He was also a professor of Divinity at the General Theological Seminary in New York City from 1980 until his retirement . [CDATA[ How divine is the message that says for your finite failings you will be cast into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. I was baptized as an infant. According to The Episcopal Diocese of Newark, Bishop Spong suffered a stroke before a speaking engagement in Marquette, Michigan, on Saturday, September 10, 2016. A liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator, and author, he called for a fundamental rethinking of Christian belief away from theism and traditional doctrines.[1]. God Is Real. Give us today tomorrow's bread. I find that children have very little trouble understanding non-literal stories. I was taught that women were by nature in inferior to men, and the Bible was quoted to prove it. That's the thing we've got to get out from under. . Our English language really says if youre not a theist, the only alternative is to be an atheist. " I go where I'm invited. Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism (1991), Remarkable Last Words (or Near-Last Words), Why Christianity Must Change or Die (1998), A New Christianity for a New World (2001), The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic (2013). Spong said the only way his mission can be successful is if his mantra is carried out without any set of boundaries. Our English language really says if you're not a theist, the only alternative is to be an atheist. //=0){return}if("ue_https" in e){f=e.ue_https}else{f=e.location&&e.location.protocol=="https:"?1:0}i=f? The ultimate meaning of the Bible escapes human limits and calls us to a recognition that every life is holy, every life is loved, and every life is called to be all that that life is capable of being. Are they hopelessly misinformed? If I could not move my search beyond angelic messengers, empty tombs, and ghostlike apparitions, I could not say yes to Easter. He was a liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator and author. In the fall of 1988, I worshipped God in a Buddhist temple. apstag.init({ "Christ must be served in every person," he said. }, shortquotes.blog 1,000,000++ Short Quotes [25] The notice was announced by the St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia, where Spong had once been rector.[26][27]. We've collected the best John Shelby Spong Quotes. "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of the Rt. In the way that God brought oneness out of diversity, wholeness out of brokenness and eternity out of time, Spong realized the version of faith he wanted to spread. } } A I don't think you can locate God or define God. If I could not move my search beyond angelic messengers, empty tombs, and ghostlike apparitions, I could not say yes to Easter. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? Many of the characters who appear in the pages of the Fourth Gospel are literary creations of its author and were never intended to be understood as real people, who actually lived in history. I cannot say my yes to legends that have been clearly and fancifully created. That's sort of fourth-century Christianity that got turned into doctrines and dogmas that we've never been able to escape. It is love that loves not because it has been earned. Prayer is being present, sharing love, opening life to transcendence. I do not think of God theistically, that is, as a being, supernatural in power, who dwells beyond the limits of my world. There can be no one regarded as unclean, no prejudice allowed to operate inside this vision of Christianity., Since then, he has answered the call to try to transform the world so that every person living in it will have a better opportunity to live fully, love wastefully and be all each of them was created to be.. var googletag = googletag || {}; I am content to learn from them and to walk with them side by side toward the God who lives, I believe, beyond the images that bind and blind us. I could not believe that anyone who has read this book would be so foolish as to proclaim that the Bible in every literal word was the divinely inspired, inerrant word of God. You can't sing "Amazing Grace" without reminding yourself that the reason God's grace is amazing is it saves a wretch like you. Spong was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and educated in public schools there. q("f", arguments) if (window.csa) { I don't see Jesus as rescuing the fallen; I see Jesus as expanding the potential of life. Idolatry is religion pretending that it has all the answers. John Shelby Spong is an influential public speaker, writer and media figure. //]]>, Eternal Life: A New Vision: Beyond Religion, Beyond Theism, Beyond Heaven and Hell, Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy: A Journey into a New Christianity Through the Doorway of Matthew's Gospel, The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic, Why Christianity Must Change or Die: A Bishop Speaks to Believers In Exile, Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World. Because as he becomes self-conscious, hes no longer part of nature. The more deeply I can be all that I can be, the more I can make God visible.. So who is God? It has nothing to do with time periods, whether three days, forty days, or fifty days. The former Episcopal Bishop of Newark (N.J.) has been writing for years for those he calls "believers in exile," people who feel like modern versions of Christianity demand blind faith and require adherents to check their brains at the door. }, Browse top 25 most favorite famous quotes and sayings by John Shelby Spong. - John Shelby Spong. During Chautauquas nine-week summer season, the, Iconic Chita Rivera to provide Chautauquans with one of final Amp performances in 22, Incoming pastor Rt. I admire our ancestors, whoever they were. Every day we present the best quotes! Improve yourself, find your inspiration, share with friends. That's magic, that's not God. googletag.enableServices(); The author of this book is not a single individual, but is at least three different writers/editors, who did their layered work over a period of 25 to 30 years. The Bible is full of dreadful things. That is what Jesus meant and that's what the original Christ experience was, before we became Scripture defenders, and before the creeds became the essence of our faith." For that view of resurrection is not believable, and if that is all there is, then Christianity, which depends upon the truth and authenticity of Jesus' resurrection, also is not believable. With an army of giant, mildly been earned ; I really feel songs ve... Way you become divine is to be an atheist I was taught that women were by nature in to. All come together in this New image find that children have very little trouble understanding non-literal stories has encouraged immaturity... Mistake in the wrong place at the wrong time the call to a universal humanity Spong... Mantra is carried out without any set of boundaries very little trouble understanding non-literal stories getCookieWithoutJQuery ( )... And dignity is God Spong said surviving against the orthodox party of the future can not my... 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