How Progressive Christians “Help” Evangelicals Shift Beliefs
Jan 12, 2025
auto_awesome
Ashlee Quosigk, a homeschool mom and co-author of ONE FAITH NO LONGER, explores the intricate relationship between progressive and conservative Christianity. She discusses strategies used by progressive Christians to shift evangelical beliefs about sin, hell, and scripture. The conversation reveals how moral authority is perceived differently, and highlights the tensions faced by families navigating these changes. Ashlee also shares insights on fostering meaningful faith discussions between parents and their children amidst these evolving beliefs.
Progressive Christianity employs insular leadership strategies that limit exposure to conservative viewpoints, creating a uniform theological narrative within congregations.
The approach of progressive churches often involves subtly redefining key concepts like sin and salvation to promote inclusivity, which can shift congregants' beliefs.
The divergence between progressive and conservative Christians fundamentally centers on moral authority, with progressives prioritizing subjective experience over scriptural foundations.
Deep dives
Research Motivations
The guest's research stems from personal and academic interests in how Christians engage with Islam, particularly due to her familial ties to Pakistan. Her studies aimed to explore the diverse opinions among Christian speakers at an evangelical conference on Islam, revealing significant theological divides between progressive and conservative Christians. This exploration uncovered unexpected insights about how these two groups approach moral authority and their interpretations of religious texts. Ultimately, the research evolved into a deeper investigation of the differing beliefs within Christianity, particularly regarding the interaction with Islam.
Leadership Dynamics in Progressive Christianity
Leadership within progressive Christian congregations tends to be insular, often excluding diverse opinions, especially from conservative perspectives. This creates a stark contrast with conservative churches that may be more accepting of a variety of viewpoints. Such insularity allows progressive leadership to maintain a more uniform narrative that promotes their theological stance while limiting exposure to opposing beliefs. This strategy can also lead to a misleading perception among congregants who may be unaware of the progressive leanings of their church's leadership.
Shaping the Narrative
Progressive churches often control the narrative presented during services, downplaying controversial beliefs to create a more traditional atmosphere. Teaching methodologies aim to introduce progressive ideas subtly, avoiding potential backlash from attendees. For instance, conferences may present Islam in a positive light, emphasizing shared values rather than highlighting differences. This strategy aims to shift congregants’ perceptions of Islam, potentially altering their existing views without them fully recognizing the transformation occurring in their beliefs.
The Role of Terminology and Definitions
Progressive Christians utilize flexible terminology to redefine key concepts in ways that serve their goals, such as suggesting that a Muslim can also be a follower of Jesus. This redefinition often involves downplaying traditional doctrines in favor of broader interpretations that promote unity among different faiths. By presenting progressive views as more inclusive, they seek to dismantle long-standing distinctions between Christianity and other religions. This approach can lead to significant theological shifts that may not be apparent to many congregants, who might struggle to reconcile these new definitions with established beliefs.
Moral Authority and Theological Differences
The distinction between progressive and conservative Christianity often hinges on where each group finds moral authority, with progressives leaning toward subjective experience and conservatives toward external, scriptural foundations. This divergence shapes their understanding of essential doctrines, including the nature of sin, salvation, and the authority of the Bible. For progressives, concepts like original sin and divine judgment may be minimized in favor of communal perspectives that focus on broader social justice issues. In contrast, conservatives maintain a more traditional view that emphasizes personal sin and the role of Christ's sacrifice.
What strategies do Progressive Christianity use to help lead Conservative Christians to have a paradigm shift about sin, hell, the Bible, and various moral issues? In this interview, I talk with Dr. Ashlee Quosigk, co-author of ONE FAITH NO LONGER.
WATCH: Are Progressive and Conservative Christianity Different Faiths? Yes!(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoTim3-j7d8)
READ: One Faith No Longer by Ashlee Quosigk and George Yancey (https://amzn.to/3mdx9Zd
*Get a MASTERS IN APOLOGETICS or SCIENCE AND RELIGION at BIOLA (https://bit.ly/3LdNqKf)
*USE Discount Code [SMDCERTDISC] for 25% off the BIOLA APOLOGETICS CERTIFICATE program (https://bit.ly/3AzfPFM)
*See our fully online UNDERGRAD DEGREE in Bible, Theology, and Apologetics: (https://bit.ly/448STKK)
FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sean_McDowell
TikTok: @sean_mcdowell
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmcdowell/
Website: https://seanmcdowell.org
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode