What Is “Progressive Christianity?”
I keep hearing the label “progressive Christian.” What does it mean? I answer as a theologian and scholar of American Christian varieties —ecclesiological and theological. The trouble is that there is no historical tradition of “progressive Christianity.” There are no prototypes to point back to or to now. This is in contrast to, for example, “liberal Christianity,” which is a historical-theological tradition well documented and described by theologian Gary Dorrien in his three-volume history of the subject. Unfortunately, he uses “progressive religion” as virtually synonymous with “liberal Christianity” in America. Most people who call themselves progressive Christians do not fit the liberal profile from the father of liberal Christianity, Friedrich Schleiermacher, up to his contemporary successor and interpreter, Douglas Ottati. Some do; some don’t. Unfortunately, “progressive Christian” is like Luther’s “wax nose” that can be twisted to suit anyone’s countenance. The label only ...