Bible scholar and episcopal bishop john shelby spong contends that there is mounting pressure among christians for a radically new kind of christianitya faith deeply connected to the human experience instead of. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, christianity was in crisisa state of. Spong is a universalist humanist and attempts to rewrite the old and new testament accounts to fit his world view. Spong powerfully argues that many of the key gospel accounts of events in the life of jesusfrom the stories of his birth to his physical resurrectionare not literally true. Why traditional faith is dying and how a new faith is being born is a theological book by episcopalian bishop john shelby spong, published in 2001, in which he outlines his ideas for doctrinal changes within christianity in the modern world. In 2010, spong published a book on life after death eternal life. At the direction of dr jensen, the current edition of the sydney dioceses newspaper, southern cross, has devoted two pages to an attack on bishop spong and his new book, jesus for the nonreligious. Im not southern baptist anymore, and would loosely call myself a christian. Spongs new book on john 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. Curtice brings us a moving and vulnerable column this week at progressing spirit. In his final climactic book, bishop spong provides us with a primer on his core. Bishop spong, the theological criminal the virtual atheism of john shelby spong a former bishop or not, this man stands outside of the community of the faithful. This weeks penpoints focuses upon some of spong s theological aberrations.
Peter francis, warden of gladstones library episcopalian bishop and prolific writer spong has penned what he declares to be his final book, encapsulating a lifetime of thinking and teaching in order to call upon christianity to undergo a transformation. Retired episcopal bishop john shelby sponghas been taking religious literalists to task for over 40 yearsspongs new book reclaiming. John shelby spong books list of books by author john shelby. By the end of the book, were left with a radical new vision for christianity one. A liberal christian theologian, religion commentator and author, he calls for a fundamental rethinking of christian belief away from theism and traditional doctrines. A new vision, beyond religion, beyond theism, beyond heaven and hell by john shelby spong, harpercollins, 2009, 288 ff. Why traditional faith is dying and how a new faith is being born is a theological book by episcopalian bishop john shelby spong.
He is 87 years old and questions linger about his health since he had a stroke in september 2016. It looks like the judgement of time is going to leave spongs 12 theses in the dustbin of history. Bookfilter interviews bishop john shelby spong youtube. 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. I think that one of my big issues with our absolutist friends is that they seem to think that there is only one truth and everyone has to agree on that one. John shelby spong is the episcopal bishop of newark, new jersey, and has enjoyed a career filled with controversy, much of it thanks to his. His outrageous ideology has been an embarrassment to many of his anglican kinsmen. 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. Bishop spong retired from writing this column in september 2016.
Unical funded the fundamentalists in the early 1900s and they would mail out these pamphlets, about 350,000 of them every week to every christian worker in america. John shelby spong is the episcopal bishop of newark, new jersey, and has enjoyed a career filled with controversy, much of it thanks to his many bestselling books. Yes, this new book is a provocative reinterpretation of gospel stories and some christians will disagree with spong, as usual. For those seeking to experience christianity in a new and vibrant way, bishop john shelby spong offers fresh spiritual ideas. John shelby spong, a retired bishop of the anglican church, has made a career of being a rogue priest who assaults almost everything that is sacred within the christian religion. What is there, however, is a powerful message that runs counter to.
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. Bishop spong has not shirked from making waves since the 1970s when he defended homosexuality to the church. A bishop rethinks the birth of jesus san francisco. R etired bishop john shelby spong is a man of great faith who is impatient with history and with his own mortality. Edmond browning of new york, presiding bishop of the episcopal church, said in an interview that he has not read spongs book, rescuing the bible from fundamentalism harper. In the process, we discuss one of bishop spongs most recent books, biblical literalism. First, look past the books titlethose words are a publishers way of reminding readers of the controversy retired bishop jack spong has sparked throughout most of his career. Bishop spong is the author of several bestselling books which have sold more than 650,000 copies combined, including. Now the controversial champion of a more open and progressive christianity courageously.
In demand as a lecturer around the world, bishop spong just completed a tour to the u. Rescuing the gospel from bishop spong probe ministries. From 1979 to 2000, he was the bishop of newark, new jersey. Even in his late 70s, describing the afterlife was a struggle.
Bishop john shelby spong ahead of his time with church. Bishop john shelby spong first parish of norwell unitarian. Reading the bible with jewish eyes harper, san francisco he reveals how christians have misread the gospels, by ignoring. Bishop john shelby spong has devoted his life to championing an authentic christianity based on love, not hatred. Jun 14, 20 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. Join us in explorations on theology, spirituality and the news at progressing spirit, a dynamic new online magazine offered to subscribers each week, with rotating authors, who are. John shelby spongs unbelievable is one of those books. Although the bible is not propositional truth, the bishop claims to possess truth on many subjects, things that are. John shelby spong is an influential public speaker, writer and media figure. Hes seen a whole lot of positive change in his lifetime, but hes impatient when he still witnesses the exclusion of people from the community of faithor finds old biases and bigotry resurfacing in new guises. Unbelievable goodreads meet your next favorite book. John shelby jack spong born june 16, 1931 is a retired bishop of the episcopal church.
John shelby spong has 30 books on goodreads with 23792 ratings. Best selling author, worldrenowned speaker and leader, inspiration and cofounder of progressing spirit. Bishop spong tried to answer this question posed by one of the listeners to his lecture. I thought your overview of bishop spong s new book was superbyou were honest, and, as always encouraging. Bookfilters michael giltz interviews retired episcopal bishop john shelby spong about his new book biblical literalism.
