Dec. 27: This is late and short because....

 

 

 I've been crying. I spent three hours on a blog; and lost it all. I have no idea why. My only consolation is that it was a bad blog . Luckily, a reader sent me the message below. It's by an Anglican bishop, no less.  But he's unlike any clergyman I ever heard of.

I have often, as the reader pointed out, been critical of our churches. Now, I was raised in a Protestant church - and might even have become a clergyman if I had not not flunked out of high school. I even did some considerable preaching as a teenager. It was in a mission church in Montreal's red light district. and a short walk from the hangouts of the gambling mob. They were all very attentive.

Then I became a doubter of religion as it was presented. Mary got pregnant without sex? Joseph was a sucker to get pulled in on that one.

Jesus rose to heaven up above? Hey! the world turns. The morning's up is the evening's down. Anyway, there is not up or down in the universe. And what would He do with a body that was designed for life on earth?

But churches fasten on these obvious bits of nonsense that really, whether true or false, don't really mean a damn thing. The point of religion, any religion, is how we behave. And our churches largely ignore that. The fundamentalist ones, in particular, focus on our egos and self-righteousness.  Others emphasize conformity. You're okay so long as you're just like everybody else in the church.

If George Bush refused to believe that Jesus was the literal Son of God, he could not be a member of any Christian church. But he does believe in that. So, George Bush, mass-murderer, mass-torturer and servant of very greedy billionaires....well---it's come right in George. Welcome to the house of the Lord.

The United States thinks much of how it is blessed by God, and how God-fearing it is. It has the highest crime rate in the developed world. It has one quarter of all the prisoners in the world. It has been at war almost constantly since Europeans began going there in the 16th century. In the last 50 or so years, it has slaughtered millions of innocent people, most of them civilians. And at a time when the world is scrambling to control climate change, the U.S. is spending trillions of dollars to destroy the middle east and, possibly, to provoke a nuclear war so that oil billionaires can make more billions. God bless America and, as Billy Graham used to add - real good.

Look at the cast of murderous, possibly insanely murderous candidates for party leaderships in the U.S. I have no doubt they all give three cheers for Jesus. But I see not a trace of Christianity in their thinking.

Christians are marked by their insistence on believing the silly and irrelevant, and ignoring the spirit of their own, claimed faith. And for religions - Christian, Mulsim, Hindu, Confucian - to hate each other is an absurd contradiction.

Which brings me to the statement below by Anglican bishop John Shelby Spong.

Conversations

Primary	Social	Promotions

Primary

1–50 of 52

 

Your Primary tab is empty.

Personal messages and messages that don’t appear in other tabs will be shown here.
To add or remove tabs click inbox settings.

