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unlearning Islamophobia

Lindsey Paris-Lopez

Unlearning Islamophobia and Building Interfaith Friendships

Lindsey Paris-Lopez brings her experience of converting to Islam then returning to Christianity to guide us in unlearning Islamophobia.

exodus from hell

Exodus from Hell: Unlearning What You’ve Been Taught About Salvation

Pastor Adam Ericksen begins with the word Sheol to lead an exodus from hell so we can unlearn what we've been taught about salvation.

the pain of original sin

Lindsey Paris-Lopez

Question: What Is Your Belief As Far As Original Sin?

Interpretations of original sin often lead to judgment, separation, and violence. Lindsey Paris-Lopez guides us to escape original sin on the path of Love.

Unlearning Christian Homophobia

While some Christians uses passages in the Bible used to harm and exclude our LGBTQIA siblings, Pastor Adam Ericksen reveals how the Bible naturally leads Christians to be open and affirming.

unlearning violent christianity

Unlearning Violent Christianity

There is a longing in every human heart to be loved for exactly who we are. Many of us yearn to belong within a community that recognizes our potential and helps us live into it.

Blogs

Why It’s Okay To Pray for Yourself

Raven ReView Religion

Why It’s Okay To Pray for Yourself

Adam Ericksen explains why it’s okay to pray for yourself and, if you're a fan like he is, the Portland Trailblazers.

Why I Support Satanism

Raven ReView Religion

Why This Pastor Supports Satanists

After encountering a Satanist Uber driver and getting support from Satanist TikTokers, Adam Ericksen sees Satanism in a new light.

Raven ReView Relationships

Interview with Raven Award Winner, Film Director Andrew Ahn

Adam Ericksen's interview of 2020 Raven Award Winner Andrew Ahn about his film "Driveways" reveals behind the scenes stories.

Overcoming salvation anxiety

Raven ReView Religion

Overcoming Salvation Anxiety: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Father’s Atheism

Lindsey Paris-Lopez reveals how her father's lack of belief in God through struggle, doubt, and anxiety, ultimately deepened and strengthened hers.

Podcasts

Following Jesus: Do We Know What We're Getting Ourselves Into?

Jesus Unmasked Raven Radio Religion

What We’re Getting Ourselves Into? (Mark 10:35-45)

Adam Ericksen and Lindsey Paris-Lopez join James and John in pondering what are we getting ourselves into when we follow Jesus.

Imagine all the people sharing all the world

Jesus Unmasked Raven Radio Religion

Imagine All The People Sharing All The World (Mark 10:17-31)

Adam Ericksen leads the conversation imagining all the people sharing all the world with love and compassion as Jesus showed us.

ravenfoundation

I affirm your soul-searching. Soul-searches cataly

I affirm your soul-searching. Soul-searches catalyzed by compassion are gifts of the Spirit, even when they're difficult.

And you're right. God is Love. Love doesn't condemn anyone to hell.

It wasn't God's wrath that killed Jesus, but humanity's.

Jesus loved beyond boundaries, and boundaries make people feel safer. Jesus' boundless love -- to lepers and demoniacs, to those deemed sinners, to enemies -- challenged those whose sense of identity was over and against those deemed "other." Jesus also challenged religious and political corruption which exploited and impoverished the people. And in preaching the Kingdom of God, in which all are welcomed and valued, he directly challenged the Kingdom of Caesar and the logic of sacrifice which deems that for some to thrive, others must suffer; for some to live, others must die.

In a world where identity is formed against others and wealth is acquired through force and exploitation, universal love threatens the status quo. That's why Jesus was killed.

When Jesus died on the cross, he showed God's solidarity with the outcast and "criminal." He showed that when we harm people, especially in the name of God, we actually harm God. "Whatever you do to the least of these…"

Jesus shows us that the ways of violence lead not to safety or righteousness, but death. But in answering violence with forgiveness, Jesus shows us how to stop violence in its tracks. In the resurrection, Jesus shows that Love is not bound by death. Rather than asserting ourselves against each other, we can find our belonging, security, and identity in Love.

In Christ, God was reconciling the world to God's self. At-one-ment is not about saving us from a nonexistent hell of God's making. Rather, it's about freeing us from the hells we put ourselves and others through when we live by violence and exclusion. Jesus doesn't assuage God's wrath, but disarms ours with forgiveness, helping us to live "at one" with each other and God in Love.

