Update of Progressive Church of Christ Blogs and Groups

With the help of reader and regular commenter Christopher, I’ve updated this page as follows:

• I’ve added some sites. (Some that I’m embarrassed to have overlooked for so long.)
• I’ve deleted links to most sites not updated in the last year.
• I’ve deleted links that go nowhere (or I corrected the link when the new URL was given).
• I’ve deleted blogs with no dates. (Not fair to the dated blogs that I deleted.)
• I’ve created a separate category for writings of “interesting Church of Christ authors.” For example, I’ve preserved the link to the works of the late Cecil Hook.
• I’ve deleted sites that were largely political or otherwise not theological.
• I’ve retitled the page to Progressive Church of Christ Blogs, E-Zines, Writings and Groups.

Enjoy.

And if I deleted you in error, or if your blog qualifies for the list and I’ve overlooked it, let me know.

PS — A few things learned having just reviewed several dozen Church of Christ blogs–

• Who the heck is the author? It’s amazing how often the name of the author can’t be found except with great effort. This is not about those wishing to be anonymous. Rather, a number of blogs are anonymous by accident because, I guess, their friends know their URL and the author never expected anyone to read their stuff. Put your name on your articles!
• I believe in an “About the Author” page — even if anonymous. Who are you and why does your opinion matter? Not a lot. Just enough so I know where you’re coming from.
• If you change blog hosts, post something at the old site linking to the new. Otherwise, I’ll assume you’re no longer writing.
• When was this posted?? If it’s a blog, it needs to be active. Undated material looks out of date. Readers will not bother commenting on a blog (or reading) if they think the material may be dated.
• Busy, busy, busy. Simpler is better. Readers are busy. If they have to poke around to find the latest post, you’ve lost them. Too much information at the top runs people off.
• Music. NO AUTOMATIC MUSIC! It’s rude.
• Is it easy to subscribe by email? Make sure the subscription feature is shown near the top.
• Put a Facebook icon at the bottom so readers can easily post your articles to Facebook. Nothing builds readership like Facebook links. Same for Twitter and Google+ and old-fashioned email. But mainly Twitter and Facebook.
• Comments! Don’t block comments. If people can’t talk to you, why should they let you talk to them? You might choose to moderate comments — but I don’t (except for gross abusers of the privilege — and usually only temporarily). Without comments, it’s not really a blog — but it’s also not much fun. And I believe in the free exchange of ideas — especially ideas from people who disagree with me. Again — if everyone agrees, it’s just not fun or interesting, and it’ll stunt your spiritual growth. Iron sharpens iron.