“Progressive” Christianity?
Although Stephanie Perdew makes many cogent claims in her column “Why I don’t like the label ‘progressive Christianity’” (April), I’m wary of her claim that progressive Christianity is largely embedded in capitalism. When Jesus overturns the tables of the money changers, is he not aiming for integrity, honesty, inclusivity, and justice—values that encourage striving for continuous improvement in humaneness rather than financial success? I wish Perdew had been more specific.
As a human secularist and lapsed Lutheran-EpiscoPresbyterian, I believe that the term progressive indicates the challenge of always moving toward that which is good, right, and salutary—and that which is breaking constraints that would hold us back. God knows we don’t need bigger, better cathedrals to accomplish that. We simply need bigger arms and hearts to embrace our fellow humans regardless of nationality, skin color, gender, educational degrees, and, yes, religious affiliations.
—Alinda Wasner
Beverly Hills, MI'
