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Resurrection: Myth or Reality? – Using Hebrew Interpretive Tradition to Examine Jesus' Death and the Christian Origins of Anti-Semitism
Using approaches from the Hebrew interpretive tradition to discern the actual events surrounging Jesus' death, Bishop Spong questions the hitorical validity of literal narrative concerned the Ressurection. He asserts that the resurrection story was born in an experience that opened the disciples' eyes to the reality of God and the meaning of Jesus of Nazareth. Spong traces the Christian origins of anti-Semitism to the Church's fabrication of the ultimate Jewish scapegoat, Judas Iscariot. He affirms the inclusiveness of the Christian message and emphasizes the necessity of mutual integrity and respect among Christians and Jews.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
53 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
John Shelby Spong
42 books303 followersJohn Shelby Spong was the Episcopal bishop of Newark before his retirement in 2000. As a leading spokesperson for an open, scholarly, and progressive Christianity, Bishop Spong has taught at Harvard and at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. He has also lectured at universities, conference centers, and churches in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. His books include: A New Christianity for a New World, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, Resurrection: Myth or Reality? Why Christianity Must Change or Die, and his autobiography, Here I Stand.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 28, 2012
One of the most important books of the late 20th century for christian believers in exile for which the old precepts no longer hold relevance.
This was one of three textbooks for a summer session Graduate Theological University program at Pacific School of Religion on Holy Hill west of Cal-Berkeley. The course was taught by Jack Spong: 'Can We with Integrity Believ in the Literal Resurrection in 21st Century?'
I'm not a sycophant or acolyte of Spong's. I am an intelligent man of the 21st century who happens to find great value in engaging Spong's work. And, I got an 'A' in the course!
This was one of three textbooks for a summer session Graduate Theological University program at Pacific School of Religion on Holy Hill west of Cal-Berkeley. The course was taught by Jack Spong: 'Can We with Integrity Believ in the Literal Resurrection in 21st Century?'
I'm not a sycophant or acolyte of Spong's. I am an intelligent man of the 21st century who happens to find great value in engaging Spong's work. And, I got an 'A' in the course!
May 21, 2011
This is an excellent book. It's thought-provoking, well-reasoned and illuminating. It's also purposefully heretical, deliberately provocative, thoroughly engrossing and a good read. Bishop John Shelby Spong is a fervent Christian, a thoughtful theologian and a gifted writer ... and these gifts are in full evidence in this effort. For the dedicated believer or atheist there is much here that will challenge your orthodoxy. For those in the middle there is much here to inform and evolve your faith. For everyone there is a feast of ideas and inspiration.
The only knock that I can make on this book is that it is so thorough and engrossing that it's a tough read at times - a great read, to be sure, because it is so fertile but so challenging that it actually tires one out. I had to put it down several times not because I wasn't moved but because I couldn't process any more of its (overly) abundant wisdom and insight.
There are so many passages that I want to quote to supply examples of why I hold it in such high regard, but now that that list is in excess of a dozen, I'll let this volume be representative in itself.
On a personal level, this is the second Spong book that I've read and it is also the second that I recommend without reservation. My faith has been challenged, informed and evolved by reading it and I am appreciative of this multi-faceted gift. This being said, I'm also clear that this book will be a real threat to those whose faith is set in stone ... which is one of the reasons that I loved it. Man, it really challenged me so many times that I stopped being surprised when this inevitably recurred.
It's also so unique in its viewpoint that I'm sure that fundamentalists and extreme liberals alike will be scared of it as it asks all of us to leave behind many conventional tenets and to explore the possibility of new, less comforting prospects that lead to the same destination - a life of strong faith - in a very different way/via a very different path than most of us have been taught. That Spong considers himself a committed Christian and yet rejects so much of traditional dogma convincingly is a credit both to his intellect and to his skill at crafting an informed and informative argument. In fact, this experience has been so powerful that I plan to reread this book, as I'm sure that I'll glean even more meaningful insights the more that I experience and absorb it.
In this spirit, then, I recommend it highly to you, too....
The only knock that I can make on this book is that it is so thorough and engrossing that it's a tough read at times - a great read, to be sure, because it is so fertile but so challenging that it actually tires one out. I had to put it down several times not because I wasn't moved but because I couldn't process any more of its (overly) abundant wisdom and insight.
