Or maybe even envying that they’re better known than we are. Or then again, we can get rather uppity about how ‘different’ we are/were. Very proud of our humility, so-to-speak. 
Overheard from an Amish buggy as a couple was returning from church: “Dear, I do believe we were the plainest ones in church today!”
And we are a little suspicious of men who raise more than one hand.
Haha! The thing between Baptists and Presbyterians is funny… It does seem like, at least among the Reformed Baptists, there are several Presbyterian authors/speakers who are held in respect. I’m not at all surprised if doesn’t go both ways though. 
I’m Baptist, and I don’t know of any Baptist authors I hold in respect…
John the…;? 
Randal Rauser..
Is Randal Rauser Baptist? Certainly on the progressive end, so not sure they would claim him. I do like Rick Warren, but think of him as a pastor who wrote a book rather than an author. Beth Moore and Russel Moore, but they are sort of ex-Baptist. Actually, Roger Olson now is Baptist, and writes some good stuff,
I think Randy was hinting toward “John the Baptist”. But I’m pretty sure that baptist didn’t publish anything. He is cited by some pretty respectable sources, though!
I liked him, but he sort of lost his head there at the end.
Yes, his seminary is Baptist, and somewhere (I can’t recall where) he mentions why he feels comfortable with that label (caveat: I married a Baptist and was baptized at 33 in our church, but still have trouble labeling myself that, having grown up in a nondenominational mission, ranging from Catholics to Mennonites in the members; though our church is really quite open and not insular). I did not know that about Roger Olson; I do like Russell Moore.
Wonderful response! Just shared that with my wife.
Thanks.
Same here… almost like I respect them more once they get out.
Even though I have never regularly attended any church other than Baptist, I still have a hard time seeing myself as one.
It’s a tough time. Feels like the rug has been pulled out from under my moderate feet. And not just in Baptist circles. In many ways I feel we are reverting to corsetry.
So a progressive baptist is about as likely as an atheist baptist?
Much better to be the thawed out and hangin’ out chosen.
I suppose there are a good number these days (not just Baptists) who would sooner their daughter married an atheist than a progressive. You might be among more friends than you would have guessed, Mark, visiting a church.
I’m sure they’re out there but I know where some can be found right here.
From the last chapter of my ‘bible’, Iain McGilchrist’s The Matter With Things, which specifically deals with the sacred, spiritual and religion. A couple of quick quotes now that I’m back on a proper keyboard:
What is encountered spiritually can be conveyed best by poetry, drama, ritual, image, narrative, music - by means, in other words, that are implicit, embodied, and contextually rich. They are resonant rather than declarative
One of the myths of atheists is that science and religion are incompatible.
All in all, the history of the supposed ‘conflict’ between science and religion makes fascinating reading. But it has done great harm to clear thinking. It has entrenched a false alternative to ‘superstition’. This has done immeasurable harm. According to Hart,
…the materialist metaphysics that emerged from mechanical philosophy has endured and prevailed not because it is necessary support of scientific research, or because the sciences somehow corroborate its tenets, but simply because it determines in advance which problems of interpretation we can all safely avoid confronting.
Despite being deeply suspicious of a great deal of ‘God talk’ myself, and while fully acknowledging the problematic nature of the very word God, I feel our repudiation of God is not a wise move. It is easy to misunderstand what cultures wiser than ours were trying to express by speaking of God; still easier to reject the idea of God entirely. But easy is not enough. It is our duty to do the more difficult thing: to find out the core wisdom in this ill-understood, though universal, insight, for that there is such an inestimably valuable core seems to me more credible than anything else I know.
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” -Colossians 4:6
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