The more I hear this man speak the more I resonate with him. Prayer to me is communicating honestly with God, saying what you really feel, even if you know it is not kind or loving, and saying sorry, letting go of it. You cant hide your thoughts from God, so why try? Just talking with God, sometimes you listen, sometimes you speak.
Couldn’t agree more. Our life is our prayer which helps the inter-being of all life. “Be still and know that I am God.” Be still and know that I am. Be still and know that I. Be still and know that. Be still and know. Be still. Be. And the only way to really know, is to love. Loving without ceasing is prayer without ceasing. It’s so simple, but not always easy to do.
I happen to be an agnostic but this is a Christian that non-Christians can really respect. I first heard Spong on Bill Maher's old Politically Incorrect show, and every time I've heard him since I've come away feeling a bit more positive about the human condition.
One of the best interviewers ever. He let the story be told without inserting himself in it. He should be mentioned at the beginning. Wonderful interview
John's commitment to being honest and human is inspiring. This is such a freeing approach to a discipline that is so often full of guilt and 'shoulds.'
@5:00 he's never seen prayer heal an incurable disease? Is he trying to say that God never heals people if i am hearing him correctly? If that's the case then he is DEAD WRONG!
John Shelby Spong asks Christians to grow up. And that's hard for a lot of people. It was and is for me. But if you perservere, you arrive at the doorstep of a mature faith. And then Christianity becomes a real force for good in the world rather than a series of fairy tales told by ancients with no understanding of the modern world. Spong is brilliant.
This man is following in the footsteps of Jesus--who left the judgment to GOD. A prayer is a private matter, like a telephone connection between your heart and god; it is not a "party" line--and you prayers are private, between your god and yourself. One must pour his heart out before his creator, happily getting in touch with him before his life is over. Isn't that what this life is all about--a chance to encounter one's maker BEFORE his life ends?
I think you may have misunderstood. He said he didn't want anything to do with God if God WAS the type of deity to let people stay longer if enough people pray. He starts saying it about 2:05.
I have to wonder what the difference would be, to Bishop Spong, between God and the Force of Star Wars. Also, there does seem to be a great arrogance about Spong to call the apostle Paul wrong.
I love how he speaks out of both sides of his mouth about death. On one hand, God is not someone he wants anything to do with if God does not prevent the death of someone who has fewer people praying for them and who is likely poorer. Assumption: death is a terrible, faith-shaking thing that it is good to prevent. But then he says that "Death is our friend....[it's] what gives life its meaning." So which is it? Is it a friend, and if it is, why would it be a bad thing for God to not prevent it?
If God is everything, then perhaps it is not the theistic deity which serves religion's pride; legitimizing it's own in a man's skin. Consider it is perfection which we all know - all of the time - by the grace of life. even when we are stupid, or low cast or dirty. even in the broken places as much as in the light. is beauty. knowing it is all God is the resurrection, why to forgive all return as gardener, end religion, transform garden into paradise. coming together is the creative will; meek
