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John Shelby Spong

Former Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Newark

"On Faith" panelist John Shelby Spong served as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years before his retirement in 2000. His books, seeking to make contemporary theology accessible to lay readers, have sold over a million copies. His latest book, The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Discover the God of Love (2005), examines the holy book of the Judeo-Christian tradition. A committed Christian who has spent a lifetime studying the Bible and whose life has been deeply shaped by it, Spong has been a visiting lecturer at universities, Including Harvard, and churches worldwide, delivering more than 200 public lectures each year to standing-room only crowds. His best-selling books include Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, A New Christianity for a New World, Why Christianity Must Change or Die, and Here I Stand. Close.

John Shelby Spong

Former Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Newark

Main Page | John Shelby Spong Archives | On Faith Archives

Human Definitions of God Need Revision

I am confident that a dialogue with those who call themselves “atheists” would not only be good for the church but it would also allow deep and profound truth to emerge.

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All Comments (561)

John Whitmore:

On reading his latest book 'Jesus for the Non-Religious' I find myself utterly confused and saddened.
How he can stand up in church and lead a service with all his thoughts and demolition of so much of the Bible amazes me. I often visualise how the congregation must enter his church looking for hope, guidance and firmer belief in a God to follow, love and worship - and on leaving the building what inspiration and deeper understanding of a forgiving Saviour with whom they can have a communion of spirit and soul they have found? Of the recently bereaved, suicidal and desperately lonely can have gained to help and encourage them to continue living a day at a time with a hope and light they can follow, I fail to see how this can be. Does he have to deny his own beliefs to give a more traditional service with prayers of adoration and help for those in need?

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