Retired episcopal bishop john shelby spong is a man with a mission. From 1979 to 2000, he was the bishop of newark, new jersey. John shelby spong has 30 books on goodreads with 23873 ratings. Spong has been something of a heavyweight at least. His new book is published in the uk on th february and is already available to preorder. Now he offers the antidote, calling christians everywhere into a new and radical reformation for a new age. A new christianity for a new world has transitioned to.
Paul was a selfhating gay, the new book by a former episcopal bishop. First comes the thinking time, the dreaming time, the listening time. Robot modeling and control introduces the fundamentals of robot modeling and control and provides background material on terminology, linear algebra, dynamical systems and stability theory, followed by detailed coverage of forward and inverse kinematics, jacobians, lagrangian dynamics, motion planning, robust and adaptive motion and force control, and computer vision. Bishop spong is fascinating in that he calls for a radically reinvisioning of christian beliefs, to the point where many consider him to be an athiest. What is there, however, is a powerful message that runs counter to the idea that. Pastors david felten and jeff proctermurphy, along with the voices of top bible scholars and church leadersincluding marcus borg, diana butler bass, john dominic crossan, helen prejean, and john shelby spongprovide a primer to a church movement that encourages every christian to live the questions. He claims he is a christian yet he champions causes that historic christianity has often fought tooth and nail against. A liberal christian theologian, religion commentator and author, he calls for a fundamental rethinking of christian. 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. John shelby spong s last book unbelievable is a dud.
J ohn shelby spong, who was born in 1931 in charlotte, north carolina, u. Bishop spongs new book is filled with trenchant insights, searing honesty, and. John spong liberating the gospels tekton apologetics. Sometimes a character emerges first and i have to find out who he or she is. Spong, however, considers himself a follower of english theologian john a. John shelby spong is an influential public speaker, writer and media figure. Hes touring australia to promote his most recent books. It means that the gospels, and especially matthew is written by a jewish disciple of jesus, part of a congregation of jewish disciples of jesus. The laws by which the world operates have not changed since the dawn of time, but the way human beings explain and understand those laws has changed dramatically over the centuries of human history. A visiting lecturer at harvard and at universities and churches worldwide, bishop spong delivers more than 200 public lectures each year to standingroomonly crowds. The person who, in my opinion, initiated the new view of reality, which is. We havent heard much from former bishop of newark john shelby spong in a long time. This is really profound and opens up new windows into the way the church should be dealing with human sexuality something we have been historically awful at. In reclaiming the bible for a nonreligious world, bishop and social activist john shelby spong argues that 200 years of biblical scholarship has been withheld from lay christians.
Darkrealms is the official anne bishop fan page where youll find news about all of my books. This new and imaginative book by john shelby spong will liberate many people from this unnecessary complication of the religious life. Beyond religion, beyond theism, beyond heaven and hell. Bishop spong and the resurrection christian forums. Bishop spongs nonliteral good friday juicy ecumenism.
Even aside from his arguments that jesus and mary magdalene were married and that st. Episcopal prelate john shelby spong has riled many christians with his. An aging maverick, episcopal bishop john shelby spong has. Why its heretical to read the bible literally alternet.
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 endorsed by bishop. In his new book, unbelievable, our friend, jack spong writes. This book is an excellent critique by a new testament scholar of the three recent antichristian books. John shelby spongs last book unbelievable is a dud. Sometimes a place emerges first and characters come in to populate it.
If you look in the opening pages of my book a new christianity for a new world, i write about how much john meant to me. I thought your overview of bishop spongs new book was superbyou were honest, and, as always encouraging. John shelby spong, whose books have sold more than a million copies, was bishop of the episcopal diocese of newark for 24 years before his retirement in 2001. A liberal christian theologian, religion commentator and author, he calls for a fundamental rethinking of christian belief away from theism and traditional doctrines. For those seeking to experience christianity in a new and vibrant way, bishop john shelby spong offers fresh spiritual ideas. An aging maverick, episcopal bishop john shelby spong has no. Here he reproduces the ideas he put forward in resurrection, arguing that the gospels are not historical narratives but exercises in. Retired bishop john shelby spong interview on bible.
