A New Christianity For A New World
Published February 20, 2005
Spong is willing to retain the traditional language of Christianity. While a nontheist, he is willing to speak of God, and to Jesus as the Son of God, and even to a "resurrection," though not one which physically occurred.
Perhaps it does not bother me as much as it should. I welcome the changes as they come, but I have learned not to literalize liturgical words. I treat them as poetry, symbols, or illuminating phrases used by our forebears in faith to articulate their deepest yearnings.
What is the value of retaining such language? Frankly, it seems inauthentic. Why doesn't Spong just chuck it and become a post-Christian? Perhaps because he is reluctant to leave behind other nontheistic Christians, those whom he calls "the church in exile."
Will Spong's attempts at reform flourish? This seems doubtful. The fastest growing churches currently are the Pentecostal ones, those with the greatest emphasis on supernaturalism. The belief in a loving God and an afterlife are clearly the greatest "selling points" for religion.
Why is it that a simple theism, stripped of toxic elements such as the belief in the exclusive legitimacy in one particular path, is so hard to sustain? Theistic religions like Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Greco-Roman paganism all have beliefs of obviously legendary character. These legends are clearly false, with the possible exception of those of the one True Religion, and likely false in all of them. Yet what unites these religions is that there is an unseen power responsible for the existence of the universe, and that it is possible to have a personal relationship with it. Could that basic intuition of so many people be true?
If there is, there are few religious options to serve it. The most liberal denominations, such as Unitarian Universalism and Reform Judaism, are like Bishop Spong, doubtful about a theistic God. Less liberal denominations retain traditional liturgical formulations. Those who have theistic intuitions have little choice but to accept the baggage of traditional denominations.
Is there a need for a reformation of Christianity which would purge it of obvious superstition? Yes. These superstitions are not innocent tales, but form the basis of excluding others from care and concern. Has Bishop Spong found the right formulation for a neo-Christianity? No. His vision is too austere to win over the masses. It is an enlightened secularism which fails to provide an alluring alternative to the appeal of superstition and obscurantism.
- A New Christianity For A New World
- Published: February 20, 2005
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- Section: Books
- Filed Under: Books: Spirituality
- Writer: Rick Heller
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Comments on this articleComments
I've seen the Waslch books on the shelf, but haven't read one.
Is Spong some kind of fundamentalist mole, sent to destroy liberal Christianity from within? Doing a helluva job if he is; traditional Christianity sound positively vigorous and vital compared to his watery substitute.
I like what Flannery O'Connor told Mary McCarthy: "If it's a symbol, the hell with it."
Seems to me that without an actual supernatural god there's not much point in calling it Christainity. Let's all just be Taoists and be honest about it.
Dave
Oops -- my comment was intended to answer Rick's post. (Although I can't find a lot to object to in Dave's either.)
John Shelby Spong ideas for reform shouldn't get very far. The only Christian denomination that seems to continually rise in numbers is the Pentecostal one where fundamentalism rules. Dave Nalle said it best a few comments ago: "Let's all just be Taoists and be honest about it."
Rick - nice review, good and rational discussion of the meaning of religion and the meaning of "God."
Very interesting for someone -- like me -- who considers themself to be spiritual without believing in many of the strictures of organized religion.
I think that anyone who takes time to question God, has got to be out of their minds. How on earth can you question God? God is God. Whether the words of the bible are His or not, what matters is whether or not HE is in our hearts. We know that King David was crying out to God in the book of Psalms. Who dares to question God and his works? God is too deep to explain himself. The bible tells us when God spoke. It tells us whom He spoke to or through. His angels(or messengers)were also sent to speak his words. Wow, get a grip people. If you have Faith, then believe in your heart what is truth.
>>I think that anyone who takes time to question God, has got to be out of their minds. How on earth can you question God?<<
We can question God because God gave us the capacity to question him. That suggests that he wanted us to, and therefore it's ok. Untested faith attained without going through a process of questioning and understanding really has no value.
Dave
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Thanks. Rather than a new christianity or a new 'old' religion, I prefer a 'New God' as per Neale Walsh's book. Have you looked at that?