Unbelievable

More about the book

Five hundred years after the Reformation, John Shelby Spong presents twelve innovative theses aimed at revitalizing Christianity for the future. Historically, Christianity faced a crisis at the start of the sixteenth century, leading to the Reformation in 1517, which persisted for over 200 years. Despite significant advancements in human knowledge during this period, adherence to doctrine remained largely unchanged, placing the faith at another critical juncture. Spong argues that many Christians now seek a radically new form of Christianity that is more aligned with human experience than with outdated dogma. He emphasizes the need for modern believers to update their faith in light of contemporary knowledge and to challenge rigid Church teachings that originated during the Reformation. Spong highlights a disconnect between traditional worship language and the realities of the twenty-first century, advocating for a rethinking of our understanding of God. He sees parallels between Luther's revolutionary movement and today's discontented Christians, who grapple with questions about the relevance of God, the integrity of historic creeds, and the absurdity of claims like an infallible Pope or an inerrant Bible. In this final book, Spong outlines his twelve theses to encourage believers to reflect on and reshape their faith, continuing his lifelong commitment to enlightening and challenging Christians in meaningful ways.