Susan, Bishop Spong didn't set out to engender fan clubs; in fact, I think he finds them a bit embarrassing. He was attempting to answer as best he could the need of a lot of people -- a lot of people -- who were dissatisfied with the same old pap they were hearing from the pulpit every Sunday, or who had ceased going to church because, as someone once said, "This just isn't enough food for my soul." (Sorry, there we go with food again). After all the murkiness that has been stirred up by the forty-umpteen different and contradictory interpretations of the Scriptures (including the interpretations of those who say one must not interpret but take the Bible literally), no wonder many people try to learn about the Bible in an effort to better determine what it really means (in fact, many churches recommend that one do this). If you know some of the history of the period and something about the people who wrote the Scriptures, things often become a lot clearer than if you just try to read them cold.

Don Firth