In reclaiming the bible for a nonreligious world, spong offers a way for critical and curious readers to discover the exquisite and profound ways the bible can, in fact, lead towards abundant life. John shelby jack spong born june 16, 1931 is a retired bishop of the episcopal church. Beyond religion, beyond theism, beyond heaven, harper one 2009. Edward bishop, and was first published in august 1964. Jun 23, 20 retired episcopal bishop john shelby spong, also known as jack, and his wife christine. 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. 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. Speaking at community christian church of springfield, mo, bishop spong gave us a taste of sections of his next book which will be on the. This is the second lecture in a series of four lectures bishop john shelby spong delivered at a progressive faith conference in springfield, mo. Bishop spong retired from writing this column in september 2016. Books by john shelby spong author of why christianity.
Reclaiming the bible for a nonreligious world paperback. In recent years spong has gained notoriety for his unorthodox views on doctrine and sexual morality. What i find amusing about spongs sermon hardly the right word for something intended to undermine faith is that, like so many libs his age, he is stuck in the biblical criticism of 40 years ago, when it was known by all seminary students that john was utterly unreliable as history, even more mythical than the other three. Spong has been the episcopal bishop of the episcopal diocese of newark new jersey since 1979. John shelby spongs unbelievable is one of those books. He certainly comes out strongly against a purely diest view of god. His admirers acclaim him as a teaching bishop who makes contemporary theology accessible to the ordinary layperson hes considered the champion of an inclusive faith by many, both. Books by john shelby spong author of why christianity must. Curtice brings us a moving and vulnerable column this week at progressing spirit. This book focuses on the resurrection, a pet topic for me at the moment. A retired american bishop of the episcopal church episcopal diocese of new ark. Anne bishop s courtyard is the official fan page for my new series about the others.
Starting in january 2000 he will retire and begin teaching at harvard. John and i are a generation apart but i tell readers in the opening of that book. He is out to save christianity from the fundamentalists. Oct 07, 2017 spong has been the episcopal bishop of the episcopal diocese of newark new jersey since 1979. In this challenging, intellectually rigorous culmination of his body of theological work, retired episcopal bishop spong jesus for the nonreligious provides a. A retired american bishop of the episcopal church episcopal diocese of newark. And today, while i still have an eclectic style and love of music, ive found that the power of words. It has also been used to assess the likelihood of spontaneous preterm delivery. Spong has long been a provocative voice within the christian community. If you arent familiar with spong, hes a recently retired episcopal bishop who has stirred up more than a little controversy with his challenges to traditional understandings of christianity, thanks in no small part to his presentation.
This book starts with the same idea 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. Im not southern baptist anymore, and would loosely call myself a christian. John shelby spong has long been known as the nightmare of the more conservative element of the anglican church in america. In some ways that book was my 101 introduction to critical studies of the bible. Essential reading for anyone who cares about the future of humanity and christianity. John shelby spong ne le 16 juin 1931 a charlotte, caroline du nord est l ancien eveque anglican du diocese du new jersey. After a decade of feeling banished by the bible, i am now drawn back. This, of course, would come as a shock to both of these men, who remained biblical literalists to their dying days. This weeks penpoints focuses upon some of spongs theological aberrations. The two cannot be separated, spong writes in his new book. Spong delivers twelve forwardthinking theses to spark a new reformation to.
Retired bishop john spong on rediscovering matthews jewish roots. Spring is the perfect season to explore john shelby spongs new book, biblical literalism. The two of you dont agree on everything and thats the way it should be. He has regularly pushed boundaries with a take no prisoners attitude.
Once in awhile, a book comes along that completely shatters your christian world view. 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. Spong elaborates on them in his book a new christianity for a new world. A new vision and rollicking journey to eternal life. 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. Rescuing the gospel from bishop spong who is bishop spong. A new vision that he had abandoned 25 years earlier because i clearly wasnt ready to write it. Shortly after that book was published i reduced its content to twelve theses, which i attached in lutherlike fashion to the great doors on the. 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. Books by john shelby spong meet your next favorite book. As the subtitle suggests, spong reads the gospel through a. You say in this book that reading the bible literally is a gentile heresy.
