If you're a Christian, and you're American, you've probably been taught that socialism is unbiblical. That capitalism is God's chosen economic system. That Jesus would be against redistributing wealth, and the early church in the book of Acts was nothing more than a group of friends sharing their stuff. But are these arguments true?

In today's episode, we are going to be answering the question – should Christians be socialist? Are Christian ethics really at odds with socialism? Or have many of us been taught a version of Christianity that was blended with modern conservative political and economic ideologies that have little to do with the radical call of Jesus Christ?

Show Notes:

1. Dead Internet Theory Def - https://www.vice.com/en/article/dead-internet-theory-is-back-thanks-to-all-of-that-ai-slop/
2. What Makes Us Free- Throughline on NPR https://www.npr.org/2025/07/10/1255443727/what-makes-us-free-07-10-2025
3. Parable of the Talents- Matthew 25:14-30
4. Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard- Matthew 20:1-16
5. Sharing things in Common Acts 2:44-47
6. Ananais and Sapphira Acts 5:1-11
7. Working for Bread 2 Thessalonians 3:10
8. Good Fortune Movie- https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/good_fortune
9. Leith Ross- I Can See the Future https://leithross.com/
10. Syrophoenecian Woman- Matthew 15:21-28

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

Conservative figures like podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey and theologian Joe Rigney are leading a campaign against a feeling they consider dangerous and are weaponizing against Christians—empathy. They argue that empathy has been hijacked and can become toxic and sinful. In this episode, we'll explore their distinction between what they call "toxic empathy" and "biblical compassion." We analyze their arguments, their use of the Bible, and how they overlook the teachings and ministry of Jesus to justify their claims. Ultimately, the conservative opposition to empathy helps explain some of the cruelty emerging from the Trump administration and their willingness to starve women and children to make a political point.

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Show Notes

1. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/texas-megachurch-tiktok-baby-formula-b2863291.html
2. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/woman-called-lakewood-church-asking-132510186.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADQCTJ57PswQV8JV_QLVUpSRj7VFB1g5_NgeMdCVwiqEllHyZ4kvwlCNGUh-3QM2FM4VzDmI0Zr3FXb8QGQ3RpMpNXs1UoEwNuWHnnIRqkrYEgB1y9hvyJWa44QFpJQ-oMdgO5PXqHIKZwGJs-UfRPkHi9vQyoVEPxRfxNDq2L4d

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

Vice President JD Vance wants to be the next leader of the MAGA movement. Speaking during a recent Turning Point USA event at Ole Miss, he cast a vision for America that blends Christian Nationalism, white supremacy, and conservative populism. In this episode, we discuss Vance's beliefs about immigration, how his wife, Usha Vance, got caught up in the rhetoric, and how Pope Francis and Pope Leo offer a very different Roman Catholic perspective on how we are to love our immigrant neighbors.

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Show Notes

1. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/03/great-gatsby-book-fitzgerald-race-interpretation/672778/
2. Gina Zurlo- https://ginazurlo.com/
3. https://www.rev.com/transcripts/vance-speaks-at-turning-point-event
4. Usha Vance interview with Meghan McCain- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwpR0yUWgvY
5. https://www.thelettersfromleo.com/p/why-two-popes-told-jd-vance-he-was
6. https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/jd-vance-wrong-jesus-doesnt-ask-us-rank-our-love-others
7. https://katarmas.substack.com/p/the-pope-shared-my-article-and-the

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

This is the second episode in a three-part series on Christian Nationalism and its role in Donald Trump's White House. In this episode, we discuss Pete Hegseth and how his theology is influencing the Department of Defense. Hegseth was affiliated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) in Nashville before his appointment, and he has stated that he affirms the teachings of Doug Wilson, a pastor and co-founder of the CREC. Wilson openly endorses Christian Nationalism and believes that America, and indeed the entire world, should be governed by biblical principles—specifically, his own interpretation of those principles.

Show Notes

1. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-to-know-about-the-archconservative-church-defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-attends
2. https://theconversation.com/what-is-crec-the-christian-nationalist-group-has-a-vision-for-america-and-defense-secretary-pete-hegseths-support-258273
3. https://religionnews.com/2025/07/14/with-pete-hegseth-in-the-pews-a-christian-nationalist-outpost-launches-in-dc/
4. https://youtube.com/shorts/JGoymv33ZWc?si=0Czzwd_D6msjk0gx
5. https://youtu.be/qFeIO0ZjdF8?si=KnSmLODBeVQ2JTCA

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

This is the first of a three-episode series on Christian nationalism and its influence in Donald Trump's White House. In this episode, we define Christian Nationalism and describe how Christian Nationalists use religion to shape American politics. We specifically discuss the impact of Stephen Miller and Russ Vought and how their policies on immigration, border protection, the government shutdown, and public services cannot, in good faith, be called Christian.