			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	unread, Scotia InfoAlerts, Scotia InfoAlert: Your ScotiaCard was used., 11:50 am, Your ScotiaCard was used for an Interac Debit for $113.53. If unrecognized, check your account. Scotia InfoAlerts	Scotia InfoAlert: Your ScotiaCard was used. - Your ScotiaCard was used for an Interac Debit for $113.53. If unrecognized, check your account		11:50 am
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Jaan, me (3), Date of Guatemala killings, 10:52 am, This is good to know; I will prepare a post over the next week or so regarding your overview of. Jaan, me (3)	Date of Guatemala killings - This is good to know; I will prepare a post over the next week or so regarding your overview of		10:52 am
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	me, Christina (3), a part of my book of life, 9:09 am, Yep. I got the idea in September. Nick's girlfriend was in a terrible state because the school. me, Christina (3)	a part of my book of life - Yep. I got the idea in September. Nick's girlfriend was in a terrible state because the school		9:09 am
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	me, Jaan (4), happy boxing day, Dec 26, Good to know about the DNA test! Many things are indeed changing – radio, newspapers, music, the. me, Jaan (4)	happy boxing day - Good to know about the DNA test! Many things are indeed changing – radio, newspapers, music, the		Dec 26
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	pdmitchell, me (2), Thinking about the Faith Page, Dec 26, Wonderful ! Quite wonderful. This is the only thing I have seen that would draw me back into a church. pdmitchell, me (2)	Thinking about the Faith Page - Wonderful ! Quite wonderful. This is the only thing I have seen that would draw me back into a church		Dec 26
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	pdmitchell, me (2), The Argument for Universal Basic Income, Dec 26, Thank you. Yet another one I can use. We are living through more interesting times than I care for.. pdmitchell, me (2)	The Argument for Universal Basic Income - Thank you. Yet another one I can use. We are living through more interesting times than I care for.		Dec 26
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Denis, me (2), Re: Hi Dad, Dec 25, Well, at first I was alarmed. Then Cathy told me she had the same operation, and it worked. Denis, me (2)	Re: Hi Dad - Well, at first I was alarmed. Then Cathy told me she had the same operation, and it worked		Dec 25
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Capital One, International transaction alert | Alerte - transaction internationale, Dec 25, Capital One http://email.capitalone.com/1c6e15792layeousub7gqe2yaaaaaaaaaaaadfhkvbjkqaaabwvacyaam. Capital One	International transaction alert | Alerte - transaction internationale - Capital One http://email.capitalone.com/1c6e15792layeousub7gqe2yaaaaaaaaaaaadfhkvbjkqaaabwvacyaam		Dec 25
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Capital One, Available credit alert | Alerte - Crédit disponible, Dec 25, Capital One http://email.capitalone.com/120d40a50layeousub7gqcyqaaaaaaaaaaaadfhku35kqaaa4hc2d2aah. Capital One	Available credit alert | Alerte - Crédit disponible - Capital One http://email.capitalone.com/120d40a50layeousub7gqcyqaaaaaaaaaaaadfhku35kqaaa4hc2d2aah		Dec 25
			Important mainly because it was sent directly to you. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	lina, me (3), Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays, Dec 24, the way it should be. Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2015 23:03:58 -0400 Subject: Re: Merry Christmas & Happy. lina, me (3)	Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays - the way it should be. Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2015 23:03:58 -0400 Subject: Re: Merry Christmas & Happy		Dec 24
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Winnie, me (7), owen, Dec 24, I know the feeling From: graeme decarie To: Winnie Stewart <. Winnie, me (7)	owen - I know the feeling From: graeme decarie To: Winnie Stewart <		Dec 24
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	pdmitchell, me (2), A performance of carols and readings for Christmas, Dec 24, Thank you. I won't do a blog today or tomorrow. For some reason, the pieces you sent me remind me. pdmitchell, me (2)	A performance of carols and readings for Christmas - Thank you. I won't do a blog today or tomorrow. For some reason, the pieces you sent me remind me		Dec 24
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Denis Gray, Meet Judeo-ISIS: The inevitable result of Israel’s presence in the West Bank, Dec 24, Meet Judeo-ISIS: The inevitable result of Israel's presence in the West Bank http://www.haaretz.. Denis Gray	Meet Judeo-ISIS: The inevitable result of Israel’s presence in the West Bank - Meet Judeo-ISIS: The inevitable result of Israel's presence in the West Bank http://www.haaretz.		Dec 24
