Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #318856 in Books
• Published on: 2003-02-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Synopsis
The popular, challenging Episcopal bishop serves up his unique vision for the Christian church, arguing that traditional expressions of the faith are dying while a new paradigm emerges. Reprint.

Customer Reviews

A Call For A Second And More Profound Reformation.
A NEW CHRISTIANITY FOR A NEW WORLD represents the latest stage in the author's rapidly evolving vision of the future of Christianity. Spong begins by stating that theism is dead. God is not a supernatural being who can or does periodically intervene in the world. Our modern view of the natural order suggests that this is not possible.

Spong explains that theism was born in the beginning of civilization when people first experienced feeling unsafe and alone. Theism developed as a coping mechanism against trauma.

The author asserts that the theistic interpretation of Jesus was only added in the later Christian writings. Spong does not believe in much of the traditional Christian story. He does not believe in the virgin birth of Jesus or the idea that Jesus founded either a church or its sacraments. He says he does not have a problem with the faith - only with the literal way it is interpreted and described by some others.

Spong sees a need for a new faith that is not subject to the death of theism. God is real even though theism is dead. Can Christianity still live after theism is dead? It will, according to the author, if we are willing to move beyond our traditional ideas of Jesus.

Spong sees God as the source of all life, love and being. He views the church of the future as a place where worshipers will still seek the Holy and the Realm of God. They will search for an environment which allows them to increase their capabilities to love and embrace life to the fullest.

God is real and Jesus is the doorway into this reality. Spong still considers himself to be a Christian and he remains optimistic about the future. He is not sure where his new reformation will ultimately lead us but he is convinced we have to take the first step. If we do nothing, Spong believes that Christianity will surely die anyway.

ESSENTIAL READING FOR ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT CHRISTIANITY
Having read several of Bishop Spong's books, I would commend this one as by far his best for those seeking a kind of overview of the current state of Christianity and why it must reform its theology of it is to survive in any relevant or useful form. Of particular importance is Bishop Spong's very clear discussion of theism and how we must transcend it in the contempoary world.

Bishop Spong is to be commended for offering us these fruits of his long ministry, culminating in his recent lectures at Harvard University.

Anyone who cares about Christianity and its future is urged to read this book.

HUGH MAGEE

An exciting manifesto for 21st Century Christianity
Bishop Spong has a reputation for being the 'atheist bishop'. This book repudiates such simplistic labelling. It is a wonderfully humane and spiritual book that does not flinch from the key issues that face the Christian Church today. Whether you are a Christian, a member of another faith, or a Humanist, you will benefit from a thoughtul reading of this tome.