During a left-leaning gathering meant to counter President Donald Trump’s 250th anniversary of freedom, a pastor called on participants to express gratitude to “all God.”
Rev. Adrian Thorne, senior pastor at Riverside Church in New York City, spoke at Jane Fonda’s First Amendment Commission on June 14, 2026. He mentioned that he believed nearly all religions hold some validity and inspiration, which, strangely, seemed to undermine his own faith.
“…My fellow clergymen and I have the remarkable opportunity to work alongside our Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Sikh, Jewish, and non-denominational friends. We can’t share meals, stories, or taxi rides and expand our faith,” she shared, without touching on what the Scriptures truly convey.
“We can’t do this. We can’t share prayers, petitions, and tears; we can’t explore the broader concept of God that we’ve been taught; we can’t witness the strength and admiration found in temples, clean water, mosques, synagogues, gatherings, and wakes; we can’t question the awe-inspiring nature of God,” she explained, conflating the undeniable majesty of God with the “god” of other belief systems.
“Boundaries don’t work for me anymore. In these times when our questions are as intricate as the answers we seek, when hope feels elusive, I reach out to a greater God,” she noted, once more overlooking biblical teachings that highlight the might and mystery of the Lord, while instead referring to several non-Christian beliefs.
“Those declaring the superiority of one religion have forgotten the essence of God,” she asserted, commenting on how the “sacred rituals” of other faiths enhanced her own connection with God.
“I cherish the questions and challenges and uncertainties that come with being human. And I’m grateful to have lived long enough to confidently state that God is vast enough to embrace us all,” she proclaimed, indicating a bending of divine truth to validate all faiths, which implies that there might not be a single correct path or truth.
“Indeed, all our anger, our disappointments, our curiosity, our joy—the God of the universe can encompass all of us and everything we bring,” she insisted, stating, “My faith is not flimsy in that respect.”
She characterized her dismissal of biblical teachings as “stretching” boundaries, which she claimed fostered her faith’s growth.
“Thank you God, all Gods and all of us,” she concluded.
Jesus, the Son of God, who sacrificed Himself for the reconciliation of humanity with God, clearly stated there is only one way to the Father.
In John 14:6, it says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” It’s unclear how Thorne interprets this passage since she seems to affirm that all religions and “gods” are valid for the sake of inclusivity.
Her church identifies as a “nondenominational, nonracial, international, open, welcoming, and affirming church and congregation.” The group states that its members are “united, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in the worship of God known in Christ, Jesus.”
It’s uncertain how the senior pastor’s acknowledgment of “all Gods” aligns with this claimed faith.
