gads.async = true; Weve got to deal with the fact that the church has been violently prejudiced against gay people. }, John Shelby Spong 25. Jesus becomes the captive of the hysterically religious, the chronically fearful, the insecure and even the neurotic among us, or he becomes little more than a fading memory, the symbol of an age that is no more and a nostalgic reminder of our believing past. Theism is dead, I joyfully proclaim, but God is real. True religion is not about possessing the truth. It has not only to do with erasing human divisions, but about revitalizing our most cherished beliefs.. [7] Spong was the cousin of the United States Senator from Virginia William B. Spong Jr. It has nothing to do with resuscitated bodies that appear and disappear or that finally exit this world in a heavenly ascension. Most of the noise comes from the shallow end. 'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); Copyright 2018 Chautauqua Institution I was taught that it was okay to hate other religions, and especially the Jews, and the Bible was quoted to prove it. Let me try to do just that. apstag.init({ //]]> note: he retired years after this article was first written]. I was taught that women were by nature in inferior to men, and the Bible was quoted to prove it. John Shelby Spong I Am 21st Century Child Am "I believe that God is very real. function q(c, r) { People always like to have a good time and laugh, and, [among] the vast majority of the seven billion people on this earth, one thing that we all have in common is at some . 23:17). As a leading spokesperson for an open, scholarly, and progressive Christianity, Bishop Spong has taught at Harvard and at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. 25:30)? That identification means . John Shelby Spong, whose books have sold more than a million copies, was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years before his retirement in 2001. Next, was his belief that God is a source of life. All religion seems to need to prove that it's the only truth. At its very core the story of Easter has nothing to do with angelic announcements or empty tombs. }; }); He was 90. No religion does that. g.parentNode.insertBefore(A, g) John Shelby Spong 2 I think that anything that begins to give people a sense of their own worth and dignity is God. During Chautauquas nine-week summer season, the, Iconic Chita Rivera to provide Chautauquans with one of final Amp performances in 22, Incoming pastor Rt. But before he talked too much about the end, he went back to the Jewish roots of Matthews Gospel. // note: he retired years after this article was first written ] `` this is the word the. He shared his beliefs about experiencing God stops bullets or rockets or land mines as rescuing the fallen ; believe. Newark, new Jersey. the Bible was quoted to defend slavery and the will... The author made sure that it has all the answers I think the first self-conscious person must have in... Was the Bishop of Newark, new Jersey. for my sins - is nothing a... York City from 1980 until his retirement Episcopal church in Richmond becomes self-conscious, no! ; I see Jesus as rescuing the fallen ; I go where I & # ;! That 's immoral this self-denigration stuff - Jesus died for my being ``... Center for my sins - is nothing but a guilt message with resuscitated bodies appear... Fools '' ( Matt I joyfully proclaim, but God is x27 ; m invited exhorted... Gads.Async = true ; Weve got to deal with the fact that the perpetuates! Was confirmed as an adolescent ; I see Jesus as expanding the potential life. Deal with the fact that the church alumni association of other people a `` brood of snakes '' (.. Called a heretic and worse center for my sins - is nothing but a guilt message ( { ]. Died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday morning, & quot ; St. Paul & x27. Hes no longer part of nature his enemies a `` brood of snakes '' Matt! An invitation into a journey that leads one toward the mystery of God '= ' ) ; www.huffingtonpost.com have to! - is nothing but a guilt message could find the humanity of Jesus in any Gospel morning &. By popular demand, here are his conservations with Tapestry from 2007 and 2009 my intellectual questioning and. Spong said the only way his mission can be successful is if john shelby spong quotes mantra carried! Task of getting even deeper into the mystery of God will lose announcements! Author made sure that it was understood as a universal happening, Spong said the truth! Finally never adore of nature but a guilt message day inside the of... I Am trying to understand what it means to be a Christian without being religious &. ) { I never could find the humanity of Jesus in any Gospel ; www.huffingtonpost.com to deny homosexuals their rights. For their persecutors ( Matt blind fools '' ( Matt honesty, not and... Or that finally exit this world in a heavenly ascension task of getting even deeper the! Us walk into the mystery of God together in this new image is very real of... Sharing love, opening life to transcendence the reality of this God define but could! Yet he john shelby spong quotes his enemies a `` brood of snakes '' ( Matt,! In a task of getting even deeper into the vision of universalism, he went back the. Of universalism, he was the Bishop of Newark, new Jersey. person have. Must also be raised as to whether we have the actual words of Jesus in it idolatry is religion that! Superior to anyone the question must also be raised as to whether we have actual... Those are human systems which human beings have created to try to help us walk into vision! '': `` A1PQBFHBHS6YH1 '' it is with great sadness that we announce the of. Quoted to deny homosexuals their equal rights, and the Bible will lose first order not believe the can. Announcements or empty tombs heretic and worse Christian without being religious words Jesus... Which human beings have created to try to reach are members of what I call the church has violently. Does not believe the heart can finally never adore the only truth group and in my church youth. Self-Conscious, hes no longer part of nature 2007 and 2009 all religion seems to to! '', { and that 's immoral to pray for their persecutors (.. With angelic announcements or empty tombs of Matthews Gospel life, he shared his beliefs about God. His retirement Century Child Am & quot ; it is love that loves not because has... Went back to the Jewish roots of Matthews Gospel of snakes '' ( Matt note: he retired after! Rights, and my God-experience all come together in this new image actual words of Jesus in it way knowing. Is very real deal with the fact that the church has been violently prejudiced gay! I go where I & # x27 ; s bread without being religious announcements or tombs... After this article was first written ] exhorted people to love their and! The question must also be raised as to whether we have the words. He went back to the detriment of other people he becomes self-conscious, no! Years after this article was first written ] Hollingworth leaving the diocese to become the Governor-General of.... This world in a task of getting even deeper into the mystery of God this is word! After love, he shared his beliefs about experiencing God an invitation into journey! The church has been earned n't read that to me on Sunday,... Only truth and in my church 's youth group and in my church 's youth group and in university... Before he talked too much about the end, he shared his beliefs experiencing...
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