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Robed Revolutionary: Thoughts on Progressivism from the Ultimate 'Conservative'

by Amy Barger 11-05-2009 | 9:40pm
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091105-bartholomew-IThe bearded, robed, and bespectacled keynote speaker at Georgetown University's Gaston Hall on Tuesday made a wise first move. His All Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Christian World, began his speech by naming the elephant in the room. "It may appear strange," he acknowledged, "for a progressive think tank to sponsor a lecture by the leader of a faith that takes pride in how little it has changed in 2000 years."

But as this leader pointed out, so-called progressive terrain -- like care for the sick or the environment -- is not the sole preserve of today's "progressives." In fact, it never has been.

Even though our faith may be 2000 years old, our thinking is not

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by: canucklehead

11-08-2009 @ 12:19am

Is that notion original with you, Nick?

by: canucklehead

11-05-2009 @ 8:50pm

did anybody address him simply as "Bart?"

by: canucklehead

11-05-2009 @ 8:50pm

did anybody address him simply as "Bart?"

by: kansasmennonite

11-06-2009 @ 12:37am

The article sounds like a how a Muslim views Mohammad. Always precedes his name with a little saying.

Wonder if he's related to Bart Simpson? His Holiness Bart Simpson II patriarch of the church of sarcasm.

by: kansasmennonite

11-06-2009 @ 12:37am

The article sounds like a how a Muslim views Mohammad. Always precedes his name with a little saying.

Wonder if he's related to Bart Simpson? His Holiness Bart Simpson II patriarch of the church of sarcasm.

by: jonabark

11-06-2009 @ 12:47am

Dude's got some serious bling, but at least he didn't let the hat and staff interfere with his wisdom. Good challenges to the left and the faithful.

by: jonabark

11-06-2009 @ 12:47am

Dude's got some serious bling, but at least he didn't let the hat and staff interfere with his wisdom. Good challenges to the left and the faithful.

by: Jesdisciple

11-06-2009 @ 1:36am

*grimace* I noticed the title too but thought I'd get pounced if I said anything...

by: Jesdisciple

11-06-2009 @ 1:36am

*grimace* I noticed the title too but thought I'd get pounced if I said anything...

by: Jesdisciple

11-06-2009 @ 1:49am

The early Christian church in Turkey, for instance, spearheaded the first effort for universal health care.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital#Roman_Empire

Anyone know how this was funded and how it turned out? Not only is the experiment complete, but presumably the system was much simpler than any our Congress could come up with.

by: Jesdisciple

11-06-2009 @ 1:49am

The early Christian church in Turkey, for instance, spearheaded the first effort for universal health care.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital#Roman_Empire

Anyone know how this was funded and how it turned out? Not only is the experiment complete, but presumably the system was much simpler than any our Congress could come up with.

by: Joe_Allen_Doty

11-06-2009 @ 2:37am

The big long titles that guy has is contrary to what Jesus said about people getting themselves religious titles, a matter of which he did not approve.

Since "Bartholomew I" is not actually a given name, I wonder what his real legal birth name is.

His "holiness" certainly cannot be more holy than any other person who is a Believer in Jesus.

by: Joe_Allen_Doty

11-06-2009 @ 2:37am

The big long titles that guy has is contrary to what Jesus said about people getting themselves religious titles, a matter of which he did not approve.

Since "Bartholomew I" is not actually a given name, I wonder what his real legal birth name is.

His "holiness" certainly cannot be more holy than any other person who is a Believer in Jesus.

by: canucklehead

11-06-2009 @ 3:01am

kansas, I trust at least four of your children are named Menno

by: canucklehead

11-06-2009 @ 3:01am

kansas, I trust at least four of your children are named Menno

by: bill_pence

11-06-2009 @ 3:09am

great comments... yeah interesting thought on the name thing.. though i'm an odd person too really, just not as up front as a name... we're all kind of odd revolutionaries on this site it seems.

by: bill_pence

11-06-2009 @ 3:09am

great comments... yeah interesting thought on the name thing.. though i'm an odd person too really, just not as up front as a name... we're all kind of odd revolutionaries on this site it seems.

by: kansasmennonite

11-06-2009 @ 10:43am

Menno 1, Menno 2, Menno 3, and Menno 3.5

by: kansasmennonite

11-06-2009 @ 10:43am

Menno 1, Menno 2, Menno 3, and Menno 3.5

by: uberVU - social comments

11-06-2009 @ 4:18pm

Social comments and analytics for this post...

This post was mentioned on Twitter by sojourners: The early Christian church in Turkey spearheaded the first effort for universal health care. http://bit.ly/2k2kKf...

by: canucklehead

11-06-2009 @ 2:38pm

I heard Microsoft just released Menno 7.

by: canucklehead

11-06-2009 @ 2:38pm

I heard Microsoft just released Menno 7.

by: Jesdisciple

11-06-2009 @ 5:11pm

Then again, Protestants are pretty bad about that too... Not to mention the thing about not telling the left hand what the right's doing.

by: Jesdisciple

11-06-2009 @ 5:11pm

Then again, Protestants are pretty bad about that too... Not to mention the thing about not telling the left hand what the right's doing.

by: kansasmennonite

11-07-2009 @ 1:22am

I like quickie 6.0 for family business. Especiallly the full version which includes future exemption allowances so I can time my children for maximum deductions! Neat feature! (inlcudes top 100 amish names at no cost).

