fred pratt

For a good example of why the fundies think Spong is the Antichrist just once or twice removed, find his "Rescuing the Bible from the Fundamentalists." It's a veritable clinic on how to refute Biblical literalism and inerrancy.

ohwilleke

The dear Bishop is a great believer that metaphor from Christianity can be positive. He gets mileage out of his title (and in fact, there are other Bishops and Priests with similar beliefs who do not say so publically), but is not really doctinally an Episcopalian any more. I attended an Episcopal church all through college while not believing myself and relate to his approach and feelings about the topic, and he is a cogent writer on religious issues.

I don't share his faith that Christianity can be salvaged as a cultural artifact and tradition stripped of theism, within U.S. culture anyway, but it is a pleasant thought. His Christianity, is to current Christianity, what neo-classical architecture, fraternities and the freemasons are to true classical paganism.

slacker

I agree. I think Christianity changed the very nature of religion in human history (it's tendency to want to suck everyone and everything in), and that nature is probably irreversible. I am sure the Greeks or even the Romans were "religious" in their times, but they looked to other, perhaps more useful devices (especially the Greeks, you can find a exposition of these ideas in Nietzsche "Birth of Tragedy") for their cultural metaphors.

So I can I say I disagree with Spong that Xianity should be preserved in some form based on a historical or mythological point of view. I think his views are a step in the right direction, especially considering his audience.

-- slacker


"f'em if they can't take a joke."

St. Robert

Spong's opinions have become very popular in the church and especially to secular audiences, because he has rejected the truth and has embraced lies. He tells people what they want to believe about God and they love it.

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." - 2 Timothy 4:3-4

MortalWombat

Yeah, that's the reason.

Echo

Oh, the irony...the irony.

Liquidrage

Pretty strong words there.
You're calling this man a liar.
You're also claiming you know exactly what people(vague term) want to hear.

Let go out on a limb here and assume that it is the Bible and God® you are claiming as the truth he rejected.

The Bible is a book which covers a few thousand years of history in which God® is actively involved with with humanity. The climax is that God® creates himself as his own son by impregnating a virgin so that he can be put to death so that he can forgive our sins without the need to kill animals.
Outside of this book there is hardly any evidence for any of the events that have occured in this book. While conversely, there is evidence that seems to show at least some parts of the book is innaccurate.
Also it must be taken into account that the book has been stagnant for 2000 years (or roughly, since the birth of Christianity).
The only appeal for truth this book has is in the amount of followers that believe in it. However, objectively one can state that other religions have similar appeals such as the Hindu and Muslim religions.
All 3 religions cannot be the truth. They are conflicting views. Yet all three have the same property of devout followers who can tell you from their faith, from the feelings their faith gives them, that their religion is the truth.

Now, as for what people want to hear.
Peronsally, I would prefer to be a theist. Life become much easier to deal with as prayer gives hope and hope is worth living for.
At the same time, death would seem allmost inviting. Well, as long as the theism is of the positive kind.
Of course, I don't believe in any religion. But I would love to hear and feel and experience a true god. Give humanity a babysitter. God knows we need one. Give me someone that always listens to my questions, guides me when I need it, etc. Who wouldn't want that? I also want a new Porsche. Does that mean I should pretend their is one in my garage and tell everyone I meet that I do indeed own a Porsche? Desire doesn't make it true.

I don't choose not to believe in god or to not hear the Truth ©2002.
If I could I would go back to my late teen years with my own personal drug induced god watching over me. Those were pleasant times in many ways.

echidna

It’s funny, there always has to be a heckler. There was one when he spoke here to a packed St Michaels last year.

Death threats from atheists : 0
Death threats from True Believers : 16

His courage is remarkable.

Synaesthesia

People don't like him because he's a threat to Christianity. For some people that may be true. His version is indeed watered down and not all that far from abandonment.

I, however, think that the fundamentalists constitute the greatest threat to christianity. That's why I so love them, the road to hell is paved in good intentions.

h

St.Robert,
sound doctrine? what doctrine?