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	WonderCafe2, What ISIS Really Wants - New reply to watched thread, Dec 23, WonderCafe2 Graeme Decarie, Mrs.Anteater replied to a thread you are watching at WonderCafe2. What. WonderCafe2	What ISIS Really Wants - New reply to watched thread - WonderCafe2 Graeme Decarie, Mrs.Anteater replied to a thread you are watching at WonderCafe2. What		Dec 23
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	unread, Change.org, He is in a North Korean prison for his humanitarian work, Dec 23, Hyeon Soo Lim, a Korean-Canadian pastor, was on a humanitarian mission in North Korea when he was. Change.org	He is in a North Korean prison for his humanitarian work - Hyeon Soo Lim, a Korean-Canadian pastor, was on a humanitarian mission in North Korea when he was		Dec 23
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Denis, me (2), Fwd: Breaking: Three wounded in stabbing attack in Jerusalem's Old City, Dec 23, I'm afraid we're in for a year of lots of insanity. Pope Francis certainly is in a grim mood. Denis, me (2)	Fwd: Breaking: Three wounded in stabbing attack in Jerusalem's Old City - I'm afraid we're in for a year of lots of insanity. Pope Francis certainly is in a grim mood		Dec 23
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Denis, me (2), Fwd: Ralph Nader - Building a Renewable Energy Future, Dec 23, Thanks. This will be in my blog tomorrow. On Wed, Dec 23, 2015 at 6:11 PM, Denis Gray Denis, me (2)	Fwd: Ralph Nader - Building a Renewable Energy Future - Thanks. This will be in my blog tomorrow. On Wed, Dec 23, 2015 at 6:11 PM, Denis Gray		Dec 23
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	unread, Scotia InfoAlerts, Scotia InfoAlert: Your ScotiaCard was used., Dec 23, Your ScotiaCard was used for an Interac Debit for $43.46. If unrecognized, check your account details. Scotia InfoAlerts	Scotia InfoAlert: Your ScotiaCard was used. - Your ScotiaCard was used for an Interac Debit for $43.46. If unrecognized, check your account details		Dec 23
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Jaan Pill, Photo of MCHS Hosts & Hostesses, Dec 23, I've printed out the MCHS Hosts & Hostesses photo, on photo paper. It may have more. Jaan Pill	Photo of MCHS Hosts & Hostesses - I've printed out the MCHS Hosts & Hostesses photo, on photo paper. It may have more		Dec 23
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Denis Gray, Fwd: Daily news: Key Duma arson suspect confessed under duress, lawyer says, Dec 22, Denis Charles Gray denysvic@gmail.com Begin forwarded message: Date: December 22, 2015 at 08:35:29. Denis Gray	Fwd: Daily news: Key Duma arson suspect confessed under duress, lawyer says - Denis Charles Gray denysvic@gmail.com Begin forwarded message: Date: December 22, 2015 at 08:35:29		Dec 22
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Denis, me (2), Fwd: Daily News: "Israel will pay for Kuntar," Hezbollah says as arch-terrorist buried ..., Dec 22, Academia refuses to call Jihadist terrorism by name? I certainly haven't noticed that. But I have. Denis, me (2)	Fwd: Daily News: "Israel will pay for Kuntar," Hezbollah says as arch-terrorist buried ... - Academia refuses to call Jihadist terrorism by name? I certainly haven't noticed that. But I have		Dec 22
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	me, Catherine (7), Holy Mackerel!, Dec 22, I'm sure we won't get that high. But it is above freezing. On Tue, Dec 22, 2015 at 6:56 AM,. me, Catherine (7)	Holy Mackerel! - I'm sure we won't get that high. But it is above freezing. On Tue, Dec 22, 2015 at 6:56 AM,		Dec 22
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	me, Jaan (3), me, Dec 21, I have posted it – it works out beautifully: http://preservedstories.com/2015/12/21/whenever-i-have-a. me, Jaan (3)	me - I have posted it – it works out beautifully: http://preservedstories.com/2015/12/21/whenever-i-have-a		Dec 21
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Margaret Decarie, (no subject), has attachments, Dec 21, Can you print these correctly (so are e-mail messages don't show) for tomorrow? Print *as many as. Margaret Decarie	(no subject) - Can you print these correctly (so are e-mail messages don't show) for tomorrow? Print *as many as		Dec 21
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	stevepotter., me, Mail (3), Re: [MediainMontreal] Graeme Decarie cannot get through to the site, Dec 21, Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently: stevepotter2002ca@yahoo.com Technical details. stevepotter., me, Mail (3)	Re: [MediainMontreal] Graeme Decarie cannot get through to the site - Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently: stevepotter2002ca@yahoo.com Technical details		Dec 21
