Christianity is not about the divine becoming human so much as it is about the human becoming divine. That is a paradigm shift of the first order. John Shelby Spong christianitydivinehuman Change image and share on social
There is no way that the Fourth Gospel was written by John Zebedee or by any of the disciples of Jesus. The author of this book is not a single individual, but is at least three different writers/editors, who did their layered work over a period of 25 to 30 years. John Shelby Spong authorbookdisciple share on social
My sense is if the Episcopal Church can't stand challenge within its own ranks, then it is not a church I would want to be a member of anyway. John Shelby Spong challengechurchepiscopal Change image and share on social
If I were a child of Tibet or of Arabia, I suspect the path I'd walk would be the Buddhist path or the Muslim path. And I don't mind saying that I don't invalidate any of those paths. John Shelby Spong arabiabuddhistchild Change image and share on social
I believe God is real, but I believe God calls me beyond myself to take responsibility for my life and to try top work to allow other people to be themselves and to take responsibility for their lives. John Shelby Spong callgodlife share on social
My basis of morality is this: does this action enhance life, or does it denigrate life? Does it build up or does it tear down? John Shelby Spong actionbasisbuild Change image and share on social
The cross reveals that we're called to a deeper, fuller experience of what it means to be alive and open to new dimensions of life which our religious boundaries - creeds, atonement theologies - have kept us from experiencing. John Shelby Spong aliveatonementboundary share on social
I admire our ancestors, whoever they were. I think the first self-conscious person must have shaken in his boots. Because as he becomes self-conscious, he's no longer part of nature. He sees himself against nature. He looks at the vastness of the universe and it looks hostile. John Shelby Spong admireancestorboot share on social
We've got to deal with the fact that the church has been violently prejudiced against gay people. We've murdered them; we've burned them at the stake; we've run them out of town for something over which they have no control. And that's immoral. John Shelby Spong burnchurchcontrol share on social
