Lucifer in LA

Lucifer in LA

Author: Dr. Roger Ray November 16, 2025 Duration: 17:23

In the Marvel Universe, the Norse god, Thor, takes his place alongside of Iron Man and Spider Man without theological comment on the improbability of either human superheroes or gods from Asgard existing. Most of the time we easily can tell the difference between what is real and what is fantasy but when it comes to religion, it seems that most people are all too willing to suspend reason and to at least pretend to dive into myths and fantasies. Such religion does us little good and more often does a great deal of harm. So, let's free ourselves from mental slavery since none but ourselves can free our minds!


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
Missouri's Anti-Trans Actions and Our Continued Resistance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:33
This last week, trans folks in Missouri have been living in the thick of the intentional, ongoing attacks against transgender lives. On Thursday, April 13, 2023, Missouri's Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, issued expande…
What is the Nature of the Mystery otherwise known as God? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:40
When we begin to give up the formal, creedal faith of our youth, accepting that no religion is entirely true and no sacred text was actually written by God, many people will abandon the journey of faith entirely. But for…
"Life is Longer than Death" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:16
Walter Brueggemann posed the challenge of Easter as deciding to be "a part of the Easter movement of civil disobedience that contradicts the empire," to "see if life is longer than death." Each day, we face a litany of s…
Judas, An Imaginary Character We Have All Met [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:31
This is Palm Sunday so I am going to take my speaking time this week to demythologize the gospel narrative a bit. Judas was not a historical character. Mark created a literary fiction and named him Judas, which is spelle…
The Plight of the Progressive Church [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:37
Not many of us got to enjoy the luxury of growing up in a "woke" environment. A great deal of growing us has involved overcoming the prejudices and too comfortable peace we had with the status quo. Being progressive ofte…
Moving a Balloon, Moving a Rock: On Patience & Praxis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:48
Elsa Tamez wrote that "The situation of oppression and pain tends to make people feel depressed, to dehumanize them, to destroy not only their bodies but also their spirit, to make them see their oppression as normal and…
"Don't Say Gay (or Trans)" in Missouri [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:27
2023 has been unprecedented in the barrage of attacks on gender and sexuality minorities by both public commentators and lawmakers across the USA. From calls to "eradicate transgenderism" to the continued insistence to "…
It's not left or right, it is right or wrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:14
Time Magazine's choice of the women of Iran as their heroes of the year for 2022 is a fitting tribute to the courage and sacrifice necessary to incite a serious reformation within Islam. Adherents often say that Islam is…
Age and Ageism regarding the Pandemic and Presidents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:32
It has always been true that Covid-19 presented a greater threat to the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions but in this time that so many people insist on calling "post covid" we are still losing 300 people a…
Open to Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:23
For many of us, society is not a safe place to exist, and we lack the supports and resources we need to thrive as human beings. Yet even when we enter into movements and spaces dedicated to working for social justice, ac…