Ideas are Immortal

Ideas are Immortal

Author: Dr. Roger Ray April 20, 2025 Duration: 16:08

By the end of the first century of the common era, the message of Jesus the preacher had been entirely transformed into a message about Jesus, turning the spokesperson of radical compassion into a magical symbol who hods out a promise of life after death. We have no reliable sources to tell us much about the message of the historical Jesus since the authors of the New Testament had their own agendas which had little or nothing to do with what the historical Jesus had to say. We have only hints and suggestions of what really happened on the first Easter but this message attempts to strip away the dirt and stones that both Rome and the early church tried to bury Jesus' message under.


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: 100

Progressive Faith Sermons - Dr. Roger Ray
Podcast Episodes
When Philanthropy Goes Bad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:58
This part 1 of a two-part series on philanthropy. Today we consider the ways that charitable foundations can be twisted into being tax loopholes for the super-rich while still allowing the wealthy to use 95% of the found…
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In Honor of ​Childless Mothers​ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:04
t is Mother's Day but rather than deliver a solipsistic sermon in praise of mothers, I am going to talk about influential female mentors who never gave birth. This is a personal message, naming the wise women who guided…
Quicker to Cut than to Care: The Urgency of Climate Justice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:22
With the release of the final section of the IPCC's sixth report last month, humans are without excuse. There is no time left to value short-term profits over long term health. It took billions of years for all this eart…
Compassion is the Foundation of Faith and Civilization [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:05
Without absolutes, without a God given set of rules in holy writ or a supernatural theistic judge in the clouds, how do we determine right from wrong or even sensibly talk about what it means to be good? Are these arbitr…
Who Wants to Be a Good Person? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:47
In the ancient Persian slave ghetto, Zoroastrian religion evolved an expression of ethics and eternity that influenced what became modern Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Their succinct description of how to be a good p…