I started another book that is pretty controversial and many of my friends and family will think I've gone off the deep end for even picking it up...but I have. I did. The name of the book is "Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism: A Bishop Rethinks the Meaning of Scripture" by John Shelby Spong. He's an Episcopal Bishop and author of other books such as; Honest Prayer, This Hebrew Lord, Beyond Moralism, and Living in Sin? A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality. I won't go into too much about him because I honestly don't know much about him other than he has a different point of view on almost all theological matters than anyone I've ever known, and that intrigues me.
It intrigues me that there could exist in the same universe two polarizing-ly opposite points of view about God, Scripture, and Spirituality. It intrigues me that I could have lived 31 years having never heard some of these points of view, especially not from "the horse's mouth". It intrigues me that, as I'm reading, I can hear my theological cornerstones being shattered. My entire framework from which I've operated for my entire life is being shred to pieces, leaving me to be but a speck of failed fundamentalist upbringing.
Obviously this is the "deconstruction" phase of the book, taking me, the reader, through his arguments of why scripture is NOT meant to be read, lived, or taken literally. How limiting such a world-view is.
This is just the first 5 chapters. It's really hard to read this and keep an open mind to see me through to the redeeming part of the book, which is sure to come.
Now, keep in mind...I'm not a scholar or trained in anything relating to the Bible. I'm just an ordinary Christian trying to make sense of what I think is going on.
Occasionally I happen upon someone much smarter than myself who has thought about these things much more deeply than I probably ever will. Hopefully this will be the case. We shall see.
5 comments:
I'm glad you're reading the book. I can't wait to read it next. You are turning out to be a fine priest.
hahahahhahahahahahah. You make me laugh. I had a dream the other night. Ask me about it later.
Jodi,
Does Bishop Spong make any distinctions between different genres in scripture? Like historical accounts, purposeful myth, poetry, etc? I am just wondering.
I would be interested to hear more when you are finished reading it. Admittedly I have not read Spong. I try not to read anything that comfortably fits into a conservative or liberal category (so almost no Protestant writers).
I have heard - you would know better than me if its true - that a center piece of Spong's reading of scripture is a non-literal or at least non-physical resurrection. I would especially be interested to hear if your reading in this book touches on that.
I ask because I know that was a popular position in classic liberal circles. But what I struggle with is that I was told over and over in the fundamentalism of my youth that when people die their spirits go to heaven. That gives me little hope and that kind of talk is why I quit identifying myself with the fundamentalism of my youth. But when I started dabbling in so-called "liberal" thought I was told that the resurrection (of Christ and of all people at the end of time) is not bodily but spiritual. I guess I fail to see how that is any different than my fundamentalist friends in the end.
All I know is that if I ever become convinced - by fundamentalists or liberals - of a non-literal/non-bodily resurrection where God makes all things right on earth one day, I would have no reason to remain a Christian.
I am sorry to go on so long. I am just really curious about that subject. Do you think you will blog another post when you have finished the book?
Shalom,
Wayne
Wayne, thanks for reading my post and commenting.
It's funny you mention the different genres because the last chapter I just finished addressed those three specifically (historical, myth, and poetry). Yes, he has briefly touched on the resurrection but referenced a later chapter where he'll deal with it more.
I know exactly what you mean about the rejection of your fundamentalist roots: It's a huge transition, I've been finding, to make this shift. As huge as it is though, it's a process that has been happening in my life for longer than I can remember.
I do plan to post more on it because this is a good outlet for me to digest what the material is saying.
What are you reading these days? Are you on the facebook bookshelf? I can't remember if I've seen a book on your page or not...
Anyway, thanks for stopping by.
Peace,
Jodi
Jodi,
For the summer I am taking a break from reading theology. I just finished reading Heavier than Heaven (a biography of Kurt Cobain). Now I am reading a novel called Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor. I don't know if you have heard of O'Connor but she is is a southern Catholic fiction writer in the Gothic tradition from the 50's and 60's. I am also reading some poetry (Dylan, Thomas, Hart Crane, and some EE Cummings).
Post a Comment