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

by John Shelby Spong

Book Overview

An important and respected voice for liberal American Christianity for the past twenty years, Bishop John Shelby Spong integrates his often controversial stands on the Bible, Jesus, theism, and morality into an intelligible creed that speaks to today's thinking Christian. In this compelling and heartfelt book, he sounds a rousing call for a Christianity based on critical thought rather than blind faith, on love rather than judgment, and that focuses...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060675365
• ISBN13: 9780060675363
• Release Date: April 1999
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Jesus myth, live or die?

Bishop Spong wrote this warning book for the faithful flock. Christianity after two thousand years was distorted and changed to fit the orthodox theology. In America, the fundamentalism group involve heavily in politics. He advocates to go back to the original good news from the teaching of Jesus. Otherwise, this Jesus myth should die.

Throwing out the baby with the bath water

In this very honest and courageous book Protestant bishop John Shelby Spong tries to wipe clean Christian theology of all mythological, superstitious, or idolatrous elements. He does succeed in showing how much of current theology and tradition is meaningless, but he consistently goes too far. For example in one of his most interesting arguments he explains how the dogma of Christ's divinity was created: First, the earliest New Testament writer, Paul, declared that Jesus became divine at the cross. Subsequent writers moved the moment in which Jesus became divine back to the time of his baptism, then of his birth, and finally the latest writer, John, moved the divinity of Jesus back to the beginning of all time. A similar account is given for the appearance of the concept of the Holy Spirit. So far so good, but suddenly, as if the previous discussion had made it necessary, Spong makes away with the dogma of Trinity itself. It may be true that Christian dogma was created in a messy, all too human fashion, but this does not mean that the end result must be wrong and made away with. Trinity is the Christian vision of God, and is brightly beautiful and deeply meaningful for many people. Spong suggests that it should be abandoned without really explaining why.Over and over again he abstracts important concepts beyond recognition, and I would say beyond relevance for almost everybody. For example he decries the "theistic God". Theism is not a commonplace concept, I had to look it up. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica "Theism is the view that all limited or finite things are dependent in some way on one supreme or ultimate reality of which one may also speak in personal terms." I have no problem with this, and I don't see why the fact that the idea of theism has been abused means that theism is false. Spong himself has a completely impersonal view of God as the "Ground of All Being". It is difficult to have such an abstract entity be the Creator, so this fundamental aspect of God is simply not mentioned in the book. How does one pray to the Ground of All Being? Spong rightfully criticizes the view of prayer as the means to get God's attention and intervention according to our needs, but then he makes away with prayer altogether, declaring that prayer is living in God; but prayer without communication is not prayer at all. In another passage he claims that the concept of heaven does not make sense anymore because today we can fly in the sky and astronauts have penetrated outer space, so there is no place for a physical abode of God called heaven. Some Christians held the primitive view that heaven was a place somewhere above theclouds, and from this Spong deduces that heaven does not exist! He seems to believe that if an idea has been used in error then the idea itself must be in error. So he ends up again and again throwing out the baby with the bath water.In this book Spong equates Christianity with Christian theology and tradition. The title of

Enlightening, controversial, scary

This book grabbed me and kept me in its wrath after I passed chapter 4. Its controversial view of the bible, interpretation of the bible and historical insight into creation of the bible, as well as theory on creation, evolution and the nature of God will keep you reading for hours. You'll love it, you'll hate it. If your a Christian your entire footing will be challenged. This book is great for exploring other ideas of religion or to strengthen your current beliefs by challenging them.

Fascinating and disturbing manifesto

In this, his latest theological work, Bishop John Spong systematically delves into contradictions and conflicts between biblical literalism and modern society. He spotlights the uneasy mix between traditional Christian faith and a modern world-view: contrasting the seven-day creation story with fossils dating back billions of years: the understanding of Earth as but one planet in one galaxy of millions are just two examples of the major shifts in the world view that have taken place since the birth and death of Christ. For those espousing Biblical literalism and fundamentalism, this book will read like utter heresy. For the true atheist, perhaps, it will seem like goody-goody wishful thinking. Yet, throughout it all, Spong clings to the notion that God is Love, God is Life, God as the ultimate Source of All, and urges people, Christians or not, to examine their beliefs and enter into discussion and dialogue about what Christianity and religion mean in the world today, and for the next millennium. Even when I disagree with Bishop Spong's conclusions, he makes me reevaluate my own faith, and thus both stimulates and refreshes it. I am grateful for this book, even as it disturbs me.

Faith without Reason = Superstition!

This book is awesome! I had only gotten a few pages into it and already I felt like Spong must have somehow tapped directly into my brain! He speaks to the many, many people out there who feel disenfranchised by a Christianity that keeps serving up ancient fairy stories that are impossible for anyone with a critical (no, make that functioning) intellect to accept. He asks a lot of the questions we are asking; dares to speak the truth about the anger, defensiveness, and politicism that have characterized the Church; and liberates Jesus from the doctrinal straightjacket the Church has encased him in. No, he doesn't really provide *answers*--but I think that's the point. So often people who question are told, basically, to shut up and believe because shutting up and believing is what faith is all about. Spong replies that questioning and reformulating is healthy. I agree with him wholeheartedly that unless Christianity wakes up and starts reexamining itself, it is going to die. Thinking people will dismiss it as a useless relic because it will be so inadequate for their everyday lives. It's happening that way now. I highly recommend that anybody with any spiritual life whatsoever read this book! It is extremely thought-provoking (which is probably why the fundies can't stand it), and no matter what belief system you arrive at, you need to arrive there informed.

My Sentiments Exactly (or at least pretty close)

What I find in this book is a valid and well-supported argument to support the conclusions I have already come to in my own Christian experience. Spong explores most of the major concerns of Christian faith: the nature of God, the identity of Jesus Christ and the meaning of his cross and his resurrection, the purpose of prayer, the basis for morality, the existence of an after-life, and the role of the church. With thoughtful credibility Spong demythologizes each tenet yet provides a basis for their continued validity as a path (not necessarily the path) to God for modern seekers. Whether or not you agree with Spong's conclusions, it is difficult to read this book without recognizing him as a man of raw courage, profound spirituality, determined faith, and deep compassion.