I was wondering, how well-accepted is John Shelby Spong among Anglicans/Episcopalians/Old Catholics here in the forum and in the wider Anglican Communion?
I was wondering, how well-accepted is John Shelby Spong among Anglicans/Episcopalians/Old Catholics here in the forum and in the wider Anglican Communion?
I would have to disagree about the virgin birth (or, more properly, virginal conception) - I hold it to be true but it is not remotely central to Christian faith in the way resurrection is.I would tend to be closer to the "abhor" category. I find it hard to look kindly on a "Christian minister" who denies so many essential/fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. He denies the virgin birth, he also denies the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Without the virgin birth, with out a physical resurrection of Jesus, the Christian faith does not exist. Without those essential teachings, at best, Bishop Spong teaches little more than a modern form of Gnosticism.
IMO - Bishop Spong is a good example of what is most wrong in the Episcopal Church (USA).
Kenith
I would have to disagree about the virgin birth (or, more properly, virginal conception) - I hold it to be true but it is not remotely central to Christian faith in the way resurrection is.
I see him as kind of a Barnum or Bailey sort of fellow. A lot of flash and show, but when you get beyond the smoke and mirrors, it's kinda cheap and sucrose. Does that make sense?
I would have to disagree about the virgin birth (or, more properly, virginal conception) - I hold it to be true but it is not remotely central to Christian faith in the way resurrection is.
And his arguments ... are theologically supportable.
The virgin birth is necessary to Christ being God.
Unless you are a fundamentalist you have much in common.
Unless you are a fundamentalist you have much in common.
If believing the Nicene and Apostles Creeds makes one a fundamentalist, than you are correct.
If you do believe these creeds, as they have been historically understood by Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches, than you do have major differences with Bishop Spong.
Kenith