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Review Summary: Excellent overview |
Date: 2002-09-12 |
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Details: Probably the most controversial person I have seen still inside the Christian leadership, Spong never ceases to amaze me. Whether you agree with his views, theology, or his process, you must respect his strength. What amazes me is how someone of his generation and age can be so openminded and fight so hard to try to change a religion that he feels will crumble without such change. This book is a great overview of his writings and the evolution of his principles. If you are interested in Bishop Spong, but are not sure where to start, these essays are usually under 10 pages, and are a great look at a great mind. |
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Review Summary: Outstanding opening with a bitter middle and ending |
Date: 2000-09-02 |
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Details: Bishop Spong is one of those select individuals I love to hate and hate to love. His books, whether I agree with him or not, are very engaging. His writing style is easy and provocative. In this latest compolation of essay, Spong tackles many subjects such as his family and mentors, social issues, religious issues and much more. The strength of this book is by far the way he writes about himself and the people close to him. I found this "celebertism" to be interesting and enlighting.This is howevevr, the really only good thing about this book. The rest of the book, though engaging, is overy wrought with logical errors and self-refutation. He spin doctors for his cause as well as any White House spokesperson. He mentions the 80s as a decade of greed. However, he is largely silent when a liberal is in office. After all, what are the 90s? I assert more greed. Of course, Spong addresses his "pet" issues such as his views on "Christology", homosexual rights, abortion, and many more. It is provoking, yet, empty: emotional, reflective, yet, very illogical. |
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Review Summary: Sad Scholarship In Theology |
Date: 2000-08-25 |
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Details: In writing this review, I have to restrain myself from giving my own thesis and boring the those reading this review. This is hard because so much of this book is so bad. The are only two redeeming values: (1) Bishop Spong is a skilled writer and (2) a person gets to climb inside the mind of an extreme liberal theologian. Bishop Sppong's liberal bias is so evident that he often is self-refuting. He calls everyone and positions who/which seems to disagree with him such trigger words like dishonest, spin-doctoring, fundamentalist, and distorting the truth. Of course, Spong is therefore self-refuting as he, more than anyone is the master of theolical "spin doctoring" and dishonesty. He claims on page 111 that the Bible is wrong because it was used to promote slavery and segregation. This lack of logic is frightening. This doesn't mean the Bible is wrong, but those individuals who distorted scripture for the purpose of salvery are wrong. Didn't the abolitionist use scripture to free men? Is the Bible now also right. This is just an example of his useless logic. Read only for the understanding how individuals who are blinded by idealogy will disregard evidence in favor of their own agenda. |
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Review Summary: Vintage Bishop Spong |
Date: 2000-05-20 |
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Details: The series of essays has been compiled from Bishop Spong's columns over the years, and it deals with topics ranging from ecumenism to politics to family members. All of these essays are articulate, passionate, and beautifully written. The personal ones are actively touching, the political ones incisive and thought-provoking. It is fascinating to see how both his writing style and perspectives evolved over time. Those who dislike Bishop Spong will undoubtedly loathe this book. Those who admire him will find his perspectives and thoughts to be challenging, impressive, and extremely helpful in evaluating personal and public struggles in the light of an open, inclusive faith tradition. An excellent summation of Bishop Spong's beliefs, thoughts and ideals. |
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Review Summary: Inspiring insight on diverse topics |
Date: 1999-09-15 |
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Details: Another great book from Spong! In a bunch of essays short enough to be digestible, a wide variety of topics is addressed; some controversial, some not -- but always enlightening. Makes you think! |
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out of 5 Reviews
