Five Thing Friday

Bluesky + Hank Green + Two Substacks + One Book

Another Friday, another five things. Does two weeks in a row of this mean it’s actually a thing? Or do I need to wait 28 days for it to officially become a habit? Either way, enjoy these five things that I think you should check out!

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1. Bluesky + the Church

Are you on Bluesky yet? Waiting to see if this thing actually becomes a thing? Well, listen in as I talk with three incredibly geeky church leaders as we talk all about why progressive faith leaders should dip their toes in and splash around in this space.

Also, I have a starter pack just for Progressive Christianity. If you’re wondering who to follow on Bluesky, this is a good place to start!

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2. Twitter and Threads Have Made a Huge Mistake

At least that’s what Hank Green told me in one of his latest videos. Hank always has incredible insight on all things internet, given that so much of his life and career have happened in these online spaces. But this one, along with the secret to his productivity, should probably be required for anyone who makes anything online these days.

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3. Is God Killing the Church?

This is the question that Amy Pringle asked in her recent essay over at

Reinventing Christianity

. Amy is an Episcopal Priest and self proclaimed normal person. You should go read the whole thing. And she even has a poetic form of the essay so you should probably read that too.

But here’s how she ended the initial essay:

What if Gd has just had enough of church as we’ve been doing it for the last few hundred years? What if Gd is ready and restless for church to become the next thing it’s going to be?

What if it’s Gd who’s killing the church?

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4. Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI

I’m a little late to be telling you to read this book as it’s been out for a few months now. But I’m finally getting around to reading it! I had it preordered for almost a year but life with two kids and work and marathon training always leaves me exhausted at the end of the day. But I am carving out sacred moments here and there to sit down, open the book, and start reading. And I am glad that I am!

I’ve been a fan of Harari’s work since his first best seller, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (you should absolutely read that one too) and have read pretty much everything he’s written since.

This one looks at how the flow of information has made and unmade our world, and provides an essential background to understanding the threats and promises of today’s AI revolution. It’s not a quick read, coming in at 528 pages, but is definitely worth adding to the stack next to your bed as we continue down this path of AI everything.

“The tendency to create powerful things with unintended consequences started not with the invention of the steam engine or AI but with the invention of religion. Prophets and theologians have summoned powerful spirits that were supposed to bring love and joy but occasionally ended up flooding the world with blood.”

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5. What is Progressive Christianity?

One thing I love about Substack is stumbling across new Substacks! And that’s exactly what happened to me this week (multiple times, actually) with this essay from

The Jesus Movement

. Here’s an excerpt:

Progressive Christians do not see Christianity as exclusionary. Progressive Christians fundamentally believe in religious pluralism. Ours is not the “right” religion. It is not the “one true faith.” That’s because there is no “right religion” at all.

Also, he quotes my friend (and Riverside member)

Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons

throughout, so that’s another bonus! All this to say, go read the whole essay. And subscribe to

The Jesus Movement

.

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There you have it — five things for your Friday. Leave a comment with some of your favorite things you’ve been reading or watching or listening to online this past week. And come back next Friday for five more from me!