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	WonderCafe2, And they're off...the election thread - New reply to watched thread, Dec 21, WonderCafe2 Graeme Decarie, Kimmio replied to a thread you are watching at WonderCafe2. And they'. WonderCafe2	And they're off...the election thread - New reply to watched thread - WonderCafe2 Graeme Decarie, Kimmio replied to a thread you are watching at WonderCafe2. And they'		Dec 21
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	David Pinto, Fw: [MediainMontreal] Graeme Decarie cannot get through to the site, Dec 21, Forwarded Message From: "David Pinto david_e_pinto@yahoo.ca [MediainMontreal]". David Pinto	Fw: [MediainMontreal] Graeme Decarie cannot get through to the site -  Forwarded Message From: "David Pinto david_e_pinto@yahoo.ca [MediainMontreal]"		Dec 21
			Important mainly because it was sent directly to you. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	me, David (5), media in Montreal, Dec 20, You should have been strangled at birth. Anyway, the Brunswick News you sent is better than the one. me, David (5)	media in Montreal - You should have been strangled at birth. Anyway, the Brunswick News you sent is better than the one		Dec 20
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Denis, me (6), Fwd: Breaking news: Progress in West Bank arson probe, Dec 20, To watch, tonight, How Green was my Valley almost brought tears. graeme On Sun, Dec 20, 2015 at 11:14. Denis, me (6)	Fwd: Breaking news: Progress in West Bank arson probe - To watch, tonight, How Green was my Valley almost brought tears. graeme On Sun, Dec 20, 2015 at 11:14		Dec 20
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Denis Gray, Fwd: Daily news: Iran to dictate response to Samir Kuntar's assassination, Dec 20, Denis Charles Gray denysvic@gmail.com Begin forwarded message: Date: December 20, 2015 at 07:56:46. Denis Gray	Fwd: Daily news: Iran to dictate response to Samir Kuntar's assassination - Denis Charles Gray denysvic@gmail.com Begin forwarded message: Date: December 20, 2015 at 07:56:46		Dec 20
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Denis Gray, Fwd: Weekend: A campaign to vilify President Rivlin, Dec 20, Denis Charles Gray denysvic@gmail.com Begin forwarded message: Date: December 18, 2015 at 13:53:45. Denis Gray	Fwd: Weekend: A campaign to vilify President Rivlin - Denis Charles Gray denysvic@gmail.com Begin forwarded message: Date: December 18, 2015 at 13:53:45		Dec 20
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Classmates.com, Confirmation: Your Classmates Email message has been sent to Diane Faubert, Dec 19, Classmates Email: Your message has been sent! Classmates.com ® Hi Graeme, Your message has been sent. Classmates.com	Confirmation: Your Classmates Email message has been sent to Diane Faubert - Classmates Email: Your message has been sent! Classmates.com ® Hi Graeme, Your message has been sent		Dec 19
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	RootsAction Team, Don't let the CIA and NSA get away with it, Dec 19, Wherever you live on this planet, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency of. RootsAction Team	Don't let the CIA and NSA get away with it - Wherever you live on this planet, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency of		Dec 19
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Classmates.com, graeme, you've received a private message, Dec 19, classmates® Hi graeme, You have a new private message from another Classmates member. View inbox ». Classmates.com	graeme, you've received a private message - classmates® Hi graeme, You have a new private message from another Classmates member. View inbox »		Dec 19
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Jaan, me (3), Discussion continues - drinking; church conversions, Dec 18, The story would be great for Preserved Stories. I like the reference to supply teaching. It's. Jaan, me (3)	Discussion continues - drinking; church conversions - The story would be great for Preserved Stories. I like the reference to supply teaching. It's		Dec 18
			Important mainly because it was sent directly to you. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Christina, me (2), Your package arrived!, Dec 18, It's the longest can of pop I have ever seen. Heavy, heavy fog here, But still above freezing.. Christina, me (2)	Your package arrived! - It's the longest can of pop I have ever seen. Heavy, heavy fog here, But still above freezing.		Dec 18
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Denis, me (2), From ACNS: Churches provide humanitarian corridor giving safe passage for refugees, Dec 18, It's nice to see a piece of good news. I think I'll use it tomorrow in my blog. graeme On Fri. Denis, me (2)	From ACNS: Churches provide humanitarian corridor giving safe passage for refugees - It's nice to see a piece of good news. I think I'll use it tomorrow in my blog. graeme On Fri		Dec 18
