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The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love
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Average Rating:  out of 134 Reviews
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Price: $15.95
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Sale: $2.92
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Manufacturer: HarperOne
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EAN (European Article Number): 9780060778408
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Number of Items: 1
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Binding: Paperback
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Author: John Shelby Spong
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Publisher: HarperOne
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Dewey Decimal Number: 220.6
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Publication Date: 2006-03-01
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Reading Level: 336
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Description: In the Sins of Scripture, Bishop John Shelby Spong takes on a thematic exploration of the Bible, carefully analyzing those passages that inform some of our key debates, like the role of women in the church and in society, and homosexuality, to name just two. Beyond that he also looks at scriptures that have helped shape culture and history -- bringing to light the undercurrent of anti-Semitism he finds in the Gospels, for example. The journey is particularly compelling because Bishop Spong believes in and values the good the Bible has brought to many through the ages. His goal is not to define the Bible itself as something to be set aside, but instead to honor and value what he loves about it while still labeling what he dramatically calls "texts of terror" for what they are. The true joy of the book is found in Spong's vigorous intellect, which he shines bright in an attempt to catch a reflection of the age, culture and circumstances in which the texts he examines were written. Like an archaeologist working with ideas instead of tools, he removes the rocks, brushes away the sediment and reports on what he finds. What were the roots and cultural realities behind the Scriptures that define the role of women in the church? What were the hopes and fears driving the writers who condemned homosexuality in such stark terms? What is the justification behind scriptures recommending "the rod of correction" (or as Bishop Spong simply labels it: "[t]he physical abuse of children…".) Whether or not you agree with some of his musings along the way, many of his conclusions are hard to argue with. Putting aside the issue of divine origin of the Bible, no one can deny passages have been used in service of very human ends. Finally, the Sins of Scriptures can be seen as a careful observer of what those ends have been. And when taken on those terms, it makes an interesting read, regardless of one's religious background.--Ed Dobeas
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: It's Simple |
Date: 2008-03-05 |
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Details: This guy should be excommunicated! I suppose many Christians read the bible with their pre-conceived notions coloring their reading glasses, but this is blasphemy. |
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Review Summary: Not for the fungelical |
Date: 2008-02-08 |
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Details: This is an excellent, thought provoking book. It's not for the faint hearted and not for the fundamentalist. If you are willing to open your mind and accept logic, you will get something out of it. Just be willing to suspend your myth driven beliefs for a while. |
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Review Summary: Don't Kill the Messenger!! |
Date: 2007-12-04 |
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Details: I was introduced to the works of Bishop Spong a few years ago by a co-worker and have since comsumed most of his books, some from the library, some gifts, some purchased. Having been raised in a very conservative church family, it was at first a bit difficult to accept some of Spong's radical ideas. Now I feel even more that they are "radical" in the true sense, "radix". They are root concepts from which Christian faith originated and were obscured by the history of 2nd and 3rd century church in an attempt to codify belief. Again and again Bishop Spong shows how many of the passages in the Bible are tied to the culture-political-sociological realities of the times. Without a proper appreciation of these factors, it is easy to want to kill the messenger instead of reassessing the validity of the message. Those who find Bishop Spong of interest miight also find helpful the writings of Bart Ehrman and other members of "The Jesus Seminar" who have attempted to bring critical scholarship to the search for the historical Jesus and the influence of the Judeo-Christian heritage. |
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Review Summary: A must book to read for any open-minded person! |
Date: 2007-07-25 |
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Details: The love of GOD is pure, innocent & loving. A book or person is not DIVINE when it preaches or instill violence, destruction, fear and hate.
God is peace, love, inclusive, innoncent, pure and divine, warmth, forgiving and joy. God transcends sexuality, race, tribalism, ethnicity, gender etc. ...any book or person that advocates...fear, hate, and destruction...is not divine and not the word of GOD. |
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Review Summary: scripture correction |
Date: 2007-07-23 |
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Details: On page 66 reference is made to Psalm 124:29 and 124:10-30. It should be Psalm 104 instead of 124.
I am only about half through the book but have found it very helpful so far in better understanding of the bible. |
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