this topic!


What Did Jesus Come to Save Us From?
#13
02/12/2024

Many people think Jesus came to save us from God's wrath. You might be surprised that this idea was formulated late in Christian history. And it's not true. So what did Jesus come to save us from? Check out this episode of One Question for more on this topic!


Did Jesus Claim To Be the Son of God?
#12
02/05/2024

The question for this episode comes from Moriah, who asks if Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. Let's find out and discover why this matters to nonviolent theology!


Is the Bible Worth Keeping with Leo Wolters Tejera
#11
01/29/2024

Is the Bible Worth Keeping with Leo Wolters Tejera For many people, the Bible is an inspiration for a better world. For others, the Bible is a violent book that holds humanity back. So, is the Bible worth keeping? Or should we leave it as a document of the ancient world? Join Pastor Adam and Leo as they discuss. You can check out Leo's work at www.conversationsofficial.com and on social media.


Is the Bible Fact or Fiction?
#10
01/15/2024

Many people claim that the Bible is just fiction. Sometimes that's meant as an insult to the Bible. But fiction often tells us deeper truths about ourselves and the world. But is the Bible fact or fiction? Listen to this episode of One Question to discover the surprising answer from Pastor Adam!


New Year's Edition - Perfectionism Kills
#9
01/08/2024

Happy New Year! Do you try to keep New Year's resolutions? Why/why not? Perfectionism is a killer. I'm going to avoid it this year. Also, I'm going to tell a story about Legos®, a grocery store floral clerk, and a vase. It's gonna be great. :)


What Caused You To Be a Defender of the LGBTQ Community?
#8
12/04/2023

This episode's question comes from Princess, who asks how I became a "defender of the LGBTQIA+ community"? I will make some confessions in this episode as we explore working together for a better world.


Braver Angels with Melinda Voss
#7
11/20/2023

Politics increasingly seems like a violent sport where no one wins. Is there hope for a better politics? Join Pastor Adam as he talks with award winning journalist and member of Braver Angels as they discuss the hope for better politics.


How To Remember Who You Are
#6
11/06/2023

Our culture tells us who we are, but is our culture lying? You may have received harmful messages about yourself from religious leaders, capitalism, politicians, parents, and others. But those harmful messages are lies. Don't believe them. The truth is that at your core you are the object of God's affection and love. Check out this episode to hear more about how to remember who you are.


The Top 3 Most Underrated Chapters of the Bible
#5
10/30/2023

In this episode, we explore the top three most underrated chapters of the Bible. We have three suggestions from social media friends, an honorable mention, and my vote for the most underrated passage in. the Bible.


Who Is the Christlike Witch of the Bible?
#4
10/23/2023

Did you know the only story in the Bible about a witch reveals her to be a Christ-like figure? Her story is found in 1 Samuel 28. We discuss her in today's episode of One Question with Pastor Adam.


Google's Top Theology Questions
#3
10/02/2023

You have questions about religion and theology. We all have questions. Even Google has questions.So in this episode, we will explore the top questions about theology from Google's search engine.


Are You Still Here? The Rapture, Lauren Boebert, and Christian Nationalism
#2
09/25/2023

The Rapture could have happened on Tuesday, according to one viral YouTube video. Are you still here? Also, Lauren Boebert went to the theater and a funny thing happened. Let's discuss on this episode of One Question with Pastor Adam.


Is God Nonviolent with Dr. Sharon Putt
#1
09/18/2023

Welcome to season 4 of One Question with Pastor Adam! In this first episode of season 4, we talk with Dr. Sharon Putt, Professor of Theology and Religion at Messiah University. Sharon helps us understand the ancient strands of Christianity that reveal the nonviolent love of God. Sharon is the author of many articles and books, including "Razing Hell: Rethinking Everything You've Been Taught about God's Wrath and Judgment" and "A Nonviolent Theology of Love: Peacefully Confessing the Apostles Creed."


Did Paul Think that Flesh Is Evil? with Dr. Ryan Hansen
#47
07/24/2023

Paul had some pretty negative thoughts about the "flesh." But what did Paul mean by "flesh"? Did he hate flesh? Or was he talking about something different? How can the flesh be bad when Genesis 1 tells us that human bodies are good? Or that God became flesh in Jesus? Join Pastor Adam and Dr. Ryan Hansen as they discuss Paul and the flesh!


What They Don't Tell You About the Greatest Commandment
#46
07/17/2023

Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to love God and to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Progressive Christianity emphasizes the commandment to love, but many of us struggle to love ourselves. No one teaches us how to love ourselves. Join me in this episode as we talk about practical ways that we can love ourselves as we love others.