Selection Criteria
Selection Criteria for Person Dataset
The amount of possible data for inclusion in this project is vast. For the current database, researcher and database creator Charis Tobias selected individuals who fit into one or more of the following primary categories:
- History and Context – creators that inform the historical, political, socioeconomic and modern-day context of progressive Christianity
- Global Voices – creators from around the world
- Black Voices – creators who speak to the Black experience in the U.S. and around the world, including Liberation Theology.
- Indigenous Voices – creators who speak to the Indigenous experience in the U.S. and around the world.
- Latinx Voices – creators who speak to the Latinx (or Hispanic/Latino) experience in the U.S. and around the world.
- Asian Voices – creators who speak to the Asian or Asian American experience in the U.S. and around the world, including Minjung Theology.
- Women’s Voices – creators who speak to a woman’s experience in Christianity and the world, including Feminist, Womanist, and Mujerista Theologies.
- LGBTQ+ Voices – creators who speak to the LGBTQ+ experience in the U.S. and around the world as it relates to Christianity, including Queer Theology.
- Conversation and Community – creators who are actively working to create spaces for people to gather, talk, and think about Christianity. This can include both physical and digital spaces.
- Disability, Illness, and Mental Health – creators who speak to their experience with disability, mental health, or chronic illness/pain as it relates to Christianity.
- Relationship with the Natural World – creators who focus on the theological aspects of humanity’s relationship to the natural world. This can include the discussion of science, evolution, environmentalism, and general relationship to nature.
- Interfaith Intersections – creators who engage with spirituality that informs the Christian experience, in relation to other faith backgrounds including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Paganism, Sikhism, Universalism, etc.
- Deconstruction as a Concept – creators who are actively examining and asking questions about existing religious structures and deeply-held convictions, both personally and in the broader faith community.
- Related Topics: purity culture, homophobia, Heaven and Hell/afterlife, church organizational structures, women in leadership, etc.
- Activism and Social Justice – creators and community leaders who are actively examining and pursuing political or social change, particularly in the forms of antiracism, LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, and environmentalism.
- Has some kind of published work that is available to the general public: a book, a podcast, a film, an article published in an online publication, a video series, etc. that speaks to the primary categories defined above.
- This does not include journal articles behind a hefty paywall, social media feeds, personal website, guest spots on a podcast or video series, or association with a conference or organization.
- Work must be hosted by creator or by a reputable third party (e.g. no fan-filmed and uploaded videos). We are looking for relative permanence, reputability, and accessibility.
- Has to specifically address Christian faith and its place in the world/politics/society/culture
- Furthers a progressive understanding of Christianity in at least of the following areas:
- willingness to question tradition
- acceptance of human diversity
- strong emphasis on social justice
- care for the poor and the oppressed
- environmental stewardship of the earth
Additionally, although the ultimate project goal is to represent Christian voices from around the world, the current dataset is limited to current work to publications in English, or translated to English.