There are so many passages that I want to quote to supply examples of why I hold it in such high regard, but now that that list is in excess of a dozen, I'll let this volume be representative in itself.
On a personal level, this is the second Spong book that I've read and it is also the second that I recommend without reservation. My faith has been challenged, informed and evolved by reading it and I am appreciative of this multi-faceted gift. This being said, I'm also clear that this book will be a real threat to those whose faith is set in stone ... which is one of the reasons that I loved it. Man, it really challenged me so many times that I stopped being surprised when this inevitably recurred.
It's also so unique in its viewpoint that I'm sure that fundamentalists and extreme liberals alike will be scared of it as it asks all of us to leave behind many conventional tenets and to explore the possibility of new, less comforting prospects that lead to the same destination - a life of strong faith - in a very different way/via a very different path than most of us have been taught. That Spong considers himself a committed Christian and yet rejects so much of traditional dogma convincingly is a credit both to his intellect and to his skill at crafting an informed and informative argument. In fact, this experience has been so powerful that I plan to reread this book, as I'm sure that I'll glean even more meaningful insights the more that I experience and absorb it.
In this spirit, then, I recommend it highly to you, too....
September 16, 2015
This is the type of book I would love to read in a locked room, with my Bible open, and large chunks of the author's bibliography at my fingertips. The Talmudic history Spong delves into is fascinating, and illuminating. His slow, logical process is necessary, considering the enculturation he is untwisting. I especially appreciate his effort to explain why and how he goes through the ressurection accounts of the Bible in the order he presents. This information is certainly overview for a current non-literalist reading theology student, or practicing pastor, but is necessary for any other readers.
I remain skeptical of his conclusions against the bodily resurrection of Jesus. The historic event is just too far removed and too necessarily miraculous to prove or disprove by modern standards. As a post-modern, I am not ready to dismiss the possibility of the miracle, simply because I can't touch it with empirical facts. On the other hand, I'm not a literal reader of the Bible, so my faith doesn't stand or fall on this one miracle alone.
Spong has convinced me of the possibility that Jesus's resurrection (bodily or perceptually) most likely occurred to his disciples in Galilee, not Jerusalem. The book also reminded and affirmed for me that the events of our Holy Week certainly did not take place in 8 days, as we currently celebrate it. I'm open to Spong's conclusion that several of the events occurred in the Fall harvest season, instead of around our current Easter. Again, these are all interesting new bits of information to consider that need not rock a non-literalist's faith.
The final chapter applies Spong's removal of miraculous occurrences to modern and current society and politics with eye-opening directness. His conclusions are important, no matter which side of the miracle of ressurection the reader falls on, because society as a whole ascribes less and less value to the ressurection and life after death. I do find myself squarely in Spong's camp when it comes to the importance of the promise of heaven. If I do encounter pearly gates and streets of gold upon the conclusion of my earthly life, it will be an unexpected pleasant surprise. I agree with Spong, that the importance of the Christian faith (as well as other love-your-neighbor based faiths) lies in its encouragement to bring about the best possible example of God's kingdom for everyone doing life together now, not what our faith gains us a ticket to in the hereafter.
I remain skeptical of his conclusions against the bodily resurrection of Jesus. The historic event is just too far removed and too necessarily miraculous to prove or disprove by modern standards. As a post-modern, I am not ready to dismiss the possibility of the miracle, simply because I can't touch it with empirical facts. On the other hand, I'm not a literal reader of the Bible, so my faith doesn't stand or fall on this one miracle alone.
Spong has convinced me of the possibility that Jesus's resurrection (bodily or perceptually) most likely occurred to his disciples in Galilee, not Jerusalem. The book also reminded and affirmed for me that the events of our Holy Week certainly did not take place in 8 days, as we currently celebrate it. I'm open to Spong's conclusion that several of the events occurred in the Fall harvest season, instead of around our current Easter. Again, these are all interesting new bits of information to consider that need not rock a non-literalist's faith.
