A major function of fundamentalist religion is to bolster deeply insecure and fearful people. This is done by justifying a way of life with all of its defining prejudices. It thereby provides an appropriate and legitimate outlet for one's anger. The authority of an inerrant Bible that can be readily quoted to buttress this point of view becomes an essential ingredient to such a life. When that Bible is challenged, or relativized, the resulting anger proves the point categorically.
The Bible is full of dreadful things. There's a Psalm that says "Happy will you be when you take your enemy's children and dash their heads against t… - John Shelby Spong
The Bible is full of dreadful things. There's a Psalm that says "Happy will you be when you take your enemy's children and dash their heads against t…
- John Shelby Spong
True religion is not about possessing the truth. No religion does that. It is rather an invitation into a journey that leads one toward the mystery o… - John Shelby Spong
True religion is not about possessing the truth. No religion does that. It is rather an invitation into a journey that leads one toward the mystery o…
The church is like a swimming pool. Most of the noise comes from the shallow end. - John Shelby Spong
The church is like a swimming pool. Most of the noise comes from the shallow end.
The view of the cross as the sacrifice for the sins of the world is a barbarian idea based on primitive concepts of God and must be dismissed. - John Shelby Spong
The view of the cross as the sacrifice for the sins of the world is a barbarian idea based on primitive concepts of God and must be dismissed.
There's an awful lot of biblical ignorance, and the church perpetuates that ignorance. - John Shelby Spong
There's an awful lot of biblical ignorance, and the church perpetuates that ignorance.
The Bible was written between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago, and it's filled with the knowledge that people had in that period of time, some of which you… - John Shelby Spong
The Bible was written between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago, and it's filled with the knowledge that people had in that period of time, some of which you…
A major function of fundamentalist religion is to bolster deeply insecure and fearful people. This is done by justifying a way of life with all of it… - John Shelby Spong
A major function of fundamentalist religion is to bolster deeply insecure and fearful people. This is done by justifying a way of life with all of it…
I live on the other side of Charles Darwin and I can no longer see human light as having been created perfect and falling into sin, I see us rather e… - John Shelby Spong
I live on the other side of Charles Darwin and I can no longer see human light as having been created perfect and falling into sin, I see us rather e…
It appears to be in the nature of religion itself to be prejudiced against those who are different. - John Shelby Spong
It appears to be in the nature of religion itself to be prejudiced against those who are different.
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