Bishop John Spong on the bible as a source of truth

[six80ususus]

Very intelligent man. And the best thing is be belives in god. I dont seee how people can argue agaisnt what he is saying because he is right on in everything he says.

[CneeKrunch]

I would go to church if he was there.

[rudibr7878]

Picking on details to make a rant and discredit him is a clear sign of someone who are having their belief system being threatened.

Spong really does a rather loose explanation on a lot of his bible quotes , but that is clearly a sub-topic and not at all important.

Do you believe that by correcting his interpretation errors you are able to take all merit away from his real message? Now youre delusional. The core of his dialogue can hardly be disputed by little corrections like that.

[zeldafan900]

I'm not Catholic but this guy has got my attention

[MrNorwegianPower]

Typical liberal theologian here. Nothing new. 98% of historic Christian theologians laugh at this clown. Most every thing he asserts is hogwash. He misrepresents The Crusades, he lies about the reasons we invaded Iraq. He asserts Christianity is the most sexist religion, ignoring the liberating effect of both historic Judaism and Christ himself. Why does this man wear the collar? He has no sense of the Scripture, no respect for true interpretation. This man isn't even a scholar.

[tmamone83]

I don't always agree with Spong, but he's right on the money here!

[geekmastermind]

@gmn545: You thoroughly misrepresent what he said about the creation stories. That was, at best, completely dishonest. Shame on you.

[gmn545]

@geekmastermind Huh? He explicitly stated that in the biblical creation stories, the woman wasn't made in the image of 'God', which is completely false according to the text. Unless you can show how I misrepresented him, the "shame" is on you.

[kennethherrick]

This bishop is one or two steps away from being an non-believer.

[Cousinsjay]

I wish I could thank him in person......call me John if you will I can be reached on facebook under jay cousins

[gmn545]

Spong is incorrect in his claim that the Bible's creation account shows the woman wasn't made in the image of 'God'. Gen. 1:27 (KJV) "So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." 'Man' ('adam) is a collective noun - more accurately, 'mankind'. The next verse gives dominion over and responsibility of the earth to "them."

1 Timothy (no authority over man) is pseudepigrephal. A bishop should know that. The real Paul wrote Gal.3:28.

[JBiebsification]

@gmn545 Correct! ....

[jaguarex007]

@gmn545 The bishop knows that 1 Tim is pseudoepigraphical. Still, it's part of the Bible, isn't it?

[gmn545]

@jaguarex007 If he knows that, he shouldn't have said "Paul said..." What the real Paul did say was that, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, NOR IS THERE MALE AND FEMALE, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Care to guess why Spong didn't bring that text up?

[gmn545]

Spong is incorrect in his claim that the Bible's creation account shows the woman wasn't made in the image of 'God'. Gen. 1:27 (KJV) "So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." 'Man' ('adam) is a collective noun - more accurately, 'mankind'. The next verse gives dominion over and responsibility of the earth to "them."

1 Timothy (no authority over man) is pseudepigrephal. A bishop should know that. The real Paul wrote Gal.3:28.

[cherylwoodcock1]

@ voxJoxx below:  Well said!

[VoxJoxx]

Perhaps if christians were more like Jesus it would be more convincing but because his image has been beatified out of all political context their is no rational use for religion, christianity, god, the bible, popes or billy grahams. It’s frankly the greatest deception created, used by kings to manipulate kingdoms. The way the bible condemns humanity is unethical and immoral.

[pataphysician66]

Bishop Spong's books should be mandatory in every seminary school.

[planetqwerty]

Here's a question for people of every faith:

"Do you think that, with all the different religions of mankind trying to find a way to love God - in their own way, and within their own cultural traditions - that a truly universal God would look at all those faiths that seek Him and say to ALL BUT ONE of them:

'Sorry, you were born in the wrong place. Your religion and what you were taught condemns you to Hell'?"

[Apocol0id]

@planetqwerty Sounds like a question that Rob Bell would ask. Check out 'Love Wins'.

[planetqwerty]

@Apocol0id

I'd not heard of him before, but on your recommendation, I googled and found a vid of him promoting his recent book.

His questioning of the Xtian doctrine does seem to have similarities to mine. But apparently he claims that he retains his faith. How?

[Apocol0id]

@planetqwerty I'm not sure at the moment, but I'm sure he addresses it in his book. I got it on a whim having read a MacClean's magazine with a front page that said "WHAT IF THERE'S NO HELL?" I wouldn't say he's the same as this man, they have differences. But it's still food for thought.

[TheMarathonomahos]

@planetqwerty Spong does not follow doctrines, that is the difference between him and you.

[planetqwerty]

@TheMarathonomahos. Me, a follower of a doctrine? I think you must have somehow got the wrong end of the stick. I don't even believe in the existence of God (not the one described in the Bible, at any rate).

Spong's individual insight into the failings of Christianity is a refreshing read - surprising considering his authority within the church (retired bishop). But I don't think he would deny that there are significant parts of the Xtian doctrine that he does follow.

[TheMarathonomahos]

@planetqwerty What he says is he honours his tradition but it does not define him, whereby for most Christians, it is tradition that define a Christian.

[WillyFWilder]

Bishop Spong is a true prophet. His honesty, candor and courage are to be applauded.

[dontbsmee]

It's wonderful to finally hear the truth. This is the smartest man to ever open his mouth about this subject.

[zhanzhuang011]

A very enlightened man :) Religion is man made not God made. As such you dont have to be an Atheist to be non-religious.

[zhanzhuang011]

Read the Book 'God Is Not Great' by Christopher Hitchens.

[topfifth99]

liarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr­rrrrrr

[topfifth99]

you will burn in hell spong for you heresy you are under the divine damnation unless you repent of your heresy all because your wife died of a bad illness

[macrplus]

Every Christian needs to hear this

[me25422]

is this guy catholic ptotestant or what ?

[mheman1980]

@me25422 Catholic

[COMMONSENSE307]

@me25422

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE, HE'S HUMAN.

[doubleyouowe]

the state gave women suffrage so that they can tax them. sad but true!

[me25422]

@doubleyouowe i agree with you that women should never have been able to vote!

[sidmar23323]

"I truly believe that GOD loves homosexuals very much."-This statement is speaking against this guy's belief

[jcpent12]

@sidmar23323 Umm..not.

[Freundlichkeit82]

Bishop John Spong is a very intelligent man and a true role-model. I really appreciate what he said about women, execution and homosexuality. I truly believe that GOD loves homosexuals very much. Furthermore, who are those who dare to insult and judge homosexuals: "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you," says JESUS in Matthew 7 (the BIBLE), GOD is a loving GOD!

[me25422]

@Freundlichkeit82 i agree with u that God is gay. I never knew anyone else out there thought the same way as me. cool!

[jajohnson7809]

Goddess bless this guy!  I could listen to him for hours...

[cherylwoodcock1]

@jajohnson7809 Me too, gives me hope.

[DiscosMobileKent]

what a great man

[teed60]

Sorry only Christ,Catholics did the crusades not born again Christians.....