EP 100: Not Real Christians: Why Conservatives Keep Questioning Our Faith

We're celebrating 100 episodes 🥳 and marking it with a book giveaway! And by discussing the kind of accusation that led us to start this podcast in the first place. If progressive Christians disagree with conservative Christians about what the core of the faith requires, does that make us not Christian? A new report from Religion News Service shows Republican politicians questioning whether Democratic clergy are "real" pastors or "real" Christians at all. This is an old tactic, and in this episode we discuss this specific story and how to respond to the accusation that if you're a progressive Christian then you're not a real Christian. We unpack the theological history behind who gets to claim "real" Christianity, and rearticulate the vision that's carried this podcast for 100 episodes: progressive theology isn't a departure from 2,000 years of Christian history. It's rooted in it. Whether you've been with us since episode one or you just found us this month, this one's for you. 📚 Book Giveaway! 📚Leave a comment on YouTube describing one thing you've learned from listening to this podcast over the last 100 episodes. We'll select 5 random commenters to win a book selected by a member of the pod with a personal note. We will announce the winners on our August 14th episode. 🎙️ New episodes every Friday, on all platforms. 💛 Support the show! Your tax-deductible donation keeps this ministry going https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct 📩 Watching on YouTube? Like and subscribe. Listening on Apple or Spotify? Rate, subscribe, and leave a comment — it genuinely helps the algorithm find more people like you. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack! Chapters 0:00 Cold Open/When Your Faith Is Questioned 3:58 Intro & Celebrating 100 Episodes 10:31 Why Do Conservatives Question Our Faith? 18:53 Deconstructing Conservative Views of the Christian Way of Life 28:28 Why Progressive Ideas Feel Threatening 42:39 Book Giveaway! 44:50 Why We Started This Podcast 58:25 The Mission and Vision of Our Podcast & What's Next 1:04:20 Good News & Closing