Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World

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.” How the Bible Was Written: Discover how the books of the Bible were compiled, edited, and changed over centuries—and why what you learned in Sunday school is only part of the story. Deconstructing Biblical Literalism: Spong examines scripture not as a static, inerrant rulebook, but as a dynamic library of human encounters with the divine that evolved over a thousand years. Progressive Christianity in Practice: A leading voice for a more inclusive and modern faith equips you with the tools to reclaim the Bible from fundamentalism and read it with intellectual integrity. For the Non-Religious and Religiously Curious: Whether you’re a lifelong churchgoer, a spiritual seeker, or someone who has walked away from religion, this book offers a new, non-dogmatic way to engage with the most influential book ever written. Understanding the Old Testament: Journey through the formation of the Torah, the rise of the prophets, and the rich, complex history that shaped the Hebrew Scriptures before the time of Jesus.