The final chapter applies Spong's removal of miraculous occurrences to modern and current society and politics with eye-opening directness. His conclusions are important, no matter which side of the miracle of ressurection the reader falls on, because society as a whole ascribes less and less value to the ressurection and life after death. I do find myself squarely in Spong's camp when it comes to the importance of the promise of heaven. If I do encounter pearly gates and streets of gold upon the conclusion of my earthly life, it will be an unexpected pleasant surprise. I agree with Spong, that the importance of the Christian faith (as well as other love-your-neighbor based faiths) lies in its encouragement to bring about the best possible example of God's kingdom for everyone doing life together now, not what our faith gains us a ticket to in the hereafter.
June 7, 2015
Recently, I've been reading a lot about early Christianity and have discovered a wide array of authors from both sides of the theological fence. Bishop Spong is fascinating in that he calls for a radically re-invisioning of Christian beliefs, to the point where many consider him to be an athiest. He certainly comes out strongly against a purely diest view of God. I've even seen him on the Bill Maher show! This book focuses on the Resurrection, a pet topic for me at the moment. He doesn't believe in a literal interpretation of the resurrection stories and at times he seems to be arguing that everything we know about it is purely myth and tradition. However, he slowly builds an argument about what he believes REALLY went on, and its fascinating. I don't want to spoil it, but I loved this book because of the last few chapters.
December 5, 2010
It took me a long time to read this book, because I read it a little at a time. It was most interesting, the way this scholar used his understanding of the process of midrash, his knowledge of Jewish festivals and scholarship (his own and others') to tease out his reconstruction of how Jesus of Nazareth was transformed into the Christ. He lost me in the second-to-last chapter, where he seemed to throw the rest of the book over his shoulder and take the pledge, but the last chapter, which summed up his argument and conclusion ... er ... redeemed him. Since I agree with him, I loved this book. If you believe the Bible is a book of unarguable FACTS, this is not a book for you.
July 2, 2021
This author is a genius!!! He sees all the biblical flaws. He points them out, and usually explains why they happened. And he even manages to justify his continued belief in spite of these problems. One of Spong’s final thoughts: “If we insist that Easter’s truth must be carried inside such a literal framework, we doom Easter’s truth to the death of irrelevance.”[p. 291] I have read nine of Bishop Spong's books. If these books were required reading for religion classes we would have a much healthier religion and a better society. IMHO
July 9, 2012
This book is the one that really summed up for me how I felt & feel about the Jesus myth as opposed to the historical Jesus. It strengthened my faith while providing a more scientific outlook on the life, death & resurrection of Jesus the Christ. The story of the resurrection finally made sense after reading this book.
December 21, 2012
A must read for anyone who has struggled with their faith, or for anyone who feels that the literal interpretations of the gospels don't add up. Highly recommended.
March 25, 2022
I hardly know what I should write about this book. It is clear that John Shelby Spong does not believe that Jesus of Nazareth literally arose (bodily) from a tomb. Yet, he believes (apparently) in some sort of resurrection.
As for my outlook, the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life, words spoken, and deeds performed are almost certainly beset with great amounts of legend, and therefore they cannot, from a modern perspective, be taken seriously as historically veridical. Does that rule out the possibility that Jesus was bodily resurrected? Not necessarily. Is it probable that he was? The answer will depend upon one’s worldview. My own inclination is to regard that there was a literal bodily resurrection as improbable; however, my worldview would not be shattered or dismantled if the resurrection had literally occurred.
That human beings are endowed with a spiritual aspect (call it the “soul”) that survives the death of the human body, I do not seriously doubt. If that were disproven, my worldview WOULD BE SHATTERED. My confidence is complete that science can neither prove nor disprove such an outlook – the spiritual survival of the human soul. From a metaphysical perspective, science’s powers extend as far as human knowledge extends – a puny minuscule aspect of Ultimate Reality! Therefore, science’s “verdict” on the soul has about the importance of a puff of hot air – it doesn’t count. After all, science has NOTHING AT ALL to say about consciousness, so far as its cause, its nature, or its destiny is concerned. Unless science can get a handle on consciousness, sagacity implores a humble reticence.
