Each week, Progressive Faith Sermons-Dr. Roger Ray offers a thoughtful exploration of modern spirituality and ethics, rooted in the inclusive community of the Community Christian Church in Springfield, Missouri. Hosted by Dr. Roger Ray, this podcast presents recorded sermons that bridge traditional Christian faith with urgent contemporary questions. The discussions move beyond doctrine to engage deeply with philosophy, culture, and the practical work of social justice, reflecting a commitment to accepting all people without judgment. Listeners will hear a unique blend of theological insight, cultural commentary, and ethical challenge, all aimed at fostering a more compassionate and equitable society. This isn't about simple answers; it's about wrestling with complex ideas on how to live a meaningful, faithful life in a complicated world. Tune in for a perspective that is both intellectually rigorous and grounded in a tangible desire for community and change. You can find this podcast wherever you listen, inviting you into a ongoing conversation about what it means to believe, belong, and act justly today.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 350

Progressive Faith Sermons - Dr. Roger Ray
Podcast Episodes
Gilgamesh: The problem with Enkidu - Dr. Roger Ray [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:03
The oldest known written story is the Gilgamesh Epic, the four-thousand-year-old tale of an ancient king who becomes obsessed with finding the secret to eternal life. From the dawn of civilization, humans have tried to g…
Wonders and Horrors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:56
As Dr. Ray turns 65, he and David Ketchum will begin to share the preaching load equally. On this special Sunday, Dr. Ray reflects back on his 43 years in the pulpit (so far) with some important observations on the natur…
Shedding Light on Residential Schools, Pt 1 - David "Katya" Ketchum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:44
The realities of residential schools and the tragedies of forced assimilation have filled the news this summer, to our grief, rage, and shame. So while we welcome Secretary Haaland's investigation into these schools and…
Does Democracy + Capitalism have to = Corruption? - Dr. Roger Ray [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:49
Capitalism is here to stay but that might not be a bad thing if we could put up the kind of guardrails that can harness the greed that drives it in a way that does not allow for the abuses it also engenders. Progressive…
Is Our Minimum Wage Just Slavery Reimagined? - Dr. Roger Ray [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:45
The way that we have settled into minimum wage laws is not simply an exploitation of the labor of the poor and, in fact, in many ways looks like a reconfiguring of slavery. Slave owners provided housing, food, clothing,…
Belief and Faith, Myth and Sacred Narrative [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:15
People often have passionate beliefs about things for which they have no evidence or, even worse, they believe in spite of contradictory evidence. In religion, such baseless convictions often masquerade as a virtue but i…
Living Beyond Religious Guilt, Fear, and Manipulation - Dr. Roger Ray [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:16
Let's be honest, most of the truth claims made by traditional forms of almost all religions are not just beyond anyone's ability to prove, they are, by and large obvious absurd to any critical thinker. It wasn't just Vol…