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An important and respected voice for liberal American Christianity for the past twenty years, Bishop John Shelby Spong integrates his often controversial stands on the Bible, Jesus, theism, and morality into an intelligible creed that speaks to today's thinking Christian. In this compelling and heartfelt book, he sounds a rousing call for a Christianity based on critical thought rather than blind faith, on love rather than judgment, and that focuses on life more than religion.
"This is an important contribution to the Christian dilemma of our time. With reverence, courage, and compassion, Bishop Spong helps his readers to articulate their difficulties with the conception of God and, in so doing, to take the first step toward a creative resolution." -- Karen Armstrong, author of "A History of God""Bishop Spong is a passionate, illuminating original. His knowledgeable concern for the future of Christianity offers strength, hope, and theological solutions." -- Clarissa Pinkola Est?s, Ph.D., author of "Women Who Run with the Wolves, The Gift of Story, " and "The Faithful Gardener""Should be required reading for everyone concerned with facing head-on the intellectual and spiritual challenges of late-twentieth-century religious life." -- Karen L. King, Harvard Divinity School "Spong demolishes the stifling dogma of traditional Christianity in search of the inner core of truth. This book is a courageous, passionate attempt to build a credible theology for a skeptical, scientific age." -- Paul Davies, author of "The Mind of God""This is Spong's manifesto, offering his vision for the institution he made his career serving." -- "Library Journal"
| Preface | |
| On Saying the Christian Creed with Honesty | p. 3 |
| The Meaning of Exile and How We Got There | p. 22 |
| In Search of God: Is Atheism the Only Alternative to Theism? | p. 43 |
| Beyond Theism to New God Images | p. 56 |
| Discovering Anew the Jesus of the New Testament | p. 71 |
| Jesus as Rescuer: An Image That Has to Go | p. 83 |
| The Christ as Spirit Person | p. 100 |
| What Think Ye of Christ? Where the Human Enters the Divine | p. 118 |
| The Meaning of Prayer in a World with No External Deity | p. 134 |
| A New Basis for Ethics in a New Age | p. 149 |
| The Emerging Church: Reading the Signs Present Today | p. 168 |
| The Future Church: A Speculative Dream | p. 184 |
| Eternal Life Apart from Heaven and Hell | p. 200 |
| Epilogue: A Final Word | p. 220 |
| Notes | p. 229 |
| Bibliography | p. 241 |
| Index | p. 249 |
| Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved. |
ISBN: 9780060675363
ISBN-10: 0060675365
Audience:
General
Format:
Paperback
Language:
English
Number Of Pages: 288
Published: 21st April 1999
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Country of Publication: US
Dimensions (cm): 20.4 x 13.5
x 1.7
Weight (kg): 0.21
