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
A Memorial for the Confederacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:34
While protests verge on becoming riots in our city streets in response to multiple murders of unarmed black men at the hands of our cities' police, we must focus on how to pull racism out of our culture by the roots. Man…
Labor Day: A Universal Basic Income [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:12
Labor Day is an American substitute for the International Workers Day, celebrated on May 1. Americans of the early 20th century associated organize labor with communism and sought to suppress union organizing while appla…
"The Gift of the Church to the World" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:21
Fear provokes prejudice and makes people willing to sacrifice their rights in favor of an authoritarian government that promises protection from the "others." But shouldn't faith offer some cure for fear? Can't we see ot…
Imagining a Post-Covid New and Improved World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:59
170 Danish scholars from 5 universities came together to consider how the world needs to change post covid-19. They make five crucial suggestions: 1) Move away from 'development' focused on aggregate GDP growth. 2) Devel…
Against Human Sacrifice: Reclaiming Self & Community Care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:53
Self-care has become a buzz phrase in recent years, and we're (necessarily) hearing about it even more during this pandemic. In a healthy, functioning society, self and community care is integrated into its habits, relat…
What Makes Us Human? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:39
Anthropologist, Margaret Mead, said that the first sign of human civilization was the discovery of a 15,000 year old skeleton of a man who had a broken femur. She speculated that such an injury could only mean that other…
Fake News: Being informed in a time of propaganda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:12
We really are not in the same boat but we surely are in the same storm. The pandemic is very inconvenient for the people who get to keep their jobs, income, health insurance, and home. But those who are now unemployed, u…
"A Silent Pandemic" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:48
Opioid overdoses increased by 18% in March, 29% in April, and 42% in May making addiction and overdose deaths a silent pandemic within the viral pandemic. To respond to this crisis, today's message is a panel presentatio…
"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…
"Could You Be A Sociopath?" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:12
The anti-mask vs pro-mask divide in this stage of the global pandemic becomes an interesting litmus test for either an empathetic world view or a kind of apologetic for being something of a sociopath. Given the irrespons…