Lots of love,
Lindsey Paris-LopezTheologian-in-Residence

#unlearnchristianity #christianity #progressivechristianity #unlearning #toxicchristianity #unlearnhell #unlearning

From Pastor @adamericksen: God created the world

From Pastor @adamericksen:

God created the world and called it good.

Like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Christians should passionately support efforts to help reduce the impact of human induced climate change to protect God's good earth and the creatures within it.

Climate change is causing disastrous effects, including increased fires, intense storms, and melting ice caps. These events often effect the most vulnerable among us.

Let us follow the science and the command to love our neighbors and work to end human induced climate change.

#climatechange #globalwarming #desmondtutu #quoteoftheday #qotd #progressivechristianity #godislove

God bless you in your new marriage. While the tea

God bless you in your new marriage.

While the teachings attributed to Jesus on divorce and remarriage strike me as difficult, here are 4 things I know for sure: God wants everyone to love and be loved completely and wholeheartedly.God wants to relieve and heal the suffering of everyone trapped in violence.

God forgives, and calls us to forgive, in order to relieve us from cycles of resentment and pain, not to trap us in them. Forgiveness does not mean anyone is required to stay in abusive relationships. When you are not valued or loved, shake the dust from your feet.Marriages of love, following divorce or otherwise, are blessings.

Jesus is speaking at a time when women were particularly vulnerable. Divorcing a woman could leave her destitute. Jesus wants us to understand that our responsibility to care for each other is built into us and doesn't disappear with a certificate of divorce.
But sometimes, compassion requires divorce and support for divorcees.

In the case of domestic violence, Jesus is abundantly clear. Just before the passage on divorce in Mark, he tells people to cut off their own limbs rather than harm someone else. Few people take those instructions literally, but the overall message for caring for the vulnerable and avoiding harm is unmistakeable. If the Church or anyone else tells someone suffering that they should continue to suffer, they contribute to suffering too. Then it's better for a millstone to be put around their necks.

Jesus uses extreme language to awaken us to the truth that when we hurt others, we're already hurting ourselves. There may not have been a scenario, at the time, in which divorce could be seen as the more compassionate path (making any discussion about remarriage moot). But we know those scenarios exist today.

Jesus guides us in creating a world where we love and care for each other. That requires refusing to take divorce lightly, but also understanding the need sometimes for divorce and the blessing of remarriage.

Lots of love,

Lindsey Paris-LopezTheologian-in-Residence

#marriage #divorce #theology #christianity #progressivechristianity #godislove #religion

Answer: I would feel honored and blessed. And I w

Answer: I would feel honored and blessed.

And I would say, "God loves you, too."

No matter what God is called, no matter what form in which God is recognized, the most crucial thing to understand is that God loves universally and unconditionally.

There are so many different names for God, so many different understandings of God, within each religion and across all religions. Every religion can be interpreted exclusively or inclusively. When I meet people who tell me their God(s) love me, I believe I am meeting people who interpret their faiths inclusively. They are moved by the Spirit of Love to speak in love. Then I know I have met a kindred soul, and I'm grateful.

I might also take it as an opportunity to learn about the personal faith of the person speaking to me, beyond the doctrines of the religion. I'd probably ask what God means to them, how they experience God in their lives. I'd ask if there's any story of their faith that particularly moves or inspires them.

Over time, I might share what I love about my own faith in the spirit of interfaith dialogue and communion.

A comment like this could be a random act of kindness or a doorway into a deep and beautiful friendship, or both. It's always best to receive a comment given in love with love.

True, these words have been spoken in attempts to proselytize and try to convert. I am truly sorry when they are spoken by Christians with ulterior motives to change the faith of whomever they are being spoken to. "God loves you" should always be words of comfort, never words that induce fear or anxiety.

I believe that God is Love, and that Love doesn't care what it is called or how it is recognized. Love is honored when people treat each other with compassion. We all grow in faith when we come to know each other and share our myriad perspectives, all of which reflect the beautiful diversity in which we are created by the Divine Spirit, who goes by many names.

Lots of love,
Lindsey Paris-LopezTheologian-in-Residence

#godislove #unlearningchristianity #theology #religion #faithjourney #progressivechristianity #progressivechristian #everythingchristian

I don't personally believe this, but I respect peo

I don't personally believe this, but I respect people who do. I believe God is Love, and Love has always worked through human communities, stories, and religions.

