Rescuing the gospel from bishop spong probe ministries. John shelby spong is an influential public speaker, writer and media figure. A bishop speaks to believers in exile, and more on. After youve bought this ebook, you can choose to download either the pdf version or the epub, or both. This book is the story of a struggle that was both personal and theological in which bishop spong proposes to translate the power in jesus of nazareth into the categories of our day. Best selling author, worldrenowned speaker and leader, inspiration and cofounder of progressing spirit. Jul 09, 2012 the bible was written to interpret the power of jesus, not to describe the events of his life, according to bishop john shelby spong. Bishop spongs writings and teachings are on the authority of the bible, god, history, the. Yet as one who condemns the mindset of religious institutions, he also speaks on their authority, going by the title the right reverend bishop spong. For those seeking to experience christianity in a new and vibrant way, bishop john shelby spong offers fresh spiritual ideas. But does mysticism provide an alternative to biblical faith. He claims he is a christian yet he champions causes that historic christianity has often fought tooth and nail against.
This approach to christianity essentially allegorizes the biblical accounts both old and new testaments and distills them to symbolic and universal truths rather than historical or literal events. John shelby spong books list of books by author john. John shelby spong, the reinterpreter of christianity for the doubtful, retired as the episcopal bishop of new jersey in 2001 but not from his religious provocations. He argues that while liberal, mainline churches have abandoned the bible, which he claims to love, fundamentalists have made an idol of it. Jul 02, 2016 in his fourth interfaith lecture on biblical literalism. Understanding death beyond religion in the thought of john shelby spong. John shelby spong some who read spongs comments may come to the mistaken conclusion that the christmas stories are not true.
While lukes narrative, the most detailed account of the birth of jesus, is lyrical and inspiring, in the birth of jesus, spong persuasively demonstrates it is allegory. Apr 10, 2016 john shelby spong was bishop of the episcopal diocese of newark, new jersey for 24 years before his retirement in 2001. In this remarkable spiritual autobiography about his lifelong struggle with the questions of god and death, he reveals how he ultimately came. Christians who have come to expect stiff opposition from outsiders may be surprised when criticism comes from withinunless, of course, it originates in. This hebrew lord, john shelby spong, jul 8, 2014, religion, 208 pages. Bishop john shelby spong boldly approaches those texts that have been used through history to justify the denigration or persecution of others while carrying with them the implied and imposed authority of the claim that they were the word of god. Posts about john shelby spong palm sunday written by rev. From the bestselling author of rescuing the bible from fundamentalism.
Beyond religion, beyond theism, beyond heaven and hell. This book is the story of a struggle that was both personal and theological in which bishop. With every discovery emerging from the world of science over the last 500 years concerning the origins of the. Walking into the mystery of god by john shelby spong, 144 copy quote.
John shelby spong was bishop of the episcopal diocese of newark, new jersey for 24 years before his retirement in 2001. Feb, 2018 john shelby spong was the episcopal bishop of newark, new jersey for twentyfour years before his retirement in 2000. I think one of the things weve got to look out for is human beings claiming that they know how god operates. Rescuing the bible from fundamentalism john shelby spong. We havent heard much from former bishop of newark john shelby spong in a long time. He is out to save christianity from the fundamentalists. Bishop john shelby spong in saving jesus redux available at the retired bishop of newark, new jersey, john shelby spong is one of the featured contributors in several living the questions series. Wed love you to buy this book, and hope you find this page convenient in locating a place of purchase.
