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John Shelby Spong

Beliefnet Columnist

The Rt. Rev. John Shelby Spong, D.D., is the retired bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark. As the author of 14 books, he is the most published member of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States. His bestsellers include "Rescuing the Bible From Fundamentalism" and "Why Christianity Must Change or Die." He is a frequent lecturer at conference centers and on college campuses and will be a guest lecturer at Harvard this spring.

Columns and articles by John Shelby Spong

Resurrection - Myth or Reality? Mar 13, 2007
Easter's power lies not in resuscitated bodies but in the mind-expanding experience of knowing life is more powerful than death.

Bad Movie, But Don't Dismiss It May 19, 2006
'The Da Vinci Code' was boring and full of historical inaccuracies--but we can't dismiss its central notion of a married Jesus.

My Love Affair With the Bible May 1, 2005
Bishop Spong tells the story of his first Bible training and getting his first Bible for Christmas.

Was the Apostle Paul Gay? Mar 26, 2004
What accounts for Paul's self-judging rhetoric, his negative feeling toward his own body? An Episcopal bishop mulls the issues.

Homosexual History Jul 29, 2003
The victory for gay rights in the Episcopal Church is almost complete.

The Easter Moment: Drawing Conclusions Apr 18, 2003
Armed with historical clues, we can speculate on the moving drama that came to be called the Resurrection.

I Cry Out Against the War Frenzy Mar 4, 2003
What is the real source of this visceral hatred of Iraq?

Assisted Suicide: A Christian Choice and a New Freedom Feb 12, 2003
It's time for Christianity to grapple with the ethical issues that face us at the end of life.

Is This War Necessary? Jan 15, 2003
Do we secretly yearn for a war we know how to win? Is this war driven by oil? And is war ever moral?

The Right Man for a New World Jan 9, 2003
The new Archbishop of Canterbury must get rid of the Jesus who "died for our sins."

Saint Wonder Woman Dec 4, 2002
Mary was de-sexed and dehumanized by church fathers. I'll take Wonder Woman as a role model.

A Racist Comment by a Cable Talker Mar 18, 2002
Blacks have good reason to be skeptical of the war on terrorism

Three New Year Resolutions Jan 7, 2002
Here's to a Christianity in search of a new reformation

Light Breaks Forth Dec 3, 2001
It is time to recognize that religious truth, like all truth, emerges out of human experience

Terrorism and the Shallowness of Religious Talk Nov 2, 2001
Religions must learn to speak of God with meaning in a world where there is no divine protector and randomness is a reality.

The Theistic God is Dead--A Casualty of Terrorism Sep 24, 2001
The terrorist tragedy will help us step beyond yesterday's God, beyond pious delusions

New Zealand: Western Christianity in Miniature Aug 21, 2001
In this small land, the picture of Christianity's demise is clarified

The Church in Australia: A Ray of Hope Jul 30, 2001
Innovative thoughts and new leadership could breathe new life into the future of Christianity.

European Christianity: A Bleak Picture Jun 7, 2001
If the sickly state of Christianity in Belgium is any indication, there's a much larger problem all over Europe.

Is Christianity Going South? May 17, 2001
Conservatives applaud the rising numbers of Third World Christians. But theological colonialism won't help them in the long run.

Breaking the Literal Mold of Easter, Part III Apr 11, 2001
Can the meaning of Easter be real even if there was no actual event called resurrection that occurred inside history?

Resurrection: Myth or Reality? Part II Apr 3, 2001
Easter's power lies not in resuscitated bodies but in the mind-expanding experience of knowing life is more powerful than death.

The Easter Moment: What Really Happened? Mar 19, 2001
Is the literal claim of Easter still believable? Can Christianity afford to debate its originating moment?

Christians: A Persecuted Minority? Feb 20, 2001
Complaints of prejudice against Christians are a smokescreen for groups who seek to impose their beliefs on the entire nation.

Are the Left's Fears Legitimate? Jan 22, 2001
John Ashcroft's confirmation is inevitable, but what does it mean for those who aren't straight, white, and male?

Not How He Was Born, But Who Was Born Dec 21, 2000
Part III in a series about the Nativity

The Christmas Story: What's Real--and What's Not Dec 19, 2000
Fact or folklore: Part IV in a series about the Nativity

Matthew and Luke's Nativity Accounts: Symbolism or Fact? Dec 14, 2000
Part II in a series about the Nativity.

A Religious Santa Claus Tale Dec 4, 2000
The birth narrative of Jesus shouldn't be taken literally.

Dominus Iesus: The Voice of Rigor Mortis Oct 26, 2000
The Vatican's exclusionist document exposes a hierarchy that refuses to face reality

The Politics of the Death Penalty in Campaign 2000 Oct 12, 2000

John Stott: A Fundamentalist in Sheep's Clothing? Sep 26, 2000
The Anglican leader has decided to retire. What he needs to recognize is that his evangelical ideas retired long ago

Farewell John Stott! Sep 25, 2000
Why we will not miss John Stott.

The Politics of the Death Penalty in Campaign 2000 Jun 30, 2000

Embracing the Jewishness of Jesus Jun 1, 2000
Apologies for anti-Semitism are only the first step in a journey of rooting out prejudice.

Is There Life After Death? Apr 25, 2000
One spoke for hope. One spoke for realism. Uncomfortable anxiety filled the room. The debate had been 'vigorous.'

Shifts in Loyalties Apr 4, 2000
Tracing the development of the Religious Right's ties to both political parties

Primary Priorities Mar 13, 2000
The presidential primaries show us what really matters to the American voter.

My Thanks to John Rocker Mar 2, 2000
A pitcher's stupid comments show that racism is on its way out

Anglican Battle Over Homosexuality Takes a 'Bizarre' Turn Feb 15, 2000
While conservatives 'terrorize,' the church's liberal leadership 'temporizes'

Episcopal Flap Indicative of Problems Feb 8, 2000

The Meaning of the Wise Men Jan 6, 2000
The gospel writer Matthew believed Jesus was a 'Jewish gift to the whole world.'

No Room for Compromise Dec 14, 1999
Christianity's integrity rides on how religious people deal with gay rights

The Drive Toward Individual Freedom Jan 22, 1999
Breaking down prejudice gets my vote as the biggest change of the last century