Spiritual Rebel John Shelby Spong

What bothers me about Sponge isn't the fact that his religious views and mine don't coincide, but the transparent insincerety of the man as he masquerades as a "Christian" while attacking the very moral teachings of the Bible.

As for people who are avowed atheists who say all religion is nonsense, I don't agree with them, but at least they are honest and up front about who they are and how they feel. Madeline Murrey O'Hare, William Edelan, and other at least make no pretense about where they stand.

Sponge is typical of the Episcopal church and other apostate sects: He tries to call himself a Christian and selectively chooses whatever scriptures fit his agenda by pulling them out of context when in point of fact, he's just another rebellious phony.

I find it laughable when people like him--and their attendent churches--say they are going to "debate" a certain moral (usually pertaining to sex) issue because once they say that, one knows perfectly well their mind is made up but they don't have the guts to just come out and say it since inevitably that's what they end up doing.

Again, my point is, if you think the Bible/Christianity is wrong, just say it. Don't try to say you're something that you aren't, as Sponge, the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, and others do.

The previous commenter must have a special connection to God in order to to state that the United Methodists, the Episcopal Church, Spong (at least spell it correctly), and "others", whoever they might be, all think the Bible/Christianity are wrong. First, the Bible is not the same thing as Christianity. Second, just because you disagree with another Christian doesn't make you right. Third, it's exactly statements like this that give Christianity and Jesus Christ a bad name. The arrogance of the conservatives and right wing, who claim to have the true Christianity, is similar to that of the Pharisees who pushed for the execution of Jesus Christ. They thought they were right, too.

Bishop Spong is the retired Bishop of Newark, not New Jersey. These are 2 different dioceses.

I think Spong has a lot to say to whomever is willing to listen. He certainly does challenge long-held cherished beliefs and I fully understand and sympathize with those who find him offensive. Any who claim that "God" can be defined with human language is to expose his/her ignorance. Spong’s honesty in all his writings are gratifying to read in our post-modern age. Indeed the logical sense he makes is most inspiring and makes following Jesus seem worthwhile. Spong is advocating a move beyond traditional "supernatural theism"--the belief that a supreme being exists somewhere "up there" who watches out for us, protects us, punishes us, blesses us, redeems us, saves us--to encourage us to look inward for "God." His message is that when one thinks of God he should think of Jesus. In the life, personality and humanity of Jesus we see and meet God. That is the mystery that should be embraced. I agree with Spong and read everything he writes and look forward to a day when those who follow Jesus will "put away childish things" such as superstitious beliefs of antiquity as if they were literal history and breakthrough into modern understandings of scripture and more inspiring ways of experiencing the mystery that is God.

Lets not muddy the waters here and say it loud and clear Spong is not a Christian and falls into that very crowded corner of those who are false teachers mentioned in the New Tesament. Having "new doctrines" they try and deceive those who would care to listen to them.He isnt new! there were plenty of his type around when Jesus walked the earth. Some even tried to trip Jesus up with their questions but He soon showed them by His answers what they really were about, and that was they werent interested in the TRUTH but wanted to put Jesus down.Paul speaks about them "Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof". One day Spong and people of his ilk will finally know the TRUTH when they stand before God at the judgement but knowing him he probably doesnt believe in a judgement anyway.

Why are you people so hell-bent on hatred and creating rifts of spite and intolerance between human beings? Why are you so caught up in this soul-choking fear and resentment? Are you really hurting so badly inside that you can't accept the genuine love of other human beings? Judgement, damnnation, exile, seperation, conempt and bitter denial of human equality and compassion only perpetuates suffering and enforces a facistic stranglehold on society as we desperately hide our true thoughts and feelings and needs behind a facade of dogma instead of true understanding. We exist as we are, not as we dress ourselves up as to meet social criteria, and slapping more paint over a decaying wall won't help anything. Instead of feigning righteousness try looking inside and asking yourselves how it is you really feel inside, even where it hurts to look, and realize we all have pain we're working to heal and the only way to heal is to be able to be honest and open about it so we can get the help we need from those outside ourselves who want to love us as much as we want to love them. This doesnt mean passing judgiement upon others and spurning them, pushing them away, it's a matter of coming to understand our own pains and fears, and sincerely communicating them with other human beings in an effort to move past doubt, confusion and fear.