So, I'm kinda heavy into the whole podcast thing right now. Like having my own personal radio network with me all day at work. It's cool. Are there any progressive-Christian podcasts?

It kinda depends on what is meant by Progressive Christianity but I like the audio and the podcast for sojourners magazine at www.sojo.net. Yes, they take the Bible iterally, including the teachings of Jesus but their politics is far from right wing. For example, they are against aboirtion but they are more concerned with the issues that cause abortion such as poverty. Last Pentcost, sojourners organized a rally to protest the cuts in taxes for the wealth and cuts to services for those with low income. Belief.net also has audio files on both progressive and conservative Christians.

I think of the Sojourners as moderates with kind of what I have been calling "soft" literalism. I think that Jim Wallis takes the Bible literally but perhaps not every single word or story. For instance, I doubt he'd say Jonah was swallowed by a whale (or fish). But his politics are fairly liberal. Yes, he is opposed to abortion but would like to have a serious discussion on really reducing abortions (hey I'd like that conversation as well). And I think he is opposed to gay marriage but would favor something like marriages by churches not
being "legal" and civil unions (of any kind-- I think two people though) being legal. Then churches could choose whether or not to marry someone, but that marriage would have spiritual signficance rather than be
state sponsored. (I think it woudl be a good compromise.) He is strongest in the area of poverty, and not even so outspoken on the environment, though he does discuss it.

I think he woudl be interesting to listen to. His book seemed very much like it was a set of sermons or other talks, and was redundant, but I bet he makes a good speaker.


--des

Jim Wallis gives me hope. Hope that things can change. Hope that things can turn around.


I would like add that you can find audio files by searching the audio of individual progressive Christian writers and thinkers. For example, I found Elaine pagels on NPR on her book "Beyond Belief".
Marilyn