Create a new account

It's simple, and free.

Living in Sin: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality

John Shelby Spong's book Living in Sin: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality deals with homosexuality from a unique perspective which has not as yet been discussed in this treatise on homosexuality. Spong's book is at the heart of the debate within the Episcopal Church about the issue of homosexuality. Paula Chin of People Weekly writes that Spong has long been a renegade by favoring abortion, the ordination of women, and the blessing of homosexual relationships. In 1989, Spong set off a furor when he was the first to ordain an openly gay priest in the Episcopal Church.

In his book Living in Sin: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality, Spong suggests that the Bible cannot be taken literally when it demeans women and deems homosexuality to be an abomination against nature and against God. Instead, Spong says that the Holy Scripture should be read as a metaphor embodying deeper spiritual truths. He believes the Christian Church must look closely at what it is teaching its people about the Bible and at the enormous gap that exists between what biblical scholars know and what the leaders of organized religions say to their congregations about any number of issues facing individuals and society including the question of the morality of homosexuality. Spong is very clear in this book that he views intolerance of diversity as sinful, and that he wants and expects all people who consider themselves to be Christians to learn the virtues of tolerance. He makes the point that Christian love and Christian charity cannot be something that is given freely to some groups and withheld from others because of prejudice. Spong believes that as Christians, the love we have for our fellow man must by extension include acceptance rather than simply tolerance for alternative lifestyles and lifestyle choices of many kinds including homosexuality involving both gay men and lesbians.

Spong believes that homosexuality is a naturally occurring phenomenon. He...

Page 1 of 21 Next >

More on Living in Sin: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality...

Loading...
APA     MLA     Chicago
Living in Sin: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 11:01, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1699178.html