Throughout the course of his lifetime, respected bishop and author John Shelby Spong has been an outspoken advocate of liberal Christianity. He has been globally recognized as a lightning rod for controversy and has made his name known to religious people everywhere. In addition to
Before I read Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith, I had been “searching” for Jesus. About a year ago, I decided that I could no longer accept the Jesus that conservative Christianity preaches about. I
What Easter is all about As a liberal Christian, I have always had quite a few unanswered questions about the event that is commonly known as Easter. Growing up in a conservative household, I was raised to believe that Easter meant a literal, bodily resurrection
Shaping the face of a new Christianity When it comes to retired Anglican Bishop John Shelby Spong, there seems to be no middle ground. Either you love him or you hate him. Just a quick gander at the reviews posted on Amazon of his new
I hate reading C.S. Lewis. He has this annoying little habit in his writings. Every time I read something of his, there is always a less-than-quiet voice in my head clamoring, “Look at yourself! Look at your life! You’re falling short here! And this part
It started out as a business meeting, but it quickly turned personal when the businessman saw the cross around my neck. I was wearing a brass pendant, the “Peace Cross” – the peace sign with a cross on top of it. It’s the logo of
The gift of otherness Being a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender Christian can be tiring, frustrating even. It seems that we are always on the defensive, always having to explain ourselves, justify our existence or tell people over and over again why the Bible does
Freeing Jesus Like so many other people, I was taught as a child that the biblical books we call the Gospels were eyewitness accounts detailing the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The accuracy of these books, I was also told, was so precise that we
A Christian may be defined as a follower of Jesus Christ, a person who loves God and all of God’s children. A person who’s heart is a conduit for God’s unconditional love. A person who has a special, loving relationship with God that leads them
Daring to be spiritually incorrect Joseph Sharp’s new book is an answer to my prayers. In the midst of the summer doldrums I had asked God to send me an uplifting book that I could read before fall classes covered me up with a series