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

Show Notes

1. Southern Poverty Law Center Profile of Stephen Miller https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/stephen-miller/
2. The Top 5 Most Awful Things You Need To Know About Stephen Miller https://www.commoncause.org/articles/top-5-most-awful-things-you-need-to-know-about-stephen-miller/
3. What You Should Know About Russ Vought, Trump's Shadow President https://www.propublica.org/article/about-russell-vought-trump-shadow-president#:~:text=1.,Hill%20colleague%20of%20Vought's%20said.
4. The Shadow President https://www.propublica.org/article/russ-vought-trump-shadow-president-omb

In this episode, we are joined by Claire McKeever-Burgett, author of In the Beginning Were the Women, to explore some of the well-known and lesser-known women in the Bible. From the mystics to the brave to the misunderstood and overlooked, these women played essential roles in their communities and our faith tradition. Throughout our conversation, you will gain a deeper understanding of how these stories are relevant to our lives today.

Show Notes:

1. Young Republicans group chat article - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/private-chat-among-young-gop-club-members-00592146
2. https://chalicepress.com/products/in-the-beginning-were-the-women?srsltid=AfmBOorso8YVfRoE0GBsK3Uq2cioci5SHk0Ghmn9OArVJYZ1UWWZK4ma
3. https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/news/new-study-finds-single-women-are-happier-single-men
4. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/marriage-and-mens-health
5. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/5-types-of-people-who-can-ruin-your-life/202403/is-marriage-good-or-bad-for-women

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on YouTube and all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

"A Progressive Christian is an oxymoron" is probably the most popular (simple-minded and incorrect) critique that we receive from people trolling our YouTube comments and Apple Music reviews. Given the frequency of the comments, we figured that our amazing listeners probably hear the same comments from people in their own community. So, in this episode, we address five common myths about progressive Christianity. From the bible, to sin and salvation, we wanted to bring some clarity to the conversation.

We have discussed a lot of these topics already, and we have listed each myth and the corresponding episode title where we discussed it below. Please click here to find links to our previous episodes.

• Myth 1 - Progressive Christians don't believe in the bible.
  • Episode 28 - Do Progressive Christians Believe In The Bible?
• Myth 3 - Progressive Christians don't believe in sin.
  • Episode 29 - What Is Sin?
  • Episode 36 - The Problem of Evil with Dr. Becky Copeland.
• Myth 4 - Progressive Christians don't believe in "real" salvation.
  • Episode 34 - What Do Progressive Christians Believe About Salvation?
  • Episode 56 - Beyond the "Thin Blue Line": Exposing The Religious Roots of Mass Incarceration.
• Myth 5 - Progressive theology was created to normalize sinful behavior.
  • Episode 27 - Sex, Gender, and Christian Theology

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

Join us as we delve into a nuanced discussion on purity, shame, and "biblical" marriage—topics often surrounded by controversy and misinformation, especially within traditional religious circles. Using the perspectives of liberation, feminist, and womanist theologies, we analyze how religion, economics, and politics have always intertwined, shaping our views on purity, marriage, and divorce.

As progressive Christians, we aim to approach this conversation with empathy and understanding, acknowledging the damage that shame and judgment can cause to individuals, particularly women and members of the LGBTQ community. Whether you're seeking to unlearn purity culture, engage in conversations with conservative friends, or are simply curious about progressive Christian perspectives on intimacy, this episode is for you.

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

Show Notes

1. Clobbering Biblical Gay Bashing https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thegodarticle/2011/10/clobbering-biblical-gay-bashing/
2. Just Love- Margaret Farley https://www.google.com/books/edition/Just_Love/L6p9ZVblRNwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
3. The Purity Myth- Jessica Valenti https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Purity_Myth/rQ10AIsHNa4C?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
4. Clobbering Biblical Gay Bashing by Mark Sandlin https://www.patheos.com/blogs/thegodarticle/2011/10/clobbering-biblical-gay-bashing/
5. Biblical Perspectives on Homosexuality by Walter Wink https://reconcilingworks.org/images/stories/downloads/resources/003_Homosexuality_and_the_Bible-Wink.pdf
6. The Great Sex Rescue- by Sheila Wray Gregoire https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Great_Sex_Rescue/x2caEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover

In this episode, we explore the complex factors that lead individuals to depart from their faith communities and the experiences and desires that ultimately bring them back. We explain why progressive Churches are well-equipped to meet the needs of people who are searching for an authentic faith community that engages the social and political realities of our time. We close out the show by answering questions from listeners on gender roles and progressive views of the afterlife.

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

In a society saturated with violence, how do we, as Christians, process ongoing trauma? In this important yet heavy episode, we explore the concept of moral injury with insights from a combat veteran. We confront the dangerous "myth of redemptive violence," examining how it normalizes harm in our culture and even in our faith. This discussion offers an honest look at the widespread trauma we all carry, from personal experiences to the psychological violence caused by living in a culture of misinformation, disinformation, and outright lies

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at [email protected].

Show Notes

1. https://benqohelet.substack.com/about
2. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ethics-and-international-affairs/article/moral-injury-and-the-lived-experience-of-political-violence/DB2C6314078D608514FD78F046F6B1A8