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Holly Lewis via SumOfUs.., Tampax, Dec 18, 85% of tampons and other cotton personal care products are contaminated with a toxic herbicide, a. Holly Lewis via SumOfUs..	Tampax - 85% of tampons and other cotton personal care products are contaminated with a toxic herbicide, a		Dec 18
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Winnie, me (2), weather, Dec 18, We still have some sloppy snow down. And there's a heavy, heavy fog. But it's not cold. I. Winnie, me (2)	weather - We still have some sloppy snow down. And there's a heavy, heavy fog. But it's not cold. I		Dec 18
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Denis, me (4), Fwd: Ralph Nader - The Tradition of Charity, Dec 18, I don't look in mirrors. I find they lie. graeme On Fri, Dec 18, 2015 at 7:18 AM, Denis Gray <. Denis, me (4)	Fwd: Ralph Nader - The Tradition of Charity - I don't look in mirrors. I find they lie. graeme On Fri, Dec 18, 2015 at 7:18 AM, Denis Gray <		Dec 18
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Denis Gray, Fwd: Daily News: Proto-fascists, gas deals and one supermodel, Dec 17, Denis Charles Gray denysvic@gmail.com Begin forwarded message: Date: December 17, 2015 at 08:34:37. Denis Gray	Fwd: Daily News: Proto-fascists, gas deals and one supermodel - Denis Charles Gray denysvic@gmail.com Begin forwarded message: Date: December 17, 2015 at 08:34:37		Dec 17
			Important mainly because it was sent directly to you. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Cathy Alward, Re: Contact Us : delivery, Dec 17, Dear Mr Decarie, This is confirmation regarding our recent telephone conversation that I have added. Cathy Alward	Re: Contact Us : delivery - Dear Mr Decarie, This is confirmation regarding our recent telephone conversation that I have added		Dec 17
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	me, Catherine (2), Christmas shopping, Dec 17, I am worried about Margaret over the holidays; it could be a potential very emotional time for her. I. me, Catherine (2)	Christmas shopping - I am worried about Margaret over the holidays; it could be a potential very emotional time for her. I		Dec 17
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Denis, me (2), Fwd: Dawkins: ‘You don’t get your moral compass from religion’, Dec 17, The moral principles of the Ten Commandments are well proven by their importance in maintaining any. Denis, me (2)	Fwd: Dawkins: ‘You don’t get your moral compass from religion’ - The moral principles of the Ten Commandments are well proven by their importance in maintaining any		Dec 17
			Important mainly because it was sent directly to you. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Roy, me (5), TeeFee, Dec 17, Hi G, when I was a teenager,I went into a gun shop down on St, James St. I believe it was and they. Roy, me (5)	TeeFee - Hi G, when I was a teenager,I went into a gun shop down on St, James St. I believe it was and they		Dec 17
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Roy Oram, Church!, Dec 17, Hi Graeme, Yes, we were married in the Erskine and American Church on Sherbrooke St. It is a. Roy Oram	Church! - Hi Graeme, Yes, we were married in the Erskine and American Church on Sherbrooke St. It is a		Dec 17
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Roy, me (2), Revolvers, Dec 16, The Browning was always a beautiful gun. But I never got to fire one. The Cooey I remember most for. Roy, me (2)	Revolvers - The Browning was always a beautiful gun. But I never got to fire one. The Cooey I remember most for		Dec 16
			Click to teach Gmail this conversation is important.	Denis, me (2), Fwd: Daily news: Republican war games, Dec 16, I watched the debate last night. I was so disgusted, appalled and scared by it that it took up half. Denis, me (2)	Fwd: Daily news: Republican war games - I watched the debate last night. I was so disgusted, appalled and scared by it that it took up half		Dec 16
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Mail Delivery Subsystem, President Obama's message to Haaretz readers, Dec 16, Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently: noreply@haaretz.com Technical details of. Mail Delivery Subsystem	President Obama's message to Haaretz readers - Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently: noreply@haaretz.com Technical details of		Dec 16
			Important mainly because of the people in the conversation. Click to teach Gmail this conversation is not important.	Catherine, me (2), Christmas, Dec 16, Keep it as cheap as possible. I 'm close to dry. As to money for the boys, that will have to wait. Catherine, me (2)	Christmas - Keep it as cheap as possible. I 'm close to dry. As to money for the boys, that will have to wait		Dec 16