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. Jul 04, 2016 for those seeking to experience christianity in a new and vibrant way, bishop john shelby spong offers fresh spiritual ideas. See all books authored by john shelby spong, including rescuing the bible from. Episcopalian bishop and prolific writer spong biblical literalism. It would appear spongs brand of far left universalist christianity is the brand of religion that is not going to survive. The 12 theses of john shelby spong anglicanorum coetibus. That listener wanted to know what difference it would make in the real life of our real world if we ceased to define god in theistic terms. Apr 03, 2016 first, look past the books titlethose words are a publishers way of reminding readers of the controversy retired bishop jack spong has sparked throughout most of his career. Feb, 2018 a call for a new reformation casting aside the beliefs of christianity. Retired bishop john spong on rediscovering matthews jewish roots. A call for a new reformation casting aside the beliefs of christianity.
A journey into a new christianity through the doorway. See all books authored by john shelby spong, including rescuing the bible from fundamentalism. This weeks penpoints focuses upon some of spongs theological aberrations. In january 2011, took over the management and publishing of the bishop spong newsletter a new christianity for a new world. Now he offers the antidote, calling christians everywhere into a new and radical reformation for a new age. Explorations on theology, spirituality and the news.
John shelby spong was the episcopal bishop of newark, new jersey for twentyfour years before his retirement in 2000. Tales of a jewish mystic, the always provocative bishop john shelby spong takes on the gospel of john, opening new windows of insight and challenging the ways the fourth gospel has usually been understood. Spong looks beyond traditional boundaries to open new avenues and a new vocabulary into the holy, proposing a christianity premised upon. He claims he is a christian yet he champions causes that historic christianity has often fought tooth and nail against.
Spong looks beyond traditional boundaries to open new avenues and a new vocabulary into the holy, proposing a. In this final book of his storied career, spong continues to integrate a rigorous scholarly tradition with the christian faith and so offers a new approach, one that challenges christians to explore their beliefs in new and meaningful ways. A new vision, a remarkable spiritual journey about his lifelong struggle with the questions of god and death, he reveals how he came to a new. A bishop rethinks the meaning of scripture, and jesus for the nonreligious, and more on. Bishop spong has created just what we needed if we are going to save intelligent christianity from extinction. A gentile heresy and a lifetime of fighting for social justice. A new christianity for a new world john shelby spong. Apr 07, 2016 bookfilters michael giltz interviews retired episcopal bishop john shelby spong about his new book biblical literalism. So i am surprised to find no mention of it in this book. J ohn shelby spong, who was born in 1931 in charlotte, north carolina, u. This latest one is a take on the gospel of john called the fourth gospel. I thought your overview of bishop spongs new book was superbyou were honest, and, as always encouraging. A gentile heresy, spong dissects the gospel of matthew to uncover what the jewish writers were really trying to do in their gospel narrative, and oddly enough, building megachurches and promising safety and security in exchange for right belief isnt anywhere to be found.
The bulk of spongs book attempts to separate the bible from any notion of truth, except where the bishop finds a saying or thought helpful to his gospel of tolerance. The second part of your book focuses on a new christology. We havent heard much from former bishop of newark john shelby spong in a long time. Jesus new covenant may well have been the first lutherlike reformation even though it happened long before luther. The retired episcopal bishop of newark, new jersey, bishop spong will also give a public lecture at st aidans anglican girls school in brisbane. Bishop spong makes it quite clear that the words of the bible are not the words of god. Join bishop spong as he takes us on a journey to the times of jesus birth, focusing on lukes account.
Retired bishop john spong on rediscovering matthews. Controversial bishop spong, now 78, talks about eternal. The two of you dont agree on everything and thats the way it should be. John shelby spongs last book unbelievable is a dud. In this boldest book since rescuing the bible from fundamentalism, bishop john shelby spong offers a compelling view of the gospels as thoroughly jewish tests. And today, while i still have an eclectic style and love of music, ive found that the power of words.
John shelby spong books list of books by author john. This book is an excellent critique by a new testament scholar of the three recent antichristian books. Bishop spong has identified a problem for his church a symptom. Feb, 2018 jesus new covenant may well have been the first lutherlike reformation even though it happened long before luther. Reading the bible with jewish eyes harper, san francisco he reveals how. The bible is a good book, but god didnt write it bishop john. An aging maverick, episcopal bishop john shelby spong has. This book is based on the william belden noble lectures spong delivered at harvard. Bible scholar and episcopal bishop john shelby spong contends that the slow withering of the traditional church makes it imperative for christians to develop a radically new kind of christianitya faith deeply connected to the human experience instead of outdated dogma. Books by john shelby spong author of why christianity. Bible scholar and episcopal bishop john shelby spong contends that there is mounting pressure among christians for a radically new kind of christianitya faith deeply connected to the human experience instead. Books by john shelby spong meet your next favorite book. In his final climactic book, bishop spong provides us with a primer on his core ideas, a courageous agenda for the future of the jesus tradition, and some provocative proposals for pursuing that agenda. A new christianity for a new world has transitioned to.
Top 25 quotes by john shelby spong of 202 az quotes. A new vision that he had abandoned 25 years earlier because i clearly wasnt ready to write it. As the subtitle suggests, spong reads the gospel through a. Echoing martin luther, he offers 12 theses upon which to build his argument. Over the past four decades, he has become one of the definitive. Beyond religion, beyond theism, beyond heaven and hell, isbn 0060762063 in deutsch 2011. Oct 20, 2009 r etired bishop john shelby spong is a man of great faith who is impatient with history and with his own mortality. The book tells me that my thoughts of the past few years are felt by others and spong wrote these thoughts and much much more in this incredible new book unbelievable. An account of spirituality by a christian realist by howard jones john shelby spong was formerly the bishop of the episcopal church diocese of newark, new jersey. 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.
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