In Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World, bishop and social activist John Shelby Spong argues that 200 years of biblical scholarship has been withheld from lay Christians. In this brilliant follow-up to Spong’s previous books Eternal Life and Jesus for the Non-Religious, Spong not only reveals the crucial truths that have long been kept hidden from the public eye, but also explores what the history of the Bible can teach us about reading its stories today and living our lives for tomorrow.
Sarah Sentilles, author of Breaking Up With God: A Love Story, applauds John Shelby Spong’s Reclaiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World, writing that “pulsing beneath his brilliant, thought-provoking, passionate book is this question: can Christianity survive the education of its believers?…A question Bishop Spong answers with a resounding yes.”
In this provocative book-by-book Bible study, Spong reveals:
- Biblical Scholarship for a Lay Audience: Spong argues that two centuries of academic biblical study have been deliberately withheld from the public—and reveals the crucial truths that change everything.
- The History of the Bible: A fascinating exploration of how the books of the Bible were actually written, edited, and compiled over hundreds of years, challenging the foundations of biblical literalism.
- Progressive Christianity in Action: Discover a modern, intellectual, and honest approach to scripture that allows for a believable faith in the twenty-first century.
- Rethinking the New Testament: A compelling look at the origins of the Gospels and the letters of Paul, separating historical fact from later liturgical interpretation.
The Real Human Drama Behind Creating a Divine Book
"Bishop Spong's newest book is not only for the 'non-religious' but it will find its way into churches, study groups, seminaries and the seekers. This book should renew a sincere interest in the biblical story that for too long has been lost in our corporate ignorance."