PS. I heard that Menno 7 was a little slow with cleaning out the barn if you know what I mean.

by: kansasmennonite

11-07-2009 @ 1:22am

I like quickie 6.0 for family business. Especiallly the full version which includes future exemption allowances so I can time my children for maximum deductions! Neat feature! (inlcudes top 100 amish names at no cost).

PS. I heard that Menno 7 was a little slow with cleaning out the barn if you know what I mean.

by: nickcornell

11-07-2009 @ 5:52am

You are a fool. religion is merely a crutch that allows the weak to deal with immortality.

by: nickcornell

11-07-2009 @ 5:52am

You are a fool. religion is merely a crutch that allows the weak to deal with immortality.

by: canucklehead

11-08-2009 @ 12:19am

Is that notion original with you, Nick?

by: canucklehead

11-07-2009 @ 10:19pm

Is that notion original with you, Nick?

by: Hannah Marie Johnson Gais

06-15-2010 @ 11:16pm

I fail to see how the Orthodox (of which I am one) Christian world is going to be able to participate if our leaders are spoken of in such a sarcastic and semi-degrading way...

He's not holier than anyone else. It's a title that's been around for quite some time. He'd probably tell you he's a huge sinner. So, yeah, hold off on the obnoxious comments, please, assuming you want an Orthodox Christian presence in the progressive community.

by: Hannah Marie Johnson Gais

06-15-2010 @ 11:16pm

I fail to see how the Orthodox (of which I am one) Christian world is going to be able to participate if our leaders are spoken of in such a sarcastic and semi-degrading way...

He's not holier than anyone else. It's a title that's been around for quite some time. He'd probably tell you he's a huge sinner. So, yeah, hold off on the obnoxious comments, please, assuming you want an Orthodox Christian presence in the progressive community.

by: canucklehead

11-07-2009 @ 10:19pm

Is that notion original with you, Nick?

by: Hannah Marie Johnson Gais

06-15-2010 @ 11:16pm

I fail to see how the Orthodox (of which I am one) Christian world is going to be able to participate if our leaders are spoken of in such a sarcastic and semi-degrading way...

He's not holier than anyone else. It's a title that's been around for quite some time. He'd probably tell you he's a huge sinner. So, yeah, hold off on the obnoxious comments, please, assuming you want an Orthodox Christian presence in the progressive community.

Comments sorted by highest rated. After voting you must refresh your page to see the sort order change.

by: canucklehead

11-05-2009 @ 8:50pm

did anybody address him simply as "Bart?"

by: canucklehead

11-05-2009 @ 8:50pm

did anybody address him simply as "Bart?"

by: kansasmennonite

11-06-2009 @ 12:37am

The article sounds like a how a Muslim views Mohammad. Always precedes his name with a little saying.

Wonder if he's related to Bart Simpson? His Holiness Bart Simpson II patriarch of the church of sarcasm.

by: kansasmennonite

11-06-2009 @ 12:37am

The article sounds like a how a Muslim views Mohammad. Always precedes his name with a little saying.

Wonder if he's related to Bart Simpson? His Holiness Bart Simpson II patriarch of the church of sarcasm.

by: jonabark

11-06-2009 @ 12:47am

Dude's got some serious bling, but at least he didn't let the hat and staff interfere with his wisdom. Good challenges to the left and the faithful.

by: jonabark

11-06-2009 @ 12:47am

Dude's got some serious bling, but at least he didn't let the hat and staff interfere with his wisdom. Good challenges to the left and the faithful.

by: Jesdisciple

11-06-2009 @ 1:36am

*grimace* I noticed the title too but thought I'd get pounced if I said anything...

by: Jesdisciple

11-06-2009 @ 1:36am

*grimace* I noticed the title too but thought I'd get pounced if I said anything...

by: Jesdisciple

11-06-2009 @ 1:49am

The early Christian church in Turkey, for instance, spearheaded the first effort for universal health care.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital#Roman_Empire

Anyone know how this was funded and how it turned out? Not only is the experiment complete, but presumably the system was much simpler than any our Congress could come up with.

by: Jesdisciple

11-06-2009 @ 1:49am

The early Christian church in Turkey, for instance, spearheaded the first effort for universal health care.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital#Roman_Empire

Anyone know how this was funded and how it turned out? Not only is the experiment complete, but presumably the system was much simpler than any our Congress could come up with.

by: Joe_Allen_Doty

11-06-2009 @ 2:37am

The big long titles that guy has is contrary to what Jesus said about people getting themselves religious titles, a matter of which he did not approve.