But so far as Spong’s book is concerned, and his suggestions as to how the “legends” developed about Easter Sunday, Peter and his cohorts traveling to Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles in the fall of the year, following Jesus’ crucifixion the preceding spring, and what sorts of events led to the legends passed down to posterity, as recorded in the gospels, I will decline any claim to dogmatism. I will concede that the ideas presented in his book suggest considerable imagination and creativity. How well those ideas concur with objective reality and historical validity, I will simply express reservations. A literal reading of the gospels as accurate, objective history is probably not intelligently sustainable in the twenty-first century. Can such a reading be disproven? Except for a few almost-irreconcilable contradictions in different gospel accounts, proving that a literal reading is false is likely less than feasible.
My personal faith rests on trust in an infinitely greater Power than can be found in any human writings, any human theorizing (including mine), or in any human achievements whatsoever. I am extremely uninclined to believe that the Divine ever uses highly finite, fallible, and flawed human creatures to generate or create any works of infallibility or perfection. This includes my conviction that all humanly written books, all human works of art, and all human artifacts are the products of finite and flawed beings, even when they are produced under the influence of much Divine inspiration. To organized religion, this outlook is anathema. To the Creator, I hope it is an outlook that is deemed meritorious – given that it reserves perfection and infallibility for exactly one Reality, the glorious Divine Creator.
As for my outlook, the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life, words spoken, and deeds performed are almost certainly beset with great amounts of legend, and therefore they cannot, from a modern perspective, be taken seriously as historically veridical. Does that rule out the possibility that Jesus was bodily resurrected? Not necessarily. Is it probable that he was? The answer will depend upon one’s worldview. My own inclination is to regard that there was a literal bodily resurrection as improbable; however, my worldview would not be shattered or dismantled if the resurrection had literally occurred.
That human beings are endowed with a spiritual aspect (call it the “soul”) that survives the death of the human body, I do not seriously doubt. If that were disproven, my worldview WOULD BE SHATTERED. My confidence is complete that science can neither prove nor disprove such an outlook – the spiritual survival of the human soul. From a metaphysical perspective, science’s powers extend as far as human knowledge extends – a puny minuscule aspect of Ultimate Reality! Therefore, science’s “verdict” on the soul has about the importance of a puff of hot air – it doesn’t count. After all, science has NOTHING AT ALL to say about consciousness, so far as its cause, its nature, or its destiny is concerned. Unless science can get a handle on consciousness, sagacity implores a humble reticence.
But so far as Spong’s book is concerned, and his suggestions as to how the “legends” developed about Easter Sunday, Peter and his cohorts traveling to Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles in the fall of the year, following Jesus’ crucifixion the preceding spring, and what sorts of events led to the legends passed down to posterity, as recorded in the gospels, I will decline any claim to dogmatism. I will concede that the ideas presented in his book suggest considerable imagination and creativity. How well those ideas concur with objective reality and historical validity, I will simply express reservations. A literal reading of the gospels as accurate, objective history is probably not intelligently sustainable in the twenty-first century. Can such a reading be disproven? Except for a few almost-irreconcilable contradictions in different gospel accounts, proving that a literal reading is false is likely less than feasible.
My personal faith rests on trust in an infinitely greater Power than can be found in any human writings, any human theorizing (including mine), or in any human achievements whatsoever. I am extremely uninclined to believe that the Divine ever uses highly finite, fallible, and flawed human creatures to generate or create any works of infallibility or perfection. This includes my conviction that all humanly written books, all human works of art, and all human artifacts are the products of finite and flawed beings, even when they are produced under the influence of much Divine inspiration. To organized religion, this outlook is anathema. To the Creator, I hope it is an outlook that is deemed meritorious – given that it reserves perfection and infallibility for exactly one Reality, the glorious Divine Creator.
September 10, 2024
John Shelby Spong is one of the two most influential Biblical scholars in my life the 2nd half of the 20th century, the other being Marcus J Borg. Spong approaches this work by pointing out that the birth of Christianity took place within Judaism (Duh!) and therefore quite naturally incorporated midrash as a mode of recording and interpreting the story.