I love this question, though, because I've always loved mythology. The stories and characters that helped shape ancient societies continue to leave their mark on our culture today.

But, honestly, I wouldn't want a god like Zeus to have existed. Who wants gods who get into vindictive squabbles and rape, murder, and wreak havoc in human lives?

But there are also stories in the Bible that attribute horrific violence to the God I do worship. The Bible shows Love guiding people through misunderstanding. For example, in the story of the binding of Isaac, Abraham hears a call from his God, Elohim, to sacrifice his son. But later, the God who stays his hand is YHWH, who "desires mercy, not sacrifice." This change in understanding of God, from violent to loving, is so powerful that a new name is used.

All religions contain human misunderstanding. Still, lessons of Love are also found in every religion, including ancient myths. One is the myth of King Midas, who regrets obtaining a "golden touch" when it means a kiss from his daughter turns her into mere metal. The moral of the value of love over greed is also affirmed when Jesus says "You cannot serve God and money."

One sense in which I do believe in the gods of ancient mythologies co-existing with Love is as "powers and principalities." When we trust in violence or wealth, we worship gods like Mars and Pluto. On the other hand, there are polytheisms that see multiple deities as being different manifestations of Love, guided as much by Love as the Abrahamic traditions that make up the path I choose.

What matters more than names and numbers of gods is whether faith leads to compassion.

Love moves through but isn't boxed in by religion. Any faith, be it in one God, many, or in no god but rather the best of humanity, that helps us love each other and creation honors Love.

Lots of Love,

Lindsey Paris-Lopez
Theologian-in-Residence

#unlearn #unlearning #unlearntorelearn #crhistianity #progressivechristianity #theology #godislove

Do you view unlearning as an act of self-love? 🤔

Unlearning toxic theology benefits the world around us as we help our communities evolve and change, but it also ultimately helps us learn to love ourselves, heal our spiritual wounds, and better understand the way God loves us. 🕊

Be sure to check out our ever-growing library of resources on our website to help you on your unlearning journey!

#godislove #unlearning #unlearn #unlearntorelation #unlearnchristianity #unlearningchristianity #progressivechristianity #selflove #selfcare #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters

In our latest blog post, Lindsey Paris-Lopez bring

In our latest blog post, Lindsey Paris-Lopez brings her experience of converting to Islam then returning to Christianity to guide us in unlearning Islamophobia.

#unlearntorelearn #unlearning #unlearn #unlearnchristianity #islam #islamophobia #interfaith #interfaithrelationships #interfaithfriendships #progressivechristianity #godislove

I empathize with religious confusion. With loved o

I empathize with religious confusion. With loved ones of many religious and secular perspectives, I long struggled with "right belief," wondering how anyone could possibly know… and what would happen if we were "wrong."

My faith now in God as Love helps me to see the best in people, which in turn helps me to see the best in the different love languages that I understand religions and worldviews to be.

Religions attest to universal human needs of understanding, belonging, and security.

Love – God – guides us all through history and circumstances toward a deeper understanding of our unconditional dignity, interconnection, and responsibility to each other. How we recognize and experience Love varies, and different religions and perspectives form accordingly.

Many atheists who see no need for a personal deity still have faith in love as a force within and among us. In agnostics, I see a sense of humility to admit that there is so much we can't know, another expression of Love. Judaism and Christianity both teach that we are made in God's image, which reminds us of our responsibility to love each other. Islam teaches that there is no likeness to God, engendering modesty and respect and empathy for human limitation and fostering gratitude. Buddhism encourages mindfulness, leading to peace inside and out. Baha'ism emphasizes social justice and antiracism. Different faiths and worldviews are different responses to the impulse of Love.

We all, imperfectly, experience part of a greater Truth. Exclusive interpretations of religion cling to myopic visions that leave others out. But inclusive interpretations acknowledge that we can learn from each other while still having a particular angle according to our history, culture, and position in the world.

We live into our most authentic, compassionate selves when we let Love guide us in our understanding while recognizing that others are also guided by different but equally valid understandings of Love.

Lots of love,

Lindsey Paris-Lopez
Theologian-in-Residence

#progressivechristianity #christianity #unlearning #unlearn #unlearningchristianity #toxicchristianity #toxictheology #godislove

Pastor @adamericksen unpacks and deconstructs comm

Pastor @adamericksen unpacks and deconstructs common beliefs and misconceptions on a hot topic in our newest in-depth resource: "Exodus from Hell: Unlearning What You've Been Taught About Salvation." 🔥 Find it on the Raven Foundation website. Follow the link in our bio to dive in!

