Spong says, “All scriptures and all theological pronouncements are inevitably time-bound and time-warped.” In other words, nobody and no thing, including the Bible, is perfect. Visit Bishop Spong’s website to learn more (sign up or log in for the full article).
That approach is clearly in conflict with Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christians who maintain that the Bible is literally the word of God.
Spong would say that the earth was formed billions of years and imperfect humans evolved from lower life forms many thousands of years ago.
Bible literalists say Adam and Eve were created perfectly by God about six thousand years ago and they sinned. As a result, they and all humans became imperfect, were punished and needed to be redeemed.
Bishop Spong would say that although there was a real Jesus who brought an important message to humankind, there was no sacrifice and redemption because there never was a fall from perfection.
No, Christ died for our sins to attone for Adam and Eve’s original sin, according to believers in the Bible as the direct word of God. See Here
Bishop Spong has studied the Bible virtually his whole life and is a foremost expert. He says that the gospels, “…are not the dictated word or words of God, but are rather the time-bound and time-warped explanations of the Jesus experience, couched in the language and understandings of the first century.”
Evangelicals, of course, disagree; maintaining that the Bible is inspired by God and timelessly protected for accuracy by the Holy Spirit.
Who’s right?
(add your two cents below, in 25 word or less)
What is the meaning of life? Why is there suffering, pain and death? Why is there joy, love, and life? How should we treat each other? Pretty much all religions are trying to answer these age old human questions at the time they (prophets, holy men, etc.) wrote the bible and the other religious tomes. They did not have the many scientific discoveries that have since explained a few of the questions about life here on earth, and so they did the best they could to make up explanations and fables for the masses. Then this imperfect Dogma becomes corrupted by hunger for power and control, it becomes institutionalized with a hierarchy, and becomes a religion with followers. Many good works and values are contained in religions, as well as many beliefs that are detrimental to personal freedom and peace.
And we still don’t know all the answers to those questions!
Carol you are very perceptive and have spiritual wisdom beyond your years. The Bible worked for the first few centuries after Jesus when there was no science as we know it today. Faith today is belief in many of those ideas which we know not to be true. Religions that fail to grow with what we now know will suffer the fate of astrology and alchemy.
As to the lifelong questions, we need to look within for human solutions. Magic didn’t work then and will not work now.
Thanks for your comments.