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
Birth Pangs or Death Throes? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:47
In many ways, religion resembles a long-running, uncontrolled social experiment on the human condition and social change. And a moment's reflection reminds us that all cultural, including religious, systems, have been us…
"Give Up All the Other Worlds": Learning to Hope [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:33
How you feel about hope likely depends on your own experiences and circumstances. It's been portrayed as both salvation and delusion, and many things in between. Navigating hope and hopelessness, grief and despair, rest…
What Does Religion Have to Offer to a World in Crisis? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:41
The congress of leaders of world religions, meeting in September, drafted a resolution trying to imagine the ways in which spiritual communities might become part of the solution to the crisis of a world that is literall…
Sometimes Family is another 'F' Word [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:33
The holidays call for family reunions for both happy and healthy families as well as families who find these times together to be emotionally difficult. We have a right to be honest about both our family's strengths and…
"A Hard Look": How the US Fails Its Children [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:29
Human Rights Watch recently observed that "The US is the only UN member country that has not ratified the international treaty on children's rights. Most people might think this isn't such a big deal because the US is go…
True Friendship (only exists among good people) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:25
The trend started years before the pandemic, before, even, the traumatic divisions caused by the Trump administration. Sociologists are doing verbal gymnastics trying to explain why making and keeping friends has become…
Transforming Contempt into Compassion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:11
In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector at prayer, Jesus warns of the dangers of contempt. Yet this hasn't stopped us from finding ways and excuses to label people as contemptible and treat them with contemp…
Stepping Out of Line (Without Losing Heart) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:25
Jesus' parable of the persistent widow still hits close to home: a world where those in need are ignored by those in power, where those in power are unjust, and where the marginalized and oppressed must wear themselves o…