Somebody (Dale Wisely, perhaps?) reccomended this book (written by an Episcopal Bishop) on the forum a couple months ago. I found out that www.quakerbooks.org had a surplus and they were on sale for $6.50 so I bought one and I got it a couple of days ago.
Wow.
It really is a page turner. I can’t stop reading it. I’m taking it to my Bible class today and hoping I don’t get called names for bringing up some of its points and questions, which I intend to do.
Everybody should read it.
Cran, you…you… heretic! 
Cheers,
David the Infidel
That’s the nicest thing anybody’s ever called me. 
You sure find enough free or cheapstuff online. I should keep track of these things.
Cran, does this mean you’re now hiding under a bed with a Spong?
Seriously, though, I’ve read “Rescuing the Bible…”, as well as a couple of Spong’s other books. I find myself agreeing with him far more often than not.
Well, not since you gave it away! Hrmph. 
Spong is wrong about several things.
At some point, with the advancement of science, the heavens became too technical for religious people to be explaining. In the same way, the Bible is also too technical to be explained without the assistence of an unbiased qualified historian.
Spong is not that historian.
Uh oh. Better bring that spork. You may need it for self-defense. 
Who is?
I would hope you don’t get called names for asking questions. Questions are good. It’s the answers that can be bothersome.
I’ve read some of his stuff. He dismisses Christ and His atoning sacrifice. Since the belief in that sacrifice is the very heart of the Christian faith, he is basically expounding a new religion. Why doesn’t he leave the Episcopol church and make his own? Wouldn’t that take a load off?
That’s what I was going to ask, too.
Lorenzo, have you managed to actually find an unbiased qualified Bible historian? And, if so, has this person written any books? I’m honestly curious.
Thanks,
John
I’m honestly curious, too. 
I’m currently (ok, I’ve been at it since Christmas) trying to read through Isaac Asimov’s Guide to the Bible. This is a BIG book (it covers old and new Testiments). It is written ONLY from a historical standpoint - trying to place biblical names and places, showing inacuracies and how things do match up, etc. Dr. Asimov (so far in my reading) has taken NO stand on the “truthfullness” of the teaching of the Bible.
As I said, this is a LONG book, filled with lots of details, maps, etc. Not counting the glossary, etc - it’s over 1200 pages.
If I do get through it, I’ll give more of my impressions.
Missy
I’d start with Noss. His book, Man’s Religions (6th edition, revised 1980), is a good starting point with no bias that I could detect. There are perhaps hundreds of qualified scholars/writers/historians contributing to his book from various angles of Judism and Christianity, and the scriptural historical background.
If you like that book try this one: The Pagan Christ by Tom Harpur.
This will get you thinking.
Book review here:
Thanks for the suggestion!
Whenever there’s an animated discussion about religion, this important point returns. My education, experience and intellect are not great enough to wrap around many topics, let alone God. But they are good tools to begin with. And I’m sure God isn’t afraid of the questions.
Seems like a lot of people are, though. And those who discourage questioning, in the Christian religion at least, are often fundamentalists. For me, the freedom to ask, and then to seek answers, has brought me to a deeper level of faith. So I say keep asking. Just don’t stop at any answer that doesn’t invite more questions.
Jennie
The Spong book I’ve read (in addition to his columns,) is Why Christianity must Change or Die.
I also, tend to agree with his points.
Another theologian, with a similar pov, who manages to convey it with less stridency, is Marcus Borg. I recommend anything by him.
I’m presently reading “The Five Gospels,” which is a new translation, with commentary, by the Jesus seminar (heretics all :roll: )
The point, with Borgian, Spongian, Jesus Seminar, etc theology is to get to the essence of the teachings of Jesus, the historic figure, without the clutter of 2 thousand years of Church dogma. If distilling Jesus’ message from all that extra stuff is tantamount to branching off into a different religion, then so be it.
Amen!
Sadly, I agree with you. My class is basically 29 Southern Baptists (mabey a couple Methodists in the bunch-mabey-), the Pentecostal professor, and me. A lot of the people think I am odd (at best) for never bringing a King James Version. To them, it is the absolute infallable WORD OF GOD. Every point they argue, and every stance they take, is always based on a few words from it, and that makes me sad because it really makes it seem like they have little…depth…or room to really discuss and think about God in terms other than that book. At times, I actually think they don’t worship Jesus, but the Bible. I feel that way about a lot of more fundamentalist people.