Harpercollins, 2009 many of us know the old joke about the mystic who ordered a sandwich. Over the past four decades, he has become one of the definitive. John shelby spong is one of the most prolific authors on what has become known as progressive christianity. John shelby spong, bestselling author and popular proponent of a modern, scholarly and authentic christianity, argues that this last gospel to be written was misinterpreted by the framers of the fourthcentury creeds to be a literal account of the life of jesus when in fact it is a literary, interpretive retelling of the events in jesus life through the medium of fictional characters, from. Exposing the bibles texts of hate to reveal the god of love by john shelby spong. He is as radically liberal as it is possible to be and still maintain a nominal identification with the name christian. Retired episcopal bishop john shelby spong is a man with a mission. In this remarkable spiritual autobiography about his lifelong struggle with the questions of god and death, he reveals how he ultimately came to believe in eternal life. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, christianity was in crisisa state of conflict that. Thats why, says retired episcopal bishop john shelby spong, despite his bestselling controversial books and popular speeches, his position on jesus and the christian church will never be the majority opinion, because he believes jesus is not the savior of the world and that the bible cannot be read literally.
In the first five minutes of the 2016 seasons first interfaith lecture, john shelby spong declared that jesuss virgin birth is most likely fictional, and the question of whether its true or not is largely irrelevant. John shelby spong was the episcopal bishop of newark, new jersey for twentyfour years before his retirement in 2000. John shelby spongs last book unbelievable is a dud. A bishop rethinks human sexuality, john shelby spong, feb 2, 1990, religion, 256 pages. That is the question retired episcopal bishop john shelby spong never gets around to asking, let alone answering.
Five hundred years after martin luther and his ninetyfive theses ushered in the reformation, bestselling author and controversial bishop and teacher john shelby spong delivers twelve forwardthinking theses to spark a new reformation to reinvigorate christianity and ensure its future. Pdf understanding death beyond religion in the thought of john. In this lecture, an examination of the new testament, spong. False teacher john shelby spong soaking up lies here is a popular teacher of men who is held up to us the true representation of christianity. He is one of the leading spokespersons for liberal christianity and has been featured on 60 minutes, good morning america, fox news live, and extra. Belief in such a god is also unmotivated, since there exist naturalistic explanations of the phenomena to which the bishop appeals. Pdf understanding death beyond religion in the thought. John shelby spong has long been known as the nightmare of the more conservative element of the anglican church in america. He freely admits in the book that his greek is rusty but that he took 5 years to research everything he could find by scholars to write this book and admits that he avoided john as much as possible in his pastoral role but decided to deal with. From publishers weekly spong, the iconoclastic former episcopal bishop of newark, details in this impassioned work both his deep commitment to jesus of nazareth and his deep alienation from the traditional symbols that surround jesus.
John shelby spong i grew up in north carolina being told that the bible approves slavery and segregation, that it was the will of god. A liberal christian theologian, religion commentator and author, he calls for a fundamental rethinking of christian belief away from theism and traditional doctrines. See all books authored by john shelby spong, including rescuing the bible from fundamentalism. Bishop john shelby spong ponders the afterlife juicy. Spong, the retired episcopal bishop of newark whos been banned from churches across the world, gave his first of. John shelby spong s last book unbelievable is a dud. Download and read free online jesus for the nonreligious by john shelby spong. An episcopal bishop, john shelby spong has made a name for himself as a critic of christian fundamentalism and advocate of a more liberal understanding of christianity. After reading four books by bishop spong, i have decided to reevaluate the first book that i read, rescuing the bible from. The 12 theses of john shelby spong anglicanorum coetibus. The heretic is the retired bishop of newark, new jersey, the rt. Buy a cheap copy of jesus for the nonreligious book by john shelby spong.
The reason for this conclusion is our modern mindset that equates truth with factuality, which arose during the scientific and industrial revolution and which is so very prevalent in our technocratic age. John shelby spong, retired as bishop of the episcopal diocese of newark since 2001, spoke at the madison, new jersey, campus about his new book eternal life. Curtice brings us a moving and vulnerable column this week at progressing spirit. Spong proposes to translate the power in jesus of nazareth into the. Thats why, says retired episcopal bishop john shelby spong, despite his bestselling controversial books and popular speeches, his position on jesus and the christian church will never be the majority opinion, because he believes jesus is not the savior of. John shelby jack spong born june 16, 1931 is a retired bishop of the episcopal church. Pdf understanding death beyond religion in the thought of.
