Spong???

[Clement of Alexandria]

How do Anglicans feel about this man?

[SeenAndUnseen]

I honestly don't know. I, having lived a somewhat sheltered life prior to discovering certain forums, had somehow managed to get through most of 36 years without so much as hearing of Spong's existence. I can only judge from second-hand accounts, but based on what I've heard from respected others and from excerpts of some of his ideas, I find him extraordinarily flakey. He is more "out there" than Sputnik. One tree short of a hammock. His elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor. (stop me anytime... ;) or at least try)

[Fish and Bread]

How do Anglicans feel about this man?

It depends on which Anglicans you ask. :) Spong is certainly much more liberal than the mainstream of the Episcopal Chuch to which he belongs. He generates a lot of negative reactions, but does have his fans. Most of his fans within ECUSA actually aren't people that actually agree with him, but are folks who simply value him as a Christian and respect his viewpoints while politely not affirming many of them. We're a big-tent denomination, but one shouldn't look to the fringes to find out what we believe as a group -- better to look towards the center. :) Mainstream Episcopalianism is liberal, but still trinitarian and very theistic.

John

[AngCath]

I try not to think about him :)

[RobNJ]

.

[ContraMundum]

Can't stand his work. I think he's a heretic, actually, and that makes me sad inside, because God wants us to have faith, not doubt. I pray for him often.

[holyshe]

me too pray he find the right path to serve our god

[holyshe]

spong....

he is a real nice man,a really friendly man,a really nice funny man!

but, i must add, he may be, nice and friendly and funny, but his ideas about scripture and truth and the church are wrong.....

so like i said he is a really nice friendly funny man, who is WRONG!

[Naomi4Christ]

What does he stand for?

[Naomi4Christ]

I honestly don't know. I, having lived a somewhat sheltered life prior to discovering certain forums, had somehow managed to get through most of 36 years without so much as hearing of Spong's existence.

You and me both! :D

[Lel]

What does he stand for?

Nothing. :holy:

[Naomi4Christ]

Nothing. :holy:Ha! And those that stand for nothing will fall for anything :D

Actually, googled and found a picture of him. One thing that he has going for him is that he has coloured clerical gear! /can't stand black...

[Fish and Bread]

What does he stand for?

Bishop Spong is hard to sum up in just a few words. I suppose the easiest way to put it would be to say that he likes many of Christ's teachings about how to behave on earth and likes Christian worship and meditation, but doesn't actually believe in God in the same way you and I do. His perspective seems to be that being part of the Christian tradition is a way for folks to better people and lead fuller lives, though he rejects the central premise of most people's faith -- i.e. a living being who can truly be interacted with and one day resurrect us. He also leans to the far left on his interpretation of Christ's teachings and has written books with titles like "Why Christianity Must Change or Die" and "The Sins of the Bible".

Bishop Spong was once the Episcopalian Bishop of Newark (New Jersey, United States), but has since retired to focus on writing. There is a persistant rumor that a bunch of other Episcopalian bishops got to together a large retirement fund for him in order to persuade him to go away. I don't mean any offense to Bishop Spong when I say this, but he is way outside the Episcopalian mainstream. Even liberals within ECUSA tend to disavowal his views, though many are willing to welcome him to fellowship. I've never heard anyone accuse him of being a bad person, though; just an extremist. He's almost like the left's version of Jerry Faldwell in the way he phrases things in absolute terms and so forth.

John

[karen freeinchristman]

seems to me like he is interested in creating his own religion.


(to a greater extent than the rest of us)

[PaladinValer]

Some of what he suggests is pure gold-pressed latinum, but he must be taken with a heafty grain of salt. It is really the basis of his arguments that I mostly agree with.