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NEW CHRSTNTY FOR NEW WORLD Paperback – August 30, 2002

by John Shelby Spong (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 235 ratings
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In his bestselling book Why Christianity Must Change or Die, Bishop John Shelby Spong described the toxins that are poisoning the Church. Now he offers the antidote, calling Christians everywhere into a new and radical reformation for a new age. Spong looks beyond traditional boundaries to open new avenues and a new vocabulary into the Holy, proposing a Christianity premised upon justice, love, and the rise of a new humanity -- a vision of the power that might be.

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  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    SanFran
  4. Publication date
    August 30, 2002
  5. Dimensions
    5.31 x 0.76 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780060670634
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0060670634
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Bishop Spong’s new book is filled with trenchant insights, searing honesty, and boundless hope.” — Robert W. Funk, author of The Five Gospels

From the Back Cover

In his bestselling book Why Christianity Must Change or Die, Bishop John Shelby Spong described the toxins that are poisoning the Church. Now he offers the antidote, calling Christians everywhere into a new and radical reformation for a new age. Spong looks beyond traditional boundaries to open new avenues and a new vocabulary into the Holy, proposing a Christianity premised upon justice, love, and the rise of a new humanity -- a vision of the power that might be.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0060670630
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ SanFran; 1st edition (August 30, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780060670634
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060670634
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.76 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 235 ratings

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  1. John Shelby Spong

    John Shelby Spong

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    John Shelby Spong was the Episcopal Bishop of Newark, New Jersey for twenty-four years before his retirement in 2000. He is one of the leading spokespersons for liberal Christianity and has been featured on 60 Minutes, Good Morning America, FOX News Live, and Extra. This book is based on the William Belden Noble lectures Spong delivered at Harvard.

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  2. Ulrich Schaffer

    Ulrich Schaffer

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    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

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4.5 out of 5 stars
235 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book thought-provoking, with one review highlighting its nice synthesis of Spong's theology. Moreover, the pacing receives positive feedback, with one customer noting how it consistently comes from a place of respect.

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24 customers mention "Thought provoking"22 positive2 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, with one customer noting its unique insights and another mentioning how it encourages independent thinking.

"...or underline my books, but this one was so good and its content so important and enlightening that I highlighted it for my future reference...." Read more

"...Unitarian-Universalist Association, which has no creed, encourages independent thinking..." Read more

"...A good book, and a nice synthesis of Spong's theology as it developed over the 30 years between his first books in the 70's and this book, first..." Read more

"...He writes in quite a conversational style and brings up valid points. I particularly agree with him about fundamentalism...." Read more

12 customers mention "Pacing"12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pacing, with one noting how it consistently comes from a place of respect and cuts through narcissistic customs.

"...Usually I don't highlight or underline my books, but this one was so good and its content so important and enlightening that I highlighted it for my..." Read more

"...Often controversial, Spong does not dissapoint in this book...." Read more

"...And he does it in a loving, kind, careful manner. He is not throwing rocks here. He loves his tradition, his Church, and he wants to see if survive...." Read more

"...All of his books are challenging, risky, shocking and in the end, liberating. He is a brilliant man but more important, a brave and optimistic man...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Dick Marti
    5.0 out of 5 stars How theism is wrong and a way out of its entanglements
    Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2006
    Verified Purchase
    This was one of the few books that I highlighted extensively from beginning to end. Usually I don't highlight or underline my books, but this one was so good and its content so important and enlightening that I highlighted it for my future reference.

    Fundamentalists, literalists, conservative theists of all stripes need to read this book. It should be required reading for that particular mindset. I have read your books; now you read this one. The changes envisioned by the author will be generations in coming, so I don't see today's fundamentalists taking this book seriously except to condemn it. That would be about par for the course. A few will have their eyes opened and see the errors of traditional theism.

    One suggestion I will make is that readers buy extra copies of this book to give to their fundamentalist friends. That is probably the only way many of them would ever obtain a copy.

    I had a few unanswered questions by the time I finished this book. For example, would the Unitarian-Universalist church fit the bill for what Rev. Spong describes as the ecclesia of the future? Why or why not? If the UU church is acceptable, why did Rev. Spong not mention it? Is there something unsuitable about the UU church that was left unsaid?

    Rev. Spong apparently has an extensive lecturing tour, yet he seems to stir up no headlines. I never see him mentioned in the news, yet Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson seem to be everywhere, often with a foot in the mouth.

