Jesus for the Non-Religious

Spong is controversial, opinionated and shocking. He's also provocative, well researched and informative. Spong breaks the book into three parts, each of which have a distinct flavor and thesis.The first section is a systematic deconstruction of the traditional myth of Jesus. He analyzes and works to dispell the literal interpretations of the virgin birth, the miracles, the Easter story and other elements of the Jesus mythology. In general, Spong denies that any of these things ever happened literally or historically as outlined in scripture. This is by far the most controversial element of the book, and the part that many traditional Christians will find the most objectionable - particularly given that Spong is an Espicopalian bishop. Having said that, the thesis is interesting, intellectually supported, and not easily dismissed.The second section focuses on the symbolic and allegorical elements of the gospels as they relate to Judiasm and first century thought. Perhaps the most compelling and ineteresting section of the book, Spong draws parallels with Jewish liturgical and scriptural traditions that throw new light on the Gospels, and these arguments really resonated. The scriptural references were comprehensive and the arguments for his position were well articulated. As an example, Spong develops a very compelling concept of liturgical parallells between the crucifixion and Yom Kippur that were fresh and enlightened.The third section explains Spong's view of what a "new" Christianity should embrace, or what Jesus means to him. The flowering of a complete humanity, the acceptance of others, the elimination of traditional barriers. This section is far more polemical, and represents the sythesis of Spong's faith. In essence, Spong argues that the divinity of Jesus was that he was completely human and allowed the love of God to flow through him. The God that Spong writes of, however, is not the typical paternalistic father diety, but rather an unknowable concept that is in harmony with current science and human evolution. In this area, Spong sounds far closer to the Diests of the 18th and 19th Centuries, and his argument for this position, well compelling, is also his bully pulpit to denounce other more mainstream religious positions.Regardless of whether you accept Spong's "Jesus is only a man" premise of the first section of the book, Spong's exceptional views on the allegorical and symbolic meaning of the Gospel and his interpretation of the "message" and "meaning" of Jesus in the third section are so interesting and compelling to read that anybody - Christian to non-religious, should find them a worthwhile study.

After searching for decades to find and understand the truth, this book has provided the complete source that I needed to study. It’s profound and even that is an understatement.

Although the title is "Jesus for the Non Religious," i received the impression while reading this book that Spong is attempting to put down his final conclusions about Jesus and our knowledge about him from the scriptures. It is a summation, a tying together his lifetime studies on this subject.The book is interestiing and well written, but it has a certain quality to it that I will describe as an attempt to take the reader step by step through various stages that lead him to his final conclusion of who Jesus was (is).Spong begins by a form of reductionism---separating what we know for sure about Jesus from the myths surrounding him. In this Part 1 Spong ends up with very little we can be sure of: Jesus was born in the Jewish homeland; he was a teacher and a healer; he was opposed by the civil and religious leaders; he died by crucifixtion. All the rest---his words, deeds, miracles, healings, prophecies --we cannot be sure about.The Gospels are almost entirely the work of those upon whom Jesus made such a great impression that they largely created his life and words as found in the four gospels.In the second part he shows how the original Jewish followers of Jesus saw him through their tradition, culture and scriptures. Jesus was seens as the "new Passover:. Jesus was seen through the lens of Yom Kippur as both the perfect lamb slaughtered to reconcile man with God --- and, the scape goat laden with the evil of mankind. To a lesser degree, Jesus was seen as the "Son of Man" in the work of Ezekiel, the prophet.Jesus was also viewed as the suffering servant of Second Isaiah and as the "Good Shepherd".In the third and final part of the book, Bishop Spong examines what is left of Jesus after identifying the myths and accepting that Jesus made a profound impression upon his early followers who then constructed his life story using as material and as a pattern -- sections of the Hebrew scriptures.Spong describes evolution on several pages culminating when the creature we call a human being became such a person --- by the dawn of "self conciousness. However, when the first humans realized their identity and saw that they were surrounded by a possibly dangerous Nature, animals, other beings --- they were filled with insecurity. This result is the inate drive for survival found within human beings to this day. Spong identifies ways that human have sought to reassure themselves of their existence and value: tribal relationships, prejudices, stereotypes and --- religion.Jesus broke through all the these barriers that effectively cut mankind off from true freedom and happiness.I was waiting for the final section because I thought "What is there left?"Bishop Spong that --even after his life's work (and, possibly because of it) he still is a God intoxicated man and one who sees what God is like in the being of Jesus.Frankly, for me, the final fourth of the book was rather unsatisfying. For example, what Christian church can one become a member of that sees Jesus as Bishop Spong hascome to perceive him? This latest view of Jesus is a "work in progress" -- especially in that their are no structures, fellowships, etc. that are available to those who find Spong's conclusions --- the answers to their quest.

As a student of various religions for over fifty years. I found Bishop Spong's work to be a sterling example of religious insight. He strips away the ancient mythology that surrounds much of what goes for modern religion and gets down to what is really known about Jesus, which is not very much when rigorous standards of critical analysis are applied. Not only is Bishop Spong able to dissect what goes for biblical interpretation but also points the way to the future. A worthy book but I would not recommend it to the Fundamentalists or the Evangelicals who hold to the mythos and absolutely, and adamantly refuse to acknowledge anything other than that the Bible is the inerrant word of God. Obviouly these people do not even understand the problems of translation nor how the New Testamant was assembled over many centuries. Admittedly, it is more comforting to accept the theistic Mythos and all that implies than it is to face the challenges of the reality being uncovered by rigid standards of scholarship. Bishop Spong acknowleges his strong Christian faith but his is a faith that deals with the real issues facing Christian belief in our modern world. Recommended for intellectual readership. Other works I would recommend are Honest to Jesus by Robert Funk and if one wants to really get into into it one might sample What Did Jesus Really Say and What Did Jesus Really Do, both exceptionally scholarly issuances of the Jesus Seminar and available from Amazon.

Extrem aufklärend und aufschlussreich.Und dennoch ermutigend und erbauend.Klasse Buch!

Courageous. Enlightening. Hopeful for a different sort of Christianity, one where we don't put the intellect to sleep!

Livre à recommander pour tous ceux qui veulent vivre la vraie vie en eux, sans préjugés et en toute intelligence.Dépouillement de tous les mythes et dorures pour retrouver l'élan initial de Jésus.

Load up the dumpster with everything you were taught about the “Devine” Jesus. It’s trash. Meet and fall in love with the human Jesus in this beautiful book.

This is such a challenging book! It really gives you something to chew on! Not for the feint-hearted, Bishop Spong seems to tear down almost everything that you thought was true. At one point I did begin to think "so if all you're saying in this book is right, what's left to believe in?" but actually by clearing away the "clutter" it does help to clarify. I don't necessarily agree with everything in this book but it's certainly worth reading ... if you're up to it!