Can One Bishop Save the World From Fundamentalism?

Bishop Spong has caused quit a stir by openly criticizing the faults of Christianity from the pulpit and calling for the end of all forms of discrimination against gays and women. Spong has spoken out in favor of voluntary assisted suicide, both active and passive, for terminally ill patients. He has denounced original sin, and declared, "The idea that somehow the very nature of the heavenly God required the death of Jesus as a ransom to be paid for our sins is ludicrous." All of these ideas are consistent with Secular Humanism and Spong has even challenged the traditional notion of a theistic god, stressing the need to view God as something other than a person-like, supernatural entity.

On the tape, he argued that contrary to the claim of fundamentalists, humans are not fallen sinners but incomplete human beings. He says that you cannot be a complete human being unless you are free from all prejudice. As a basis for comparison, here are some excerpts from the Humanist Affirmations:

· "We are concerned with securing justice and fairness in society and with eliminating discrimination and intolerance...
· "We attempt to transcend divisive parochial loyalties based on race, religion, gender, nationality, creed, class, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, and strive to work together for the common good of humanity..."

Continued in Part II, posted the same day

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