Christ Of Faith: 023: John Shelby Spong – Value Beyond Biblical Literalness

Today We sit down with Bishop John Shelby Spong.  Jack is a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church. From 1979 to 2000 he was Bishop of Newark (based in Newark, New Jersey). He is a liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator and author. He calls for a fundamental rethinking of Christian belief away from theism and traditional doctrines.  We talk to Bishop Spong about his life, his own faith journey, and what he sees as the problems with Christian fundamentalism.  We talk about how dynamic growth is not the measuring stick for is a Christian Church is healthy.  We talk about the deconstruction of one’s faith and how one can stay in the spiritual wrestle and not throw in the towel even as one’s religious framing falls apart.  If you have not ever heard of Bishop Spong can we suggest several enlightening venues to get to know him better?

Resources:
Bishop Spong’s views on Jesus, the gosepl, and the New Testament

Bishop Spong’s Criticism of Biblical Literalness

Bishop Spong’s recasting the story of Jesus

Debate between Bishop Spong and James White.  This debate is a great model of of two intelligent and informed people coming to a discussion holding different developmental ground.  One is a very Binary/outer authority/literal believer and the other anon-literal, nuanced/with Inner authority.

Books by Bishop John Shelby Spong:

Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy: A Journey into a New Christianity

Why Christianity Must Change or Die: A Bishop Speaks to Believers In Exile

Jesus for the Non-Religious

Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy

Unbelievable: Why Neither Ancient Creeds Nor the Reformation Can Produce a Living Faith Today

Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World

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