Unmasking the Sources of Christian Anti-Semitism – Part 2

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on May, 12 2004

Intolerance and bigotry seem to be written into the very fabric of religious life, causing people to act in ways that are diametrically opposed to what they say they …

The Disaster of Iraq – Enough is Enough!

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on May, 5 2004

I have reached the point when I can no longer tolerate the Iraqi War. The final straw was the abuse of Iraqis in the prison camp at Abu …

Unmasking the Sources of Christian Anti-Semitism – Part 1

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on April, 28 2004

“His blood be upon us and upon our children (Mt.27: 25).”

The darkest, most disillusioning side of Christianity is revealed in the way that Christians …

Questions from the Readers: Passion of the Christ, Christian Reformation

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on April, 21 2004

Dear Readers,

This week I want to get to your questions for a change. I had so many questions on the series on The Passion of the Christ …

The Bible and Homosexuality – The Church’s Dance in the 21st Century – Part 3

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on April, 14 2004

“They glorified God not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened (Romans 1:21 KJV).”

“For this …

The Bible and Homosexuality – The Church’s Dance in the 21st Century – Part 2

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on April, 7 2004

“The men of the city — of Sodom, compassed the town round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter; And they called unto Lot …

What Mel Gibson Does Not Understand About Biblical History

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on March, 24 2004

In the year 66 C.E. guerilla activities that had been festering in Galilee for more than 40 years broke out in a full-scale war. While that war was engaged in …

“The Passion of the Christ” — Mel Gibson’s Film and Biblical Scholarship – Part 4

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on March, 17 2004

Last week I examined the connection between Psalm 22 and the earlier gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion. This week I turn to Isaiah 40-55, which was the other primary …

“The Passion of the Christ” — Mel Gibson’s Film and Biblical Scholarship – Part 3

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on March, 10 2004

There are some aspects of the gospels’ passion narratives that Mel Gibson seems not to know. That is surprising since they are commonplace in the world of New …

“The Passion of the Christ” — Mel Gibson’s Film and Biblical Scholarship – Part 2

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on March, 3 2004

Mel Gibson claims that in his film, “The Passion of the Christ,” he has “followed faithfully the texts of the Gospels.” That is demonstrably not so, as I …

[Vern is responding to this Open Letter to George Will]

To what “scientifically documented presence of homosexuality in the …