Benjamin L. Corey is an American political activist, theologian, author, blogger, and speaker. He is a prominent figure within the

Emerging Church Movement The emerging church is a Christian Protestant movement of the late 20th and early 21st centuries that crosses a number of theological boundaries: participants are variously described as Protestant, post-Protestant, evangelical, post-evangelical, ...

Progressive Christianity Progressive Christianity represents a post-modern theological approach, and is not necessarily synonymous with progressive politics. It developed out of the liberal Christianity of the modern era, which was rooted in the Enlightenment's thinkin ...

, and radical Christianity while self-identifying as an

Anabaptist Anabaptism (from New Latin language, Neo-Latin , from the Greek language, Greek : 're-' and 'baptism', german: Täufer, earlier also )Since the middle of the 20th century, the German-speaking world no longer uses the term (translation: "Re- ...

. He is the author of the books,
Undiluted: Rediscovering The Radical Message of Jesus
'' and Unafraid: Moving Beyond Fear Based Faith.

Biography

Corey is an alumnus of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA, holding graduate degrees in both

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

and

intercultural studies Interculturalism is a political movement that supports Cross-cultural communication, cross-cultural dialogue and challenging Auto-segregation, self-segregation tendencies within cultures.John Nagle, Multiculturalism's Double-Bind: Creating Inclusiv ...

(graduating

cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sou ...

), and received an earned doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary in the field of Intercultural Studies. His academic interests include

Christian Nonviolence Christian pacifism is the theological and ethical position according to which pacifism and non-violence have both a scriptural and rational basis for Christians, and affirms that any form of violence is incompatible with the Christian faith. Chri ...

Syncretism Syncretism () is the practice of combining different beliefs and various school of thought, schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or religious assimilation, assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in t ...

, and the applications of a theology of shalom in Human Trafficking aftercare, which is the subject of his doctoral dissertation. Corey is a medically retired while getting injured off duty Professional Military Education Instructor from the United States Air Force, and has written extensively about his transition from a Christian fundamentalist in the military, to a prominent

. After his conversion to

Corey became a notable peace activist in the areas of war, gun violence, and the abolition of capital punishment.

Challenges to Christian fundamentalism

Corey has frequently challenged

Christian fundamentalism Christian fundamentalism, also known as fundamental Christianity or fundamentalist Christianity, is a religious movement emphasizing biblical literalism. In its modern form, it began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries among British and ...

. In 2014, the book ''Distortion: How the Christian Left is Twisting the Gospel & Damaging the Faith,'' promised to name the names of the new "Christian Left," in America and Corey was among the Progressive Christian leaders referenced. This was in large part because of his stance against what he calls "Pro-Life Hypocrisy" on the part of some conservative Christians. Corey has also been a key figure in the progressive political movement, Vote Common Good, and has toured the United States since 2018 holding political rallies in an attempt to sway religious voters away from the Republican party under Donald Trump. In addition to speaking out against Pro-Life hypocrisy while advocating for a more holistic, nonviolent Christian ethic, Corey has frequently challenged other key aspects of Christian fundamentalism such as the modern end times movement, which Corey states is a 19th-century invention and outside the realm of historic Christianity. Corey is also one of a growing number of prominent Christians who are disputing Christianity's traditional teachings on hell, arguing in ''

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...

'' magazine that the traditional view of "eternal conscious torment" is inconsistent with both the Scriptures and the character of a loving God. Corey has also been a frequent voice against American nationalism within the Christian community, holding the position that Christians should pledge their loyalty only to God, and never to a nation state. In addition, Corey has publicly challenged fundamentalism's treatment of the LGBTQ community.

Syncretism within American Christianity

Corey argues that much of American Christianity has fallen prey to syncretism, and that instead of the Christianity taught by Jesus, it has been diluted by the mixing of conservative cultural norms (such as war and individualism) which Corey asserts are actually opposed to Christian values. This process of grafting American ideals into the message of Jesus is something he argues has caused Christianity in America to develop "cataracts of culture" which serve to obscure the more radical nature of Jesus' message.

Personal life

Corey is the father of two children adopted from Peru. He is an outspoken advocate of adoption who has urged the Christian community to rethink the trendiness of adoption to ensure children are adopted ethically, and adopted by properly equipped families.

Bibliography

* ''A Living Alternative: Anabaptist Christianity in a Post-Christendom World'' (contributing author) (Ettelloc Publishing, 2014) * ''Undiluted: Rediscovering The Radical Message of Jesus'' (Destiny Image, 2014) * ''Unafraid: Moving Beyond Fear-Based Faith'' (Harper One, 2017)

References

External links

* Benjamin L. Corey, Official Websit

* The Official Blog of Benjamin L. Core

{{DEFAULTSORT:Corey, Benjamin L. Living people 20th-century Anabaptists 21st-century American male writers 21st-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century Anabaptist ministers American Anabaptists American columnists American male bloggers American male non-fiction writers Anabaptist theologians Anabaptist writers Christian bloggers Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary alumni Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people)