“What is midrash? It is both a collection of the interpretations of sacred Scripture and a method for the continued expansion of sacred Scripture. It comes in three forms: Halakah, Haggadah, and Peqiqta. Halakah is an interpretation of the law—the sacred Torah. Haggadah is the interpretation of a story or an event by relating it to another story or event in sacred history. Pesiqta is a whole sermon or an exhortation written midrashically to capture themes of the past to enable them to be perceived as operative in the present.” (p. 8)
From there, he proceeds to examine the Biblical texts—Paul, Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John—in the sequence of their writing, leading the reader to understand the significance and impact of the changing historical setting and audience for each. He does a thorough job of showing how passages from Isaiah, specifically the chapters considered to be written by a “2nd Isaiah” and those by a “3rd Isaiah,” along with Psalm 118, Zechariah and Ezra are used in the midrashically developed crucifixion and resurrection stories about Jesus. He addresses issues such as the varying chronologies of Holy Week and other issues that might be problematic in literalistic interpretations. He comes to some interesting conclusions about the first “resurrection” appearance—to whom (Peter), where (Galilee, not Jerusalem), and when (Feast of Tabernacles, 6 months after the Feast of the Passover and the crucifixion). You probably haven’t heard this from your local pulpiteer, but before you dismiss it as ridiculous, I encourage you to read the book. Though meticulously detailed, it is very readable and reflects, as far as I can judge, solid scholarship. However, I would also say it is not a quick read. The key is to come to understand the role of midrash in the writing of the gospels and what that implies for interpretation.
“What is midrash? It is both a collection of the interpretations of sacred Scripture and a method for the continued expansion of sacred Scripture. It comes in three forms: Halakah, Haggadah, and Peqiqta. Halakah is an interpretation of the law—the sacred Torah. Haggadah is the interpretation of a story or an event by relating it to another story or event in sacred history. Pesiqta is a whole sermon or an exhortation written midrashically to capture themes of the past to enable them to be perceived as operative in the present.” (p. 8)
From there, he proceeds to examine the Biblical texts—Paul, Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John—in the sequence of their writing, leading the reader to understand the significance and impact of the changing historical setting and audience for each. He does a thorough job of showing how passages from Isaiah, specifically the chapters considered to be written by a “2nd Isaiah” and those by a “3rd Isaiah,” along with Psalm 118, Zechariah and Ezra are used in the midrashically developed crucifixion and resurrection stories about Jesus. He addresses issues such as the varying chronologies of Holy Week and other issues that might be problematic in literalistic interpretations. He comes to some interesting conclusions about the first “resurrection” appearance—to whom (Peter), where (Galilee, not Jerusalem), and when (Feast of Tabernacles, 6 months after the Feast of the Passover and the crucifixion). You probably haven’t heard this from your local pulpiteer, but before you dismiss it as ridiculous, I encourage you to read the book. Though meticulously detailed, it is very readable and reflects, as far as I can judge, solid scholarship. However, I would also say it is not a quick read. The key is to come to understand the role of midrash in the writing of the gospels and what that implies for interpretation.
October 11, 2021
A really thought-provoking book that invites you to read the Scriptures in a non-literal sense. I hadn't heard of Spong previously but will seek out more of his work now as I found him quite fascinating here. The entire book is based around his speculations and personal research, but it's clear he's spent a lot of time on this and his opening chapter ably sets up the engrossing nature of the work to come. The midsection is a little dry at times in its deep sentence-level analysis, but it picks up for a brilliant climax that decries literalism and introduces the reader to the idea of transcendance in a spiritual sense.
August 18, 2023
Myth or reality? Why not both?
The Gospels themselves contain so many internal inconsistencies that it is impossible to harmonize them into a coherent, literal account of the events of Holy Week, Easter, and the weeks and months that followed. So what really happened? What event, what cosmic insight, convinced a small group of 1st century fishermen that Jesus lived on in a very real way? That's what this book is about, and Bishop Spong makes a very convincing argument for his recreation of that "Big Bang" moment in human history.
The Gospels themselves contain so many internal inconsistencies that it is impossible to harmonize them into a coherent, literal account of the events of Holy Week, Easter, and the weeks and months that followed. So what really happened? What event, what cosmic insight, convinced a small group of 1st century fishermen that Jesus lived on in a very real way? That's what this book is about, and Bishop Spong makes a very convincing argument for his recreation of that "Big Bang" moment in human history.
