I think the story of the Christian faith is how you can become more deeply and fully human, not how you can become religious. And I don't see any indication that being religious makes you more moral.
— John Shelby Spong (1931–2021), Bischof und Autor
Topics: Discipleship, Church & Congregation, Doubt & Hard Questions
Occasions: For Reflection
John Shelby Spong
John Shelby Spong war ein US-amerikanischer Bischof der Episkopalkirche in Newark und ein einflussreicher theologischer Buchautor des späten 20. Jahrhunderts. Er stand für einen radikalen theologischen Liberalismus, engagierte sich für die kirchliche Gleichstellung von Homosexuellen und lehnte traditionelle Dogmen wie die Jungfrauengeburt oder die leibliche Auferstehung Jesu ab. Heutigen Bibellesern begegnet er als streitbarer Vordenker des progressiven Christentums, dessen Kritik an klassischen Glaubenssätzen scharfe theologische Kontroversen auslöste.
All quotes by John Shelby Spong (8)
Jesus calls us not to a new religion, but to life.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Prayer does not equip us for greater works – prayer is the greater work.
Oswald Chambers
In a sense, learning to follow Jesus is simply learning to pray the Lord’s Prayer.
N.T. Wright
Being a Christian is not a 'do-it-yourself' affair.
Jerry Bridges
God has not called us to success, only to faithfulness.
Mother Teresa
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
Jim Elliot
Do not be afraid of Christ. He demands nothing and he gives everything.
Pope Benedict XVI
A Christian is not a man who never goes wrong, but a man who is enabled to repent.
C.S. Lewis