Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World

"Brings biblical scholarship to those who sit in church pews, but without getting bogged down in debates about biblical minutiae .... This book is well paced, the arguments are easy to follow, and Spong accomplishes exactly what he set out to do. A compelling and thought-provoking read." -- Library Journal "Spong tours Christianity's sacred text, leaving little unexamined and [much] demythologized as he urges Christians to grow up and take the Bible seriously-just not literally. Spong . . . has the gift and motivation for making biblical scholarship accessible; he writes with charity and clarity." -- Publishers Weekly "Spong here achieves what may be his most reader friendly, helpful book . . . a wonderful, illuminating adjunct to anyone's Bible study." -- Booklist "A masterful reading of these texts that have shaped the Western world. This book is filled with insights from a lifetime of deep engagement with Scripture. Highly recommended!" -- Gregory C. Jenks, author of The Once and Future Bible "Bishop Spong has built a much-needed bridge between the academy and the pews. Pulsing beneath his brilliant, thought-provoking, passionate book is this question: Can Christianity survive the education of its believers?-a question he answers with a resounding yes." -- Sarah Sentilles, Author of Breaking Up with God: A Love Story "In Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World, Spong offers a way for critical and curious readers to discover the exquisite and profound ways the Bible can, in fact, lead towards abundant life. After a decade of feeling banished by the Bible, I am now drawn back." -- Katie Ford, Author of Deposition and Colosseum "If your addiction is the shallow, narrow, literal interpretation of the Bible doled out by most churches, then you need an intervention. Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religous World is like a treatment center in a box." -- Rev. David Felten & Rev. Jeff Procter-Murphy, creators of the Living the Questions series "A master teacher and story teller, Spong brings the best of current scholarship to free the books of the Bible from Sunday School naivete and literalistic interpretations. The result is an introduction to the Bible that will engage readers who no longer sit in church pews." -- Andrew D. Scrimgeour, Drew University, editor of Just Call Me Bob: The Wit and Wisdom of Robert W. Funk "Bishop Spong's newest book is not only for the `non-religious' but it will find its way into churches, study groups, seminaries and the seekers. This book should renew a sincere interest in the biblical story that for too long has been lost in our corporate ignorance." -- Fred C. Plumer, President, ProgressiveChristianity.org

John Shelby Spong, the Episcopal Bishop of Newark before his retirement in 2000, has been a visiting lecturer at Harvard and at more than 500 other universities all over the world. His books, which have sold well over a million copies, include Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy; The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic; Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World; Eternal Life: A New Vision; Jesus for the Non-Religious, The Sins of Scripture, Resurrection: Myth or Reality?; Why Christianity Must Change or Die; and his autobiography, Here I Stand. He writes a weekly column on the web that reaches thousands of people all over the world. To join his online audience, go to www.JohnShelbySpong.com. He lives with his wife, Christine, in New Jersey.