November 25, 2025
I admire Spong’s attempt to make sense of gospel contradictions and demystifying the resurrection, recognizing that it is deeply upsetting to those invested in a literal or fundamental approach. I’m relieved to have come across his writings — surprisingly introduced in Steve Berry’s The Templar Legacy — as they provide reasoned alternative approaches for consideration as my theological beliefs continue to evolve.
March 30, 2018
This will very controversial to many. Bishop Spong posits the Easter story to be a midrash of early Christianity. The Feast of Tabernacles not of Passover, Galilee as the emphatic site of Resurrection not Jerusalem - this close reading of the Gospels and of the relevant passages of the Hebrew Bible is sure to fascinate. Particularly those open to expanding and/or enlightening their Faith.
July 18, 2019
Heretical Garbage.
Spong is atheist since he doesn't believe in a litteral resurrection of the physical body of Jesus. He claims to be a Christian in an non historical sense. The Apostle Paul, in contrast, calls John Shelby Spong's "faith" to be in vain, futile and worthless: (1 Corinthians 15:14,17)
Spong is atheist since he doesn't believe in a litteral resurrection of the physical body of Jesus. He claims to be a Christian in an non historical sense. The Apostle Paul, in contrast, calls John Shelby Spong's "faith" to be in vain, futile and worthless: (1 Corinthians 15:14,17)
July 19, 2024
THE CONTROVERSIAL BISHOP LOOKS SKEPTICALLY/FAITHFULLY AT THE RESURRECTION
John Shelby Spong (born 1931) is a retired Episcopal bishop, formerly of Newark; he has written many other books.
He wrote in the Preface to this 1994 book, "I am convinced that if this Jesus can be for us the doorway into God... then this faith story of ours can live in dramatic new ways... At least that is my intention in this volume."
He suggests that the core of the Easter story "has nothing to do with angelic announcements or empty tombs... It has nothing to do with resuscitated bodies that appear or disappear or that finally exit this world in a heavenly ascension. Those are but the human, Midrashic vehicles employed to carry the transcendent meaning of Easter..." (Pg. 21)
After citing some post-resurrection sayings in the gospel of Luke, Spong observes, "No, the Jesus of history did not say and do these things." (Pg. 141) He explains, "I think Easter is real, but it is not an event that takes place inside human history..."; he adds that he does not bind either the reality of the universe or the reality of the resurrection inside the categories of time and space. (Pg. 143, 239)
What did happen on Easter? His general outline is this: "Easter occurred first in Galilee. It focused primarily on the experience of Peter. It had something to do with the reenactment of the common meal." (Pg. 229) Traditions such as the empty tomb, etc., were myths and legends that arose from a people who were "not capable of narrating in any other way the transcendent meaning that had grasped and resurrected the very core of their lives." (Pg. 235) He states in conclusion, "I do believe that death is not the end of life. But I do not know how to talk about that." (Pg. 288)
One of Spong's most interesting books, it will be of great interest to progressive thinkers about religion.
John Shelby Spong (born 1931) is a retired Episcopal bishop, formerly of Newark; he has written many other books.
He wrote in the Preface to this 1994 book, "I am convinced that if this Jesus can be for us the doorway into God... then this faith story of ours can live in dramatic new ways... At least that is my intention in this volume."
He suggests that the core of the Easter story "has nothing to do with angelic announcements or empty tombs... It has nothing to do with resuscitated bodies that appear or disappear or that finally exit this world in a heavenly ascension. Those are but the human, Midrashic vehicles employed to carry the transcendent meaning of Easter..." (Pg. 21)
After citing some post-resurrection sayings in the gospel of Luke, Spong observes, "No, the Jesus of history did not say and do these things." (Pg. 141) He explains, "I think Easter is real, but it is not an event that takes place inside human history..."; he adds that he does not bind either the reality of the universe or the reality of the resurrection inside the categories of time and space. (Pg. 143, 239)
What did happen on Easter? His general outline is this: "Easter occurred first in Galilee. It focused primarily on the experience of Peter. It had something to do with the reenactment of the common meal." (Pg. 229) Traditions such as the empty tomb, etc., were myths and legends that arose from a people who were "not capable of narrating in any other way the transcendent meaning that had grasped and resurrected the very core of their lives." (Pg. 235) He states in conclusion, "I do believe that death is not the end of life. But I do not know how to talk about that." (Pg. 288)
One of Spong's most interesting books, it will be of great interest to progressive thinkers about religion.
