Rating: 
Summary: If Christianity Changes It Will Die
Review: Retired Bishop John Shelby Spong is one the most controversial Christian writers the latter part of the Twentieth Century. I first read this book in 1998. Why I read Spong's books at all is a wonder; except that I gain insight into the mind of people who are more concerned about "easy believism" than a true exegesis of biblical study. Spong's thesis is essentially that the Church must change many of its traditional beliefs; Its understanding of Christ, its ethics, and the meaning of prayer. The problem, however, is that Spong misses the point of Christianity in its social construct. Christianity is to change the culture, not vice-versa. In Song's Christianity we are left where a culture can believe what they want about Christ (as long as it is a so-called postmodern version). God is not a personal being who wants to enter into a relationship with humankind, but instead, is non-personal. He calls this God the "ground of all being", an idea coined by the theologian Paul Tillich. Spong's non-sequiturs are many as he unsuccessfully tries to weave and intertwine a new age Christ for a new age culture where every thing except traditional Christianity is excepted. He claims to "believe in Jesus, called Messiah, or Christ" (page 221). But this begs the question? What Jesus? for surely the Jesus of the gospels is far different than his Jesus. Further, it must be stated that if we are to look at Spong's message objectively, then so far we can only conclude that his brand of Christianity is failing. He is putting a knife to the church's throat faster than what he calls "Fundamentalism." In the years he was a Newark Bishop, the membership fell almost in half. People who really search for God are also seraching for either truth or a helper. They want there lives changed and transformed by God - not the other way around. Lastly, I would like to give this book only one star, but honesty compels me to give it two. Whatever else can be said of Bishop Spong, he isn't a bad writer. His book flows even with the non-sequiturs. The style is likeable and easy to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Enlightening, controversial, scary
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: who should change?
Review: i guess the reader probably can guess that this book has been written from a very liberal (i would say borderline atheist) viewpoint. spong is neither acerbic or spiteful, so this book would not be per se offensive to conservatives; but it would be rather disappointing. spong's arguments for the ahistoricity of "dogmatic" Christianity are similar to those of the Jesus seminar, although perhaps less well articulated. while he is at times circumlocutory, i think spong feels that in addition to betraying the truth of its historical origins, "fundie" Christianity has robbed us of the true meaning of Christ for our lives today. hmm. this is neither the time nor the place for the historical Jesus debate, but the reader should be informed that spong's views do not represent the scholarly consensus (as if there were one) of the historical Jesus. is spong's Jesus a Jesus liberated by 20th century scholarship, or one CREATED by it. if the real Jesus is anything like the one we have in the bible (which no one will ever prove or disprove really) than perhaps it is we, rather than Christianity, who need to change.
Rating:
Summary: What a thoughtful, honest book!
Review: What a true revelation this book was! For anyone who who wishes to "believe in something" other than supernatural drivel, this book is a true Godsend. A reviewer asked, Why doesn't Song simply admit to being an atheist? The answer is, Because traditional atheism doesn't truly offer a satisfying moral system. What decides right from wrong? Simply people? Why then bother with worrying about Right and Wrong to begin with? Before I read Song's book, I had already reached the conclusion that morality existed in it's own right, on a metaphysical yet non-supernatural plane. Yet I didn't know how to reconcile that belief with the rational knowledge that there is no God with a white beard hovering overhead, waiting to dispense goodies to the fundies as long as they kowtowed to him earnestly enough. Anyone who wishes to discover a rational basis for believing in God, and for discovering the true importance of Jesus, would do well to read this book. If nothing else, it will intrigue the reader with the possibility that a belief in a non-theistic God doesn't force one to by off on creationsim and all sorts of other patent nonsense. Just the hatred the work provokes in the fundies, ever eager to dispense "damnation" to those who don't fall in line with their neurotic obsessions with bible memorization (just like prophetically Song wrote it would!), should be enough to commend the work to rational people alive in the 21st century, when we know more about the origins of man and the universe than Augistine, Luther, Calvin, and Aquinas could have begun to imagine. And that is the whole point of Song's work: that a belief in God need not require a self-imposed amnesia of obvious reality. Amen!
Rating:
Summary: A True Prophet?
Review: Is there a True Prophet, a genuine Holy Man, alive today? I don't know, but if there is, his name is John Shelby Spong. Like the Hebrew prophets of old, Spong tells us in clear terms what is wrong, and what must be done to save the situation. The ancient prophets were trying to save their beloved nation of Israel; Spong is trying to save his beloved vision of God and Christ. To save what he finds good and beautiful in Christianity, much that is silly and nonsensical must be abandoned. For example, the Gospels must be read as the writers of the Gospels intended them, not as literal historical fact. Spong shows us how. This infuriates the fundamentalists, just as Jesus' liberalism infuriated the conservatives of 30 C.E. I am not as yet convinced of Spong's version of "Christianity," but I cannot be certain he is wrong. That is more than can be said for the orthodox version.
Rating:
Summary: Atheist Love and Buhdism
Review: I haven't quite finnished the book yet but it is the first I have heard of this Bishop Sponge. He has surely comforted me in showing that at least the Catholic church understands why I am an atheist. The concept of love in atheism sounds like a good idea to me as a philosophy but it also sounds like, in the words of Joseph Cambell, "Sheer Buhdism". His ideas are not new to me and I am just over joyed in seeing that the church is admitting and owning up to the problems in christian theology. I just wish more of the church leaders would admitt these problems.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent but Not That Historical
Review: As someone who has read loads of Historical Writings about the early Church and what the Gospels are about from a non-theogical point of view, I found much of the research in this book weak. In fact, I wished Spong had talked about the churches in the United States that have allready gone down the path that Spong suggested and what has happen to them, i.e. Christain Science and Unity. It is, however, a easy read and would recommend it to anyone who is just starting to question what is happening in traditional churches and why.
Rating:
Summary: My Bottom Line
Review: The author is in fact an aetheist who cannot bring himself to admit it and seeks refuge in a fuzzy mysticism.
Rating:
Summary: Inspired
Review: This book is one of the most profoud and positive books I've ever read. The passage on prayer is my favorite. I've copied it and sent to many friends, and have changed my behavior as a result. It is accessible, cogent, sincere, and consistant with the teachings of Jesus.
Rating: 
Summary: Apostasy, Pure and Simple
Review: The man is a non-believer. I am sorry that he does not believe in the Bible or the Christ contained within, but do not deceive others, please.
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