The “Wild Goose Festival” is a four-day extravaganza of music, interactive story-telling, “reconciliation yoga,’” and “progressive Christian mysticism.” In other words, is a big, gay, fake-Christian Woodstock.
Taking place July 12-15, the Wild Goose festival boasts a whole gaggle of evangelical and gay-affirming speakers that include Jen Hatmaker, Tony Campolo, Frank Schaeffer, Shane Claiborne, and Brian McLaren. It is being held in Hot Springs, North Carolina as reported by Juicey Ecumenism, The Institute of Religion and Democracy blog.
According to their press release dated July 12, 2018:
This year’s “Wild Goose” festival will feature Jen Hatmaker, an Evangelical author who liberalized her views on same-sex marriage, self-described “Christian-Atheist” Frank Schaeffer, “progressive Christian mystic” and United Methodist pastor Roger Wolsey, among other “spiritually non-traditional” speakers. Breakout sessions will highlight “Queerology,” “Reproductive Justice is…,” and “A Practical Guide to Getting Elected.”
“Wild Goose” is loosely patterned on Great Britain’s Greenbelt festival, Burning Man, Lightning in a Bottle, and SXSW.
IRD Evangelical Program Director Chelsen Vicari commented:
Wild Goose is a bizarre attempt to refashion Christianity for disgruntled Progressive Christians attracted to postmodern sexual relativism, mysticism, and New Age. [It] pushes against the boundaries of orthodox Christianity by experimenting with mysticism and vague spirituality. Sadly, some disillusioned young Evangelicals find this distorted version of Christianity alluring.
She continued:
Of all the progressive Christian events I’ve monitored on behalf of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, Wild Goose is the most troubling in my view. But the truth is no matter how modern the meditation practices or interactive the story-telling, progressive Christianity remains unfashionable as its leading denominations continue in decline.
[Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article mistakenly reported that The Institute of Religion and Democracy was hosting the Wild Goose Festival. The article has been corrected to reflect that it was a press release reporting on the Wild Goose Festival event.]
