John Shelby Spong

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

"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. more »

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Spirituality Archives



January 3, 2007 12:00 PM

Most Important Religious Experience Is Life-Long

Religious experiences come in many forms. I grew up in the Bible Belt of the South about half a mile up the road from the home of Billy Graham in Charlotte, North Carolina. I was an evangelical fundamentalist who accepted the Bible as the literal world of God.

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February 5, 2007 5:30 PM

Prayer For Me Is Being Open to What Is Holy

It is impossible to answer the question “What is Prayer” until you can discuss the meaning of God.

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February 5, 2007 5:30 PM

Prayer For Me Is Being Open to What Is Holy

It is impossible to answer the question “What is Prayer” until you can discuss the meaning of God.

Continue »




April 6, 2007 7:07 AM

Resurrection, not Resuscitation

No one in the world of academic theology that I know treats the supposed discovery of the tomb of Jesus as if it had any credibility. It is based on the idea that the resurrection of Jesus was in fact a physical resuscitation.

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