This incredible John Shelby Spong quote just came through my feed reader by way of Mark Berry of Way Out West:
I know no faith except Christianity. I walk the Christ-path into the mystery of God, but I do not believe that God is a Christian. Christianity is a noble human system whereby millions of people have journeyed into the mystery of God and transcendence. The goal of faith is not to become Christian: it is to become whole.
Mark says that he never has been a big fan of John Spong, but the above quote resonates deeply. I agree, on both counts. Spong is OK, but the above quote is superb. The goal of faith is not to become Christian, but to become whole.
Quote taken from The Church Times Interview with John Shelby Spong by Terence Handley MacMath. The interview can be read in full at Church Times: Interview: John Shelby Spong former Bishop of Newark.
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Spong seems to like Karl Marx’s view of religion as well, ““opiate for the people.”
There seems to be more of an affinity with atheism than theism. This point doesn’t even begin to address Christian orthodoxy verses Christian heterodoxy. Shawn, you are about as Christian as Richard Dawkins.
If you say so, Ann Onymous. Incidentally, are you ever going to leave your real name here?
Religion -is- an opiate. That’s why Jesus signaled the end of religion and the eminence of love. We follow a man, not a religion.
Ann – You undoubtedly know very little of Shawn’s following of Jesus and certainly none about Richard Dawkins’.
Please mind your manners and if you are speaking of Christianity as a Christian, start with Jesus’ example.
@Chris – My brother. :)
Perhaps someone can tell us where in the Bible we are told that “The goal of faith is not to become Christian: it is to become whole.”
@emergent pillage: Perhaps I will tell you, but only after you tell me where in the Bible we are told that “We should go around asking other people to show us where in the Bible we are told to [_________] …”
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