By popular demandstudy guides to two of bishop john shelby spongs bestselling and controversial works, including questions, reflections, and summaries fo. Peter jensen, australias archbishop of sydney, is making headlines for denying a heretic access to the pulpits of the churches under his care. Im not southern baptist anymore, and would loosely call myself a christian. Top 25 quotes by john shelby spong of 202 az quotes. John shelby spong, former episcopal bishop of new jersey and highly controversial author because of his skeptical views about the new testament and traditional christian doctrine has just published a new book on the gospel of john, called the fourth gospel. John shelby spong quotes on religion and fundamentalism. Bishop john shelby spong boldly approaches those texts that have been used through history to justify the denigration or persecution of others while carrying.
John shelby spong quotes 100 wallpapers quotefancy. Yet as one who condemns the mindset of religious institutions. Virgin birth, the resurrection of jesus, culture, sexuality, and sin. I do assert that one prepares for eternity not by being religious and keeping the rules, but by living fully, loving wastefully, and daring to be all that each of us has the capacity to be. Drawing on a lifetime of wisdom, new york times bestselling author and controversial religious leader john shelby spong continues to challenge traditional christian theology in eternal life. Mar 31, 2020 posts about john shelby spong palm sunday written by rev. A gentile heresy thursday afternoon in the hall of philosophy, john shelby spong traced the myth that jews killed jesus a commonly cited justification for the worst antisemitic atrocities in european history to the gospel of matthew. And the way spong gets to that question is thoughtprovoking. Jesus for the nonreligious book by john shelby spong. From 1979 to 2000, he was the bishop of newark, new jersey. In january 2011, took over the management and publishing of the bishop spong newsletter a new christianity for a new world. Keywords religion, death, aging, meaning, relationship, j. His admirers acclaim he is a teaching bishop who makes contemporary theology.
Jesus for the nonreligious recovering the divine at the heart of the human john shelby spong dedicated to. The liberal episcopal bishop of newark new jersey, john shelby spong b. In his fourth interfaith lecture on biblical literalism. This hebrew lord by john shelby spong published by the seabury press, new york, 1974. John shelby spong a man who has denied virtually every major christian doctrine. Spong would never do that instead he frees us to dream a dream of what life, eternal or otherwise, might be. Join bishop spong as he takes us on a journey to the times of jesus birth, focusing on lukes account. John shelby spong books list of books by author john shelby. John shelby spong quotes author of why christianity must. Spong, the measure of all things christianity today. John shelby spong s original groundbreaking classic, now newly revised, reveals the jesus behind the.
Heavily influenced by modern scholarship on the bible and ancient writings, spong. The bible was written to interpret the power of jesus, not to describe the events of his life, according to bishop john shelby spong. A bishop rethinks the meaning of scripture by john shelby spong. The publisher has supplied this book in drm free form with digital watermarking. John shelby spongs original groundbreaking classic, now newly revised, reveals the jesus behind the. And today, while i still have an eclectic style and love of music, ive found that the power of words. Rescuing the gospel from bishop spong who is bishop spong. The sins of scripture exposing the bibles texts of hate to reveal the god of love. Mar 01, 2006 christians who have come to expect stiff opposition from outsiders may be surprised when criticism comes from withinunless, of course, it originates in the study of john shelby spong. A liberal christian theologian, religion commentator and author, he calls for a fundamental rethinking of christian. The sins of scripture by john shelby spong pdf, ebook read. John shelby spong, the episcopal bishop of newark before his retirement in 2000, has been a visiting lecturer at harvard and at more than 500 other universities all over the world.
1269 904 847 77 404 726 1194 1386 130 647 40 1495 724 607 76 820 416 1125 710 1143 1418 638 1208 966 794 504 461 1239 326 1084 366 884 1127 333 469 82 965 815 969 1411 1359 913 121 343 766