I do not consider myself a “religious” person but I am interested in religion and it’s impact on people and societies. Like many people reading this, I think of myself as more “spiritual” than anything else these days. As a kid, I sang in a church choir in Spokane briefly. As a teenager, threatened with Viet Nam, I explored my spiritual beliefs and came to the conclusion at that time that most religions taught peace rather than war. As an adult, I met Milton at Metropolitan Community Church in 1982, which I was attending for the purpose of singing and meeting new people rather than out of any strong convictions. Later, in about 2000, Milton and I attended a welcoming and affirming First Christian Church in Vallejo and really did feel welcomed and affirmed.

My mom was always anti-fundamentalist. She believed in science and taught her children the importance of critical thinking. I don’t remember her ever attending any church. My dad was raised a Southern Baptist but I don’t remember him ever attending a church service either.

Here, I want to talk about Christianity, seekers, and progressive vs traditionalist Christians in this country. My feeling is that There is a culture war going on in this country and progressive Christians need to be on the front lines, not on the sidelines. Many people are not even aware there are “progressive Christians.” I want to help answer the question “Who are progressive Christians and what do they believe?” All Christians are not fundamentalists.

I believe that the religious right is more visible than the religious left. I believe that a large part of this visibility has to do with the religious right being more willing to use modern seeker /alternative/ contemporary/ multicultural/ multi-generational styles of worship services. I want to answer the question “Why should progressive Christians care about seeker worship and other new modern styles of worship that effectively reach the masses?”

5. Anti-authoritarian
6. Spiritual progressives have a nurturant form of religion or spirituality, their spiritual experience has to do with their connection to other people and the world, and their spiritual practice has to do with service to other people and to their community. Spiritual progressives span the full range from Catholics and Protestants to Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Goddess worshippers, and pagan members of Wicca.

Mr. Lakoff discusses how the various types of conservatives have put their differences aside and says that the eight different types of progressives must also put their differences aside. The political right works in concert with the religious right. The political left must do the same. The political right has learned to frame the discussion in metaphors and terms that are user friendly.

The religious right has learned to present their theology in user friendly terms and popular rhythms and this is often referred to as “seeker” worship. The religious right has been able to connect with “unchurched Harry’s” and have grown exponentially while the religious left gets smaller and smaller. When the subject of “values” are brought up during elections, the religious right dominates and controls the conversation because they use media and services that speak to the masses. Sadly, the religious left only preaches to the choir. Unchurched Harry can’t relate to the intellectualism or traditionalism of most liberal left churches. Unchurched Harry needs to “feel” something in church before he will be open to theological ideas and progressive concepts.

Progressives lose if we allow conservatives to control the conversation either politically or spiritually. There are many websites about progressive Christians and there are many websites about new forms of worship. 

Broad Generalizations Regarding the Culture War