September 28, 2011
“Death cannot contain him, we have seen the Lord!”
What really happened two thousand years ago? Bishop Spong takes us on a journey through the scriptures as he uncovers clues leading to the truth about the resurrection.
[1] Beginning with Paul and then traversing the four gospels one at the time, Spong covers what the Bible tells about the historical event.
[2] Leading into “interpretive images,” he next discusses several ways the Bible adds meaning to the story: the atoning sacrifice of Hebrews, the suffering servant, and the Son of Man.
[3] Then come five “clues,” Biblical stories that lend insight into how the resurrection Jesus was perceived.
[4] Finally, Spong provides his own “speculative reconstruction” about what he believes truly happened.
Spong is, of course, a liberal Christian. Don’t expect a conservative explanation. He concludes, however, that “Behind the legends that grew up around this moment, there is a reality I can never deny. Jesus lives. I have seen the Lord.”
What really happened two thousand years ago? Bishop Spong takes us on a journey through the scriptures as he uncovers clues leading to the truth about the resurrection.
[1] Beginning with Paul and then traversing the four gospels one at the time, Spong covers what the Bible tells about the historical event.
[2] Leading into “interpretive images,” he next discusses several ways the Bible adds meaning to the story: the atoning sacrifice of Hebrews, the suffering servant, and the Son of Man.
[3] Then come five “clues,” Biblical stories that lend insight into how the resurrection Jesus was perceived.
[4] Finally, Spong provides his own “speculative reconstruction” about what he believes truly happened.
Spong is, of course, a liberal Christian. Don’t expect a conservative explanation. He concludes, however, that “Behind the legends that grew up around this moment, there is a reality I can never deny. Jesus lives. I have seen the Lord.”
October 23, 2012
If you are interested in ideas about Christ and his resurrection which are modern then this is a great book to read. It is accessible and thorough. A good book for the lay reader.
Spong develops his thought from Paul Tillich and his general premise is that Christianity is real and true without the evidentiary standard Evangelical and fundamentalist Christianity use. This creates a new paradigm for the way modern society has come to see the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This books looks to the Bible and finds interesting clues I have not seen before and it formulates a provocative theory that seems worth considering. Spong's desire is not to invent a Christianity that is more accomodating to modern proclivities, but rather to discover what the original Christian belief was and the signs we see in the Bible to reveal this.
In the end I bet many Christians would reject Spong, because of his liberal agenda and criticism of the Bible. But Spong does back up his case and still believes in a risen Lord.
Spong develops his thought from Paul Tillich and his general premise is that Christianity is real and true without the evidentiary standard Evangelical and fundamentalist Christianity use. This creates a new paradigm for the way modern society has come to see the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This books looks to the Bible and finds interesting clues I have not seen before and it formulates a provocative theory that seems worth considering. Spong's desire is not to invent a Christianity that is more accomodating to modern proclivities, but rather to discover what the original Christian belief was and the signs we see in the Bible to reveal this.
In the end I bet many Christians would reject Spong, because of his liberal agenda and criticism of the Bible. But Spong does back up his case and still believes in a risen Lord.
January 2, 2009
In this interesting book, Spong indulges in thought experiments based on the gospel accounts to reconstruct where the idea of the resurrection most likely originated: with Peter, in Galilee after the disciples returned there following Jesus' death, using the rituals of the Last Supper. I can't really fault Spong's logic in this section - what is more stunning is the audacity of the attempt itself.
Later in the book, Spong posits that the details of the time around Jesus' death recorded in the gospels points to a different Jewish holiday, Tabernacles or Booths, rather than Passover, as the time of the crucifixion. Given that our _only_ source of information on any of this is the gospels, that they were written many decades after the crucifixion, and that the details of "Tabernacles" seem a little too ready-fit for this theory, it seems like a house built on a weak foundation. But again, it is interesting to watch the man's mind work.