Social

1–50 of 125

 

Your Social tab is empty.

Emails from social networks, media-sharing sites, dating services and other social sites will be shown here.
To add or remove tabs click inbox settings.

Promotions

1–20 of 20

 

Your Promotions tab is empty.

Deals, offers and other marketing emails will be shown here.
To add or remove tabs click inbox settings.

Homepage        My Profile        Essay Archive       Message Boards       Calendar Charting the New Reformation, Part III: The Twelve Theses “Time makes ancient good uncouth.” The poet, James Russell Lowell, who wrote these words, understood the difference between an experience and the way that experience is explained. So important is this distinction for our later theological work that I want to press it onto the memories of my readers with two rather commonplace illustrations. First, look at the motion of the sun. It rises in an absolutely same manner each day in the East and sets each day in the West. Look next at the variety of ways that this experience has been explained in human history. The Egyptians explained it by suggesting that their God, Ra, rode his chariot across the sky each day surveying the earth. Other ancient people explained it as the sun circling the earth, making the earth appear to be the center of the universe. Galileo explained it as the planet earth turning on its axis as it made its 365 ¼ day elliptical orbit around the sun. The experience being described was identical, but the explanations reflected the time in which the explainer lived and the level of knowledge that the explainer possessed. Now look at the experience of epilepsy, a phenomenon that affects only a small minority of people, but is common enough to be universally recognized. A 1st century epileptic seizure is identical with one that occurs in the 21st century. The way epilepsy was explained in the 1st century, however, differs so widely from the way it is explained in the 21st century that one would hardly recognize that they were describing the same thing. It is hard to relate “demon possession” to the “electrical chemistry of a brain cell.” These illustrations point to the distinction between an experience, which can be real and even eternal and the explanation of that experience, which is always time-bound and time-warped. Jesus was a 1st century experience in which people perceived that what they called the divine and what they understood as the human had somehow come together. The New Testament is a 1st century attempt to explain that experience. The creeds of the Christian church are a 4th century attempt to codify that experience. No explanation can ever become identical with the truth it seeks to explain. Lowell said it so clearly: “Time makes ancient good uncouth.” Historically, Christianity then proceeded to make excessive claims for the authority of its explanations, freezing them into their 1st and 4th century frames of reference. Literalized words are always doomed words since the perception of truth is always expanding and changing. The explosion of knowledge over the last five hundred years in the West has rendered most of the biblical and creedal presuppositions to be unbelievable. They rise out of a world that no longer exists. Yet churches continue to operate as if eternal truth can be placed into these earthen vessels, proclaiming that in both the Bible and the creeds ultimate truth has been captured forever. The result is that Christianity seems less and less believable to more and more people. Can we separate the Christ experience from the dying explanations of the past? If we cannot then surely Christianity will continue its relentless journey into a declining irrelevance. If we can achieve this separation, however, the result will necessitate a reformulation of Christianity that is so radical that Christianity as we know it may well die in the process. Death or radical revision, however, appear to be the only realistic alternatives. I cast my vote for the latter. I would rather die in controversy than die in boredom. So I issue today a call for a new reformation. To frame the debate I post through this column “Twelve Theses.” I state them as sharply and as provocatively as I can. People need to feel the dead weight of their traditional claims before they can develop the ability to open themselves and their ancient words to new possibilities. I now invite the Christian world into this debate. The Twelve Theses 1. God Understanding God in theistic categories as “a being, supernatural in power, dwelling somewhere external to the world and capable of invading the world with miraculous power” is no longer believable. Most God talk in liturgy and conversation has thus become meaningless. 