What is “progressive religion?”

Yes, progressive religion - including progressive Christianity - exists and is even flourishing. It is not Atheism is disguise, and certainly isn't Communism or Satanism, or whatever conservative influencers and top Republican federal government officials keep saying it is. Of course, since it is religion, progressive faith is not necessarily political at all. The "progressive" can refer to family, community, or other personal values to live by.

On Monday we will explore what progressive religious values might be, how such beliefs affect people's lives, and how culturally and politically influential liberal faith is in the United States and elsewhere.

One key point to make up front: People that hold liberal religious folks are NOT some small minority in America. In fact, most surveys and studies over the years have shown that more American Christians hold liberal religious beliefs than conservative ones. [UPDATE: This has been changing as U.S. Christianity moves rightwards and more and more progressives, especially younger ones, call themselves secular.]

Also, only about 60% or so of American adults are Christians, down from close to 90% in the 1950s. Another 30% are non-religious. The remaining 10% are a mix of other major world faiths, like Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, etc. None of them are adhered to by more than about 2% of Americans, however. So, this topic is much more about Christianity than religion in general. Comparisons with other faiths famous for their progressive natures, like Buddhism, might be very useful.

Specifically, what does "progressive religion" mean? In all religious faiths, a set of values derived from texts or traditions guide individuals in their daily lives. Which of these qualify as - or can be used to justify - "progressive" or "liberal" beliefs? I hope we can focus not just on politics, but also on personal religious values that people use to live their lives. It is hard to avoid politicized religion, obviously, since the Trump Administration is run by Christian Nationalists that literally want to make our national govt an enforcer of a narrow set of religious values. But "progressive religious" values are for life and not just politics, are they not? Doesn't the former have to precede the latter?

Optional Backgrounders –

• What Is Progressive About Progressive Christianity? ProgressiveChristianity.org. 2020.
• A ringing defense of it, by a progressive Christian who is tired of being called names. A Defense of Progressive Christianity | Medium.
• BUT the evidence is clear these days. Americans Christians are moving rightwards, and “liberal Christianity” barely exists. Most U.S. progressives are non-religious. Twenty years ago, the religious left was as big as the religious right (just not as organized)!
• I could have linked to any of a huge number of thunderous denunciations of liberal Christianity as something that is fake, blasphemous, heretical, etc.

Related CivCon mtgs:

• 2016: What Is Progressive Religion?
• 2012: Must Religion Be Conservative? My little essay asked, since most faiths are ancient in origin and rely heavily on traditional beliefs, how can religious faith be progressive?