Later in the book, Spong posits that the details of the time around Jesus' death recorded in the gospels points to a different Jewish holiday, Tabernacles or Booths, rather than Passover, as the time of the crucifixion. Given that our _only_ source of information on any of this is the gospels, that they were written many decades after the crucifixion, and that the details of "Tabernacles" seem a little too ready-fit for this theory, it seems like a house built on a weak foundation. But again, it is interesting to watch the man's mind work.
February 13, 2014
Reading this book led to a lot of interesting trains of thought. This guy has obviously done a lot of research and has put together a largely consistent theory of what exactly the resurrection was. There were a few bits of information that I think will be very useful for further trains of thought. In the end, though, if you take the magic away, then what's the point? Spong was somehow able to reconcile his calling and his belief with his conviction that there was no magic, but that was where I lost the trail of reasoning.
I'm going to have to ponder further, but I feel like the absence of miracles makes Christianity philosophy only, not religion. The lessons would still be valid, but they lose their sparkle.
And on the whole, I don't think I really buy Spong's interpretation. Still interesting to read, though. I wish I could have a long conversation with him to get a better sense of his thoughts.
I'm going to have to ponder further, but I feel like the absence of miracles makes Christianity philosophy only, not religion. The lessons would still be valid, but they lose their sparkle.
And on the whole, I don't think I really buy Spong's interpretation. Still interesting to read, though. I wish I could have a long conversation with him to get a better sense of his thoughts.
August 15, 2012
Bishop Spong points out that it was Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 who gives us the very first account of the resurrection. This was some twenty five years later and about sixteen years before the first gospel was written.
It is important while reading this book to not allow one's self to be influenced by the gospel ideas which were written many years after Paul's death.
Paul leaves out a large portion of the story as founded on the gospel reading that is traditionally used. Apparently many of these traditions were developed after Paul's death.
One learns to look at this event with new eyes and it gives new meaning to this historic event. This is a daring attempt to get at the underlying truth behind this historic event.
It is important while reading this book to not allow one's self to be influenced by the gospel ideas which were written many years after Paul's death.
Paul leaves out a large portion of the story as founded on the gospel reading that is traditionally used. Apparently many of these traditions were developed after Paul's death.
One learns to look at this event with new eyes and it gives new meaning to this historic event. This is a daring attempt to get at the underlying truth behind this historic event.
December 20, 2008
perspektif yg menarik dari buku ini, injil berangkat dari tradisi midrash dalam kasanah budaya yahudi. midrash bukanlah cara penuturan sejarah yg kronologis.
setelah membaca buku ini cobalah membayangkan matius dalam terang midrash. maka kita akan menemukan sejumlah "narasi" yg sangat berkaitan dng sejarah israel. semacam pengulangan atau rangkuman dari sebuah sejarah yg panjang. orang majus dng leluhur abraham dari timur, pengungsian ke mesir dng sejarah penindasan dsb. mengajak pembaca utk memahami injil sbg karya sastra.
sudah 2th-an lalu bacanya.
setelah membaca buku ini cobalah membayangkan matius dalam terang midrash. maka kita akan menemukan sejumlah "narasi" yg sangat berkaitan dng sejarah israel. semacam pengulangan atau rangkuman dari sebuah sejarah yg panjang. orang majus dng leluhur abraham dari timur, pengungsian ke mesir dng sejarah penindasan dsb. mengajak pembaca utk memahami injil sbg karya sastra.
sudah 2th-an lalu bacanya.
November 1, 2015
There is a power (just like the same power that raised Christ from the dead) which can give life to our mortal bodies. This power is greater, more convincing and totally eclipses any reading, writing, history or interpretation of a resurrection. If you have known this, you will not need to worry about myth or reality.
October 19, 2011
Beautiful book about the resurrection myth and the true meaning of Easter. Spong defines that as the moment at which the disciples, beginning with Peter, "saw" Jesus as a part of God and began to speak of it and of Jesus' radical social inclusiveness. Really a moving book.
September 4, 2013
Driven by a desire to atone for his previous fundamentalism, Spong has uncritically adopted some of the most radical fringe views in liberal biblical scholarship. In this book, Spong offers an absurd, hugely speculative reconstruction that has no basis in the evidence.
January 10, 2011
Cause to rethink the way we understand the New Testament
March 9, 2017
Progressive concepts on death and faith beyond traditional religious teaching.
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