5 stars (Spong has a lot to say) - Sadly, there are many hate-filled reviews by people who obviously haven't read this book. Or they have an ax to grind with the bishop. Whatever the case may be, it's to the "reviewers" own detriment. To pursue truth, we must look at all viewpoints, not just one. The Sins of Scripture is the third book by Spong that I've read. The themes he covers are much the same: that the bible isn't the infallible Word of God; that theism, where God is understood as a person-like being who interacts with the world, is no longer believable; that we should focus on this life, instead of the life hereafter, becasue God isn't the kind of God who literally raises people from the dead; and that the true test of a religion is its ability to engender love in a person's life. The bible, as Spong shows, is a cultural artifact written by humans at a paticular time and place; they didn't know everything about the world and thus couldn't make "absolute" truth statements for all time and space. The Jews held certain assumptions about the world and the human person that, in turn, shaped their theology and ethics. But we don't live in that first-century world anymore. If we take the bible literally--with its culturally conditioned ethical and theological pronouncements--we end up with a lot of absurdities, even immoral behavior. Since the world can no longer wear those old Christian clothes, Spong offers an alternative theism that he thinks is a better "fit" for the world. Bishop Spong is a good man and a good theologian. I've met the bishop, even had dinner with him at Boston University. We talked for an hour, and even though our faith journeys have taken different routes, I still admire his honesty to say things that many Christians don't want to hear but will eventually make the world a place that God wants it to be. Lee Tasey Author of "The Gospel of Arnie" 4 stars (Rescuing the Bible From Misuse) - Former Bishop Spong doesn't believe in the Bible ... HarperSanFrancisco :: Religion & Christianity :: Religion :: Liberalism (Religion) :: Episcopal Churches :: Episcopal Church :: Criticism :: interpretation :: etc :: Criticism :: Christianit :: The Sins of Scripture - Exposing the Bible-s Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love
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