    This was an excellent book and very well written. I await Rev. Spong's next book and I am very interested to see how he addresses the subject of implementing his ideas towards changing Christianity into an ecclesia of tomorrow. How is all this to come about? Imagine a debate between Spong and Benedict XVI. That would be interesting but would have to be written as an imaginary dialogue.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • watzizname
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Thought-Provoking, and he Just May be Right!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2003
    Verified Purchase
    In this book, Spong summarizes the reasons why he believes that traditional Christianity is dying (which he has explicated more fully in his excellent book Why Christianity Must Change or Die: A Bishop Speaks to Believers In Exile) and tells us his vision of a future Christianity; not only which elements of traditional Christianity will not survive, but which will survive and what will be modified or added to create a new, believable system of thought which remains centered on Jesus, who he views as his doorway to the experience of God.

    One desirable modification Spong forsees is the recognition that the Christian doorway thru Jesus is only one of many, and that the doorways of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and others are in no way inferior to the way of Christianity thru Jesus.

    The future Church the (retired) Episcopal bishop describes sounds remarkably similar to the Unitarian-Universalist Association, which has no creed, encourages independent thinking (affirms the right and duty of every person to learn what is known and make up her or his mind about theological questions) welcomes gays and lesbians, and has more women ministers than men (by a slight margin).

    I am not convinced of Bishop Spong's theology, but can find no reasonable argument that he is wrong. Clearly, the earth will be a far better habitat for humanity if the Christian churches reform themselves as Spong envisions. But if that does happen, would not the spiritual descendants of the "love Jesus and send me money" crowd find a way to pervert Spong's beautiful vision into a new instrument of domination and idolatry, just as they have perverted the beautiful teachings of Jesus? That is a question Spong doesn't answer here, but let us hope he will in a future book (or a future edition of this one).

    [...]
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Ed Barton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Traditional Theistic Theology
    Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2012
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    John Shelby Spong takes the reader beyond theism and traditional Christianity in this look at the vision of the Ecclesia for the 21st Century. Exploring such challenging topics as the role of prayer, the creeds, the tradition of the ordained clergy, the nature of God and Jesus, Spong takes the reader on a far reaching look at his vision for a new Christianity.

    Moving from a Christianity of creedal faith to one of "living" faith, Spong paints a picture of inclusion, acceptance, tolerance and love centered around the message of Jesus. Discounting - even condemning - many of the historical and traditional approaches to Christianity, Spong warns that Christianity is doomed to extinction in a modern scientific world unless it adapts to 21st Century realities.

    Often controversial, Spong does not dissapoint in this book. Traditional or fundamental Christians will find the book challenging to their faith at best, and straight up heretical at the extreme. While emphasizing that he believes in God and is a Christian, the post-theistic non-anthropomorphic God that Spong believes in will be foreign to the traditionalist - as will his view of Jesus.

    A good book, and a nice synthesis of Spong's theology as it developed over the 30 years between his first books in the 70's and this book, first published in 2002. A good read if you are at all interested in the man or the topic.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Ruth Marshall
    5.0 out of 5 stars Clarifying and Hopeful
    Reviewed in Canada on April 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    So much is cleared away yet leaves me with more room for an intelligent space for
    my own beliefs. More sense of something that may really have happened.
    A great and renewed sense of HOPE!
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  • Francesca Pilgrim
    5.0 out of 5 stars Food for thought
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 7, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    The concept of a non Theistic God and what that means for the church and its creeds is explored with unassailable logic and reason. The arguments are put succinctly. There is a healthy dose of reality in the explanations and discussions of the church of the future.
    I found it inspiring and thought provoking. It made me challenge some aspects of what I believe. It has given me a map for a potential way forward, something to explore.
    I highly recommend this as required reading for ordinands of all traditions if they wish to understand Christianity in a new age, to be relevant to people and to meet people in their experience of life.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I have read many of Spong’s books, some of them twice over. This particular book is a culmination of them all
    A book well worth reading for anyone who wants to move forward with their understanding of God.
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  • DR NORMAN M HOW
    4.0 out of 5 stars strong stuff
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    So much of what the Bishop writes makes sense to me - I found myself saying 'yes' so often, and thanking him for at last writing about the Christian faith realistically in the face of modern science - but I fear that his 'non-theistic' idea leaves me little reason for bothering. God's non-involvement with our affairs makes a living faith pretty untenable, as Jesus as a prophet is all I end up with.
    Is this 'much ado about nothing?'
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  • writemaggie
    5.0 out of 5 stars You may not agree
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book makes statements some would see as controversial, but it makes you think about important issues, things long accepted and never considered.
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