Radicalized by Basic Decency

Radicalized by Basic Decency

Author: Dr. Roger Ray June 1, 2025 Duration: 18:15

For centuries the world's religions have constructed a mental prison in which they try to control the conduct of their adherents through threats of eternal torture or, for the very good, promises of eternal reward. However, once you awaken to the reality that these are empty promises and threats, in a world where there is not heaven or hell, then there are no moral absolutes . . . then we are left to discern for ourselves, "how shall we then live?"


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
Religion vs Spirituality [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:46
Many of us like to say that we are "spiritual but not religious," but what does that mean? As church attendance of all sorts is in steep decline, what exactly are we turning away from and what, if anything at all, are we…
Denial of Cultural Racism is Our Stumbling Block [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:38
All over Europe there are memorial stones set in streets where the victims of the Holocaust once lived. These scattered memorials serve as reminders of the moral failure of the Nazis and their many sympathizers. In the U…
We're All Connected [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:34
We are all connected to one another. We may not insist that our neighbors to the south use child labor to produce our fruits and vegetables in our grocery stores but, if they don't keep the prices down, we won't buy them…
Government of the People? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:15
Given the decisions handed down by an increasingly out of touch Supreme Court, today's message will be a reading of an article Dr. Ray has written for the July 4th edition of the LA Progressive outlining some of the phil…
Angles and Demons (how crisis reveals who we really are) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:59
Victor Frankl, reflecting on his own suffering in Auschwitz, said that the extremities of the concentration camp revealed the true selves of his fellow prisoners. Some became saintly in their self sacrifice and acts of c…
The Danger of Propaganda (masquerading as free speech) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:41
It may be true, as suggested in a recent Atlantic article, that America has been uniquely stupid over the past decade and our gathering cloud of ignorance is largely due to our over exposure to partisan news sources and…
"Stop Funding Terrorism" (and save the planet at the same time) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:02
More than three months into the unconscionable invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the international community is still wringing its hands, asking themselves, "How can we survive without oil and gas from Russia," while the pu…
The Emperor of Ice Cream [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:54
Our culture often speaks out of both sides of its mouth, acknowledging in popular proverbs that "nothing is certain but death and taxes," or, as my homiletics professor often said, "the mortality rate is 100%" while stil…
Why Are Mass Murders Uniquely American? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:01
Why are mass murders so common in the USA and so rare among our global peers? Every other western democracy has managed to regulate guns effectively but the Republican led effort to protect the gun industry from any mean…
Regarding Roe v Wade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:42
The leaked Supreme Court document concerning Roe v Wade has confirmed our worst fears since the appointment of the last three justices to the court, all of whom were chosen specifically for their anti-abortion views. But…