Seeing The Bible Anew with Bishop John Shelby Spong

MP3 Download

It is possible to experience Christianity and the Christian church primarily as an institution that justifies discrimination against homosexuals and women, promotes war, and shows little regard for the health of the planet and the life it supports. Increasingly, these theological positions are at the heart of contemporary American political debate. At the center of these controversies is the Bible. Bishop Spong proclaims a vision of Christianity that understands the Bible in its cultural and historical context, and with a vision of both its relevance in today’s world and of its potential for revolutionizing our world view which leads us to a conversion experience based on respect and love for each other, our planet and all of life. He says, “My understanding of God is that God is the source of life, the source of love and the ground of being in which each of us lives and moves and has our being. The Christ experience calls me into my own deep humanity, where I recognize I am related to every other person and to every other part of life and to the whole environment. My job as a Christian is to build a world where everybody has a better opportunity to live fully, to love fully and be all they can be.” (hosted by Michael Toms)

Bio

John Shelby Spong (1931-2021) served as Episcopal Bishop of Newark, New Jersey before his retirement in 2000. Bishop Spong has taught at Harvard and at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. He has lectured extensively throughout the world.

His books include:

• A New Christianity for a New World: Why Traditional Faith is Dying & How a New Faith is Being Born (Harper San Francisco 2001)
• Rescuing the Bible From Fundamentalism (Harper San Francisco 1992)
• Resurrection: Myth or Reality? (Harper Collins 1994)
• Why Christianity Must Change or Die: A Bishop Speaks to Believers In Exile (Harper San Francisco 1999)
• The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love (Harper San Francisco 2005)

To learn more about the work of John Shelby Spong go to www.johnshelbyspong.com.

Topics Explored in This Dialogue

• How you can bring the Christ energy into your life
• What factor allowed Judaism and its scriptures to survive beyond its tribal origins
• How did St. Augustine and St. Paul introduce the concept of sin and punishment into the Bible
• What Biblical evidence suggests Paul was a troubled man
• Why our view of death needs to change
• Why is fundamentalism, and nationalism, so appealing to so many people

Host: Michael Toms        Interview Date: 7/24/2004        Program Number: 3098

Music Included

From Album: Ceremonies
Artist: Chakmakian
1998 Tru Art Records TR43210-2
Track - Gypsy Rain

From Album: Elevation
Artist: various
2002 Karuna Records 7930185233-2
Tracks - Omen of Foretune, Sri Krishna Arati

From Album: Still Chillin'
Artist: Gabrielle Roth and the Mirrors
Raven Recording
Track - Still Chillin'