Since "Bartholomew I" is not actually a given name, I wonder what his real legal birth name is.

His "holiness" certainly cannot be more holy than any other person who is a Believer in Jesus.

by: Joe_Allen_Doty

11-06-2009 @ 2:37am

The big long titles that guy has is contrary to what Jesus said about people getting themselves religious titles, a matter of which he did not approve.

Since "Bartholomew I" is not actually a given name, I wonder what his real legal birth name is.

His "holiness" certainly cannot be more holy than any other person who is a Believer in Jesus.

by: canucklehead

11-06-2009 @ 3:01am

kansas, I trust at least four of your children are named Menno

by: canucklehead

11-06-2009 @ 3:01am

kansas, I trust at least four of your children are named Menno

by: bill_pence

11-06-2009 @ 3:09am

great comments... yeah interesting thought on the name thing.. though i'm an odd person too really, just not as up front as a name... we're all kind of odd revolutionaries on this site it seems.

by: bill_pence

11-06-2009 @ 3:09am

great comments... yeah interesting thought on the name thing.. though i'm an odd person too really, just not as up front as a name... we're all kind of odd revolutionaries on this site it seems.

by: kansasmennonite

11-06-2009 @ 10:43am

Menno 1, Menno 2, Menno 3, and Menno 3.5

by: kansasmennonite

11-06-2009 @ 10:43am

Menno 1, Menno 2, Menno 3, and Menno 3.5

by: canucklehead

11-06-2009 @ 2:38pm

I heard Microsoft just released Menno 7.

by: canucklehead

11-06-2009 @ 2:38pm

I heard Microsoft just released Menno 7.

by: uberVU - social comments

11-06-2009 @ 4:18pm

Social comments and analytics for this post...

This post was mentioned on Twitter by sojourners: The early Christian church in Turkey spearheaded the first effort for universal health care. http://bit.ly/2k2kKf...

by: Jesdisciple

11-06-2009 @ 5:11pm

Then again, Protestants are pretty bad about that too... Not to mention the thing about not telling the left hand what the right's doing.

by: Jesdisciple

11-06-2009 @ 5:11pm

Then again, Protestants are pretty bad about that too... Not to mention the thing about not telling the left hand what the right's doing.

by: kansasmennonite

11-07-2009 @ 1:22am

I like quickie 6.0 for family business. Especiallly the full version which includes future exemption allowances so I can time my children for maximum deductions! Neat feature! (inlcudes top 100 amish names at no cost).

PS. I heard that Menno 7 was a little slow with cleaning out the barn if you know what I mean.

by: kansasmennonite

11-07-2009 @ 1:22am

I like quickie 6.0 for family business. Especiallly the full version which includes future exemption allowances so I can time my children for maximum deductions! Neat feature! (inlcudes top 100 amish names at no cost).

PS. I heard that Menno 7 was a little slow with cleaning out the barn if you know what I mean.

by: nickcornell

11-07-2009 @ 5:52am

You are a fool. religion is merely a crutch that allows the weak to deal with immortality.

by: nickcornell

11-07-2009 @ 5:52am

You are a fool. religion is merely a crutch that allows the weak to deal with immortality.

by: canucklehead

11-07-2009 @ 10:19pm

Is that notion original with you, Nick?

by: canucklehead

11-07-2009 @ 10:19pm

Is that notion original with you, Nick?

by: canucklehead

11-08-2009 @ 12:19am

Is that notion original with you, Nick?

by: canucklehead

11-08-2009 @ 12:19am

Is that notion original with you, Nick?

by: Hannah Marie Johnson Gais

06-15-2010 @ 11:16pm

I fail to see how the Orthodox (of which I am one) Christian world is going to be able to participate if our leaders are spoken of in such a sarcastic and semi-degrading way...

He's not holier than anyone else. It's a title that's been around for quite some time. He'd probably tell you he's a huge sinner. So, yeah, hold off on the obnoxious comments, please, assuming you want an Orthodox Christian presence in the progressive community.

by: Hannah Marie Johnson Gais

06-15-2010 @ 11:16pm

I fail to see how the Orthodox (of which I am one) Christian world is going to be able to participate if our leaders are spoken of in such a sarcastic and semi-degrading way...

He's not holier than anyone else. It's a title that's been around for quite some time. He'd probably tell you he's a huge sinner. So, yeah, hold off on the obnoxious comments, please, assuming you want an Orthodox Christian presence in the progressive community.

by: Hannah Marie Johnson Gais

06-15-2010 @ 11:16pm

I fail to see how the Orthodox (of which I am one) Christian world is going to be able to participate if our leaders are spoken of in such a sarcastic and semi-degrading way...

He's not holier than anyone else. It's a title that's been around for quite some time. He'd probably tell you he's a huge sinner. So, yeah, hold off on the obnoxious comments, please, assuming you want an Orthodox Christian presence in the progressive community.