A bishop rethinks the meaning of scripture, and jesus for the nonreligious, and more on. Truly a book for thinking christians and anyone interested in being chased by bishop spong. See all books authored by john shelby spong, including rescuing the bible from fundamentalism. Spong begins his work in this book, at any rate, with a tortured history of western thought, making the familiar assertions that the discoveries of galileo and newton destroyed the supernatural world view. Rescuing the gospel from bishop spong probe ministries. 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. Hero or heretic, spong wont be forgotten episcopal church.
John shelby spong books list of books by author john. Best selling author, worldrenowned speaker and leader, inspiration and cofounder of progressing spirit. The majority of the american population cannot identify a book of the bible if a passage is read aloud. Spongs book rescuing the bible from fundamentalism had a major impact on my understanding of the bible at a time i was breaking away from belief in christianity altogether. He doesnt give much more of an explanation than that. He claims he is a christian yet he champions causes that historic christianity has. In january 2011, took over the management and publishing of the bishop spong newsletter a new christianity for a new world. In 2010, spong published a book on life after death eternal life. Spongs next book, liberating the gospels, introduced me to the main principles of michael goulders arguments about the gospels being written as lectionary readings for churches. A bishop rethinks the birth of jesus san francisco. 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 spongs writings and teachings are on the authority of the bible, god, history, the virgin birth, the resurrection of jesus, culture, sexuality, and sin.
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. Spong was the episcopal bishop of newark, new jersey in the united states for more than twenty years and is. This latest one is a take on the gospel of john called the fourth gospel. Spong looks beyond traditional boundaries to open new avenues and a new vocabulary into the holy, proposing a christianity premised upon justice, love. As an educator, clergyman, and writer who has devoted his life to his faith, spong has enlightened christians and challenged them to explore their beliefs in new and meaningful ways. The bishop score was developed by professor emeritus of obstetrics and gynecology, dr. Out of this evolved the resurrection myths in his telling of it. Explorations on theology, spirituality and the news. 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. John shelby spong has 30 books on goodreads with 23862 ratings. 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. Bishop score, also bishops score, also known as cervix score is a prelabor scoring system to assist in predicting whether induction of labor will be required. He argues that while liberal, mainline churches have abandoned the bible, which he claims to love, fundamentalists have made an idol of it.
May 15, 2005 even aside from his arguments that jesus and mary magdalene were married and that st. Sunday nights with john cleary 17062001 bishop shelby spong produced by susan clarke. 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. Robinson, whose book honest to god spong considers a lifechanging book. Paul was a selfhating gay, the new book by a former episcopal bishop of newark is explosive. For some, spong follows in the legacy of bishop james pike, the flamboyant bishop of the diocese of california who was charged with heresy in 1966 and who died in the israeli desert in 1969.
This, of course, would come as a shock to both of these men, who remained biblical literalists to. The author of this book with a provocative title is john shelby spong, the long retired episcopal bishop of newark, new jersey. In this brilliant followup to spongs previous books eternal life and jesus for the nonreligious, spong not only reveals the crucial truths that have long been kept hidden from the public eye, but also explores. Spong is probably the most blunt about his views, but many other bishops have made similar statements.
Bishop john shelby spong ponders the afterlife juicy. Bishop john shelby spongs final book is out soon pcn britain. Over the past four decades, he has become one of the definitive. All of my books are available as downloadable audio books in the us. Retired bishop john spong on rediscovering matthews. When you start a new book, do you outline, just start writing and see what happens, write the end first, etc a. He is 87 years old and questions linger about his health since he had a stroke in september 2016. His outrageous ideology has been an embarrassment to many of his anglican kinsmen. Bishop john shelby spongs final book is out soon pcn. Spong thinks the apostles had some kind of easter experience that enkindled some form of faith and hope in them.
What struck me about this book was his case for the midrashic rewriting of old testament figures throughout the gospels. 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. He is as radically liberal as it is possible to be and still maintain a nominal identification with the name christian. Follow jeff walton on twitter less than a month after sponsoring an event for virginia episcopal clergy featuring a speaker who denies both the afterlife and unique divinity of christ, bishop shannon johnston of the episcopal diocese of virginia has presided over a service featuring a similarly controversial figure in a good friday service at historic st. I thought your overview of bishop spong s new book was superbyou were honest, and, as always encouraging. In unbelievable, spong outlines twelve theses to help todays believers more deeply contemplate and reshape their faith.
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