2. Jesus – the Christ. If God can no longer be thought of in theistic terms, then conceiving of Jesus as “the incarnation of the theistic deity” has also become a bankrupt concept. 3. Original Sin – The Myth of the Fall The biblical story of the perfect and finished creation from which we human beings have fallen into “Original Sin” is pre-Darwinian mythology and post-Darwinian nonsense. 4. The Virgin Birth The virgin birth understood as literal biology is impossible. Far from being a bulwark in defense of the divinity of Christ, the virgin birth actually destroys that divinity. 5. Jesus as the Worker of Miracles In a post-Newtonian world supernatural invasions of the natural order, performed by God or an “incarnate Jesus,” are simply not viable explanations of what actually happened. 6. Atonement Theology Atonement theology, especially in its most bizarre “substitutionary” form, presents us with a God who is barbaric, a Jesus who is a victim and it turns human beings into little more than guilt-filled creatures. The phrase “Jesus died for my sins” is not just dangerous, it is absurd. 7. The Resurrection The Easter event transformed the Christian movement, but that does not mean that it was the physical resuscitation of Jesus’ deceased body back into human history. The earliest biblical records state that “God raised him.” Into what, we need to ask. The experience of resurrection must be separated from its later mythological explanations. 8. The Ascension of Jesus The biblical story of Jesus’ ascension assumes a three-tiered universe, which was dismissed some five hundred years ago. If Jesus’ ascension was a literal event of history, it is beyond the capacity of our 21st century minds to accept it or to believe it. 9. Ethics The ability to define and to separate good from evil can no longer be achieved with appeals to ancient codes like the Ten Commandments or even the Sermon on the Mount. Contemporary moral standards must be hammered out in the juxtaposition between life-affirming moral principles and external situations. 10. Prayer Prayer, understood as a request made to a theistic deity to act in human history, is little more than an hysterical attempt to turn the holy into the servant of the human. Most of our prayer definitions of the past are thus dependent on an understanding of God that has died. 11. Life after Death The hope for life after death must be separated forever from behavior control. Traditional views of heaven and hell as places of reward and punishment are no longer conceivable. Christianity must, therefore, abandon its dependence on guilt as a motivator of behavior. 12. Judgment and Discrimination Judgment is not a human responsibility. Discrimination against any human being on the basis of that which is a “given” is always evil and does not serve the Christian goal of giving “abundant life” to all. Any structure either in the secular world or in the institutional church, which diminishes the humanity of any child of God on the basis of race, gender or sexual orientation must be exposed publicly and vigorously. There can be no reason in the church of tomorrow for excusing or even forgiving discriminatory practices. “Sacred Tradition” must never again provide a cover to justify discriminatory evil. Can a new Christianity for a new world be forged on the basis of these Twelve Theses? Can a living, vital and real faith that is true to the experience of the past, while dismissing the explanations of the past, be born anew in this generation? I believe it can and so to engage this task I issue this call to the Christian world to transform its holy words of yesterday into believable words of today. If we fail in this task there is little reason to think that Christianity, as presently understood and constituted, will survive this century. Having laid these Twelve Theses out in the briefest of ways, I will start next week to address each one until we begin to catch a glimpse of what the Christianity of tomorrow might be. I will not stop until the case is clear, at least to me. I invite you, my audience, including academics, scholars, pastors, faithful and disillusioned people alike in the pews and even those who have long ago given up any religious commitments to take up citizenship in “The Secular City,” to join in this journey and to engage this debate. ~John Shelby Spong Now, I shall collect myself, dry my tears, and try to write a better blog tomorrow.