The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love

From the reviews posted about Spong's excellent treatise, several things become apparent about the "1 Star" reviewers. First, they don't appear to have read the book. (One even admits to only browsing it in a bookstore!) Second, their "reviews" are not reviews but simply a re-hash of their own personal beliefs. (Save it for the pulpit.) And, third, if you take a look at the number of people who read their reviews and found them helpful, few people are taking them seriously. I read the book and can see why they may be upset. It takes a lot of contemporary evangelical Christian positions and uses the Holy Bible to destroy their foundations. It is a classic double bind. Leon Festinger (Cognitive Dissonance Theory) would have a field day. All I can say is "Read the book." But, read it side by side with the Bible. Look up the references. Then, take a look at all the hatred in the Christian world. Spong makes a lot of sense.

We're supposed to believe that the reader below finished Spong's book and posed a quote from the new pope, all within the three hours it's been since the new pope was appointed? That takes more faith than this Christian has.

Well the attacks have begun, a series of one star reviews that do not discuss the books content, but just attack Spong gnerally. I sat and read ths book in one sitting. Like all of Spongs work it is the work of a seeker. Those who accuse Spong of being dogmatic are simply dishonest. Spong is careful to point out the number of things he doesn't know. This was made clear in his appearance on The O'Reilly Facto this Wednesday. He feels the presence of God, he finds God most clearly in Jesus, and he SEEKS to understand this presence. I don't always agree with him. He is pro-choice, I am pro-life. He is an economic liberal, I am an economic conservative. I do not entirely agree with his linking of fundamentalism to anti environmentalism; however, the important thing is that he is seeking the truth. He acknowledges he has not completely found it, he acknowledges that he never may, and as he often says he has no wish to change anyone's conception of God. He doesn't write for the fundamentalist or the theologically conservative. He writes for thos of us who believe, but can't accept what can be disproven, ie. Virin Birth, miracles, etc. Like many of us he does not need proof to believe, but he does need something not to be disproven to be believed. If you are interested in looking beyond the literal words of scripture -which are often misleading, contradictory or proveably wrong- to the message and experiences behind it Spong is your man, if not.. then fine. If you are comfortable in your faith than neiher he, nor his supporters are seeking to change your mind. Oh and as for the review pointing out that he does not engage more conservative believers in debate, rubish. He has held several public debates with scholars of other beliefs. And many more times has chalanged fundamentalist to a debate and been rejected. He once wanted to do a lecture tour with Jerry Fallwell. He said that the two of them discussing the Bible seriously might encourage more people to read it. Fallwell refused as he was afraid such a tour might make Spong more well know. It is the fundamentalists who wil not engage him.