#unlearning #unlearn #unlearnchristianity #progressivechristianity #progressivechristian #biblestudy #bibleverses #theology #toxictheology #toxicchristianity #godislove

There is no embodied, personified evil being out t

There is no embodied, personified evil being out to get us.

#Satan is the spirit of accusation and over-againstness. When we condemn others by calling them or their behaviors "satanic," we become the very "satans" we accuse them of being.

The Hebrew term "ha satan" can be translated generically as "the adversary" or " the accuser," without (or with) capitalization. Throughout scripture, it has been used to convey earthly opponents as well as the "Ultimate Evil."

The changing concepts of "satan" reflect the ways the Jewish and early Christian communities wrestled with the problem of evil.

The evolving understandings of "satan" and "evil" was a journey that both intersected with and diverged from the evolving understandings of God and "goodness." In Job, "Satan" works alongside God as a heavenly prosecutor, urging God to test Job's faith with adversity. When Job asks, "Why, God?!," God's response is, "Who are you to question me?" Clearly, God's power and even "goodness" aren't yet understood to be love and mercy, though the trajectory of scripture heads in this direction. By Revelation, when God is shown through Christ to be universal, unconditional Love, "Satan" is the enemy God defeats.

A common factor in the different understandings is that "satan" is characterized by condemnation. Imagery depicting Satan as "prosecuting attorney" in the ultimate court of judgment contrast with the Holy Spirit, the "Advocate" or "Defense Attorney," the Spirit of Mercy and Love.

Bottom line: Condemnation never has the last word. The forces of demonization and criminalization that seek to reduce human beings – God's reflections of Love on earth – to their worst elements, cannot overcome the light of God in every human heart. "Satan" is a liar; that is, the powers of despair that tempt you to believe that you or anyone else is beyond forgiveness are deceptive. Satanic forces tempting us to see the worst in each other, catalyzing cycles of accusation and violence, cannot finally prevail against Love, which restores and makes all things well.

Lots of love,
Lindsey Paris-Lopez
Theologian-in-Residence

#progressivechristianity #progressivechristian #godislove #theology

Truth bomb via @blairimani #repost #quoteoftheday

Truth bomb via @blairimani #repost

#quoteoftheday #wordstoliveby #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #unlearning #unlearnandrelearn #unlearn #progressivechristianity #toxicchristianity #toxictheology #godislove

God is Love, and Love is within all of us. God's K

God is Love, and Love is within all of us. God's Kingdom, the Beloved Community, manifests on earth when we draw the love from within us out for the whole world: neighbors, strangers, and enemies.

And that's exactly what Jesus does at the Last Supper: he pours out the love within himself and calls his disciples to love all as he has loved them: completely, unconditionally, eternally.

The bread Jesus gives for the life of the world is his flesh.

Though there is blessing in consuming the bread and wine, all partake of the mercy the mass (communion) symbolizes, and all will be caught up in the eternal life of Love, whether or not we participate in this ritual. Jesus pours out forgiveness for all on the cross.
How does Jesus give his flesh for the life of the world?

In the incarnation, where God is born among us so we can recognize each other as image-bearers of Love.

In a life of service, caring for our bodily and spiritual needs: feeding the hungry, healing the sick, befriending the outcast.
And on the cross, where he's killed by a violent humanity thinking they are acting in God's name.

On the cross, Jesus shows that violence is what God suffers, not what God commands. When we hurt, exploit, or revel in righteousness against others, we crucify Christ again. And Christ's answer is always mercy and love.

When Jesus says, "Take and eat; this is my body," he alludes to the way we cannibalize others when we live at their expense and find our identity over and against them.

The Eucharist is anti-cannibalism. In the last supper, Jesus calls us not to take life from others, but receive from the One who gives freely, that we may freely give of ourselves. We're called to live in ways that nourish, not diminish, one another.

This is how to partake of the Bread of Life: see the divine spark in everyone, live a life of service and friendship, and find yourself not against anyone, but in ever-lasting Love, living for all, forever.

Lots of love,
Lindsey Paris-Lopez
Theologian in Residence

#godislove #toxicchristianity #progressivechristianity #progressivechristian #scriptureverses #biblestudy #biblereading #bibletruth #biblegram #biblestudymoments

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