Buy New

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
or
Amazon Prime Free Trial required. Sign up when you check out. Learn More
Buy Used
Used - Good See details
$3.88 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Living in Sin?: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Living in Sin?: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality [Paperback]

John Shelby Spong (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)

List Price: $16.99
Price: $11.43 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $5.56 (33%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Only 12 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).
Want it delivered Monday, January 30? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Hardcover --  
Paperback $11.43  

Book Description

February 2, 1990

Is celibacy the only moral alternative to marriage? Should the widowed be allowed to form intimate relationships without remarrying? Should the church receive homosexuals into its community and support committed gay and lesbian relationships? Should congregations publicly and liturgically witness and affirm divorces? Should the church's moral standards continue to be set by patriarchal males? Should women be consecrated bishops? Bishop Spong proposes a pastoral response based on scripture and history to the changing realities of the modern world. He calls for a moral vision to empower the church with inclusive teaching about equal, loving, nonexploitative relationships.


Frequently Bought Together

Living in Sin?: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality + Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism: A Bishop Rethinks the Meaning of Scripture + Why Christianity Must Change or Die: A Bishop Speaks to Believers In Exile
Price For All Three: $32.86

Show availability and shipping details

Buy the selected items together
  • In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism: A Bishop Rethinks the Meaning of Scripture $10.19

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Why Christianity Must Change or Die: A Bishop Speaks to Believers In Exile $11.24

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details



Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

$15.95. rel Noted for his liberal stands on sexuality, Newark's Episcopal Bishop argues with "passion and provocation" that traditional Christian views on sex represent patriarchal prejudice rather than God's will and invites readers to "enter the uncertainty of not knowing" and to free the Bible from "literalistic imprisonment" as they entertain possibilities like services blessing divorce, "betrothal" ceremonies (celebrating exclusive but temporary unions), and rituals sanctifying gay and lesbian partnerships. Spong sees all this as supplementing traditional marriage (which he also celebrates), not supplanting it. Bound to be controversial. EC
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Probably the most radical pronouncement on sex ever issued by a bishop.” (Time magazine )

“John Shelby Spong…is a brave churchman. He has the guts to tell it like it is.” (National Catholic Reporter )

Product Details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: HarperOne (February 2, 1990)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0060675071
  • ISBN-13: 978-0060675073
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #643,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John Shelby Spong was the Episcopal Bishop of Newark, New Jersey for twenty-four years before his retirement in 2000. He is one of the leading spokespersons for liberal Christianity and has been featured on 60 Minutes, Good Morning America, FOX News Live, and Extra. This book is based on the William Belden Noble lectures Spong delivered at Harvard.

 

Customer Reviews

31 Reviews
5 star:
 (17)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (7)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (31 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Bringing religion into the 21st century., January 21, 2006
By 
Natasha S. (Wiesbaden, Germany) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Living in Sin?: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality (Paperback)
I grew up going to church and believing in God, but somewhere along the way, the anti-female and anti-sex attitude, along with the intolerance of anyone who is or thinks differently from the established doctrine, put me off. I quit going as soon as I was old enough to make the decision, and on my best days, might consider myself an agnostic primarily because you can't prove a negative.

However, if there were more religions or even pastors with attitude like Spong's, I might still be going to church. He takes the Bible and the church's attitudes towards sex and sexuality of all kinds (heterosexual, homosexual, pre-marital, post-marital) and puts it into a framework that someone with a working brain can tolerate. He points out the context in which the Bible was written and the attitudes towards sex and women were formed - and says why they are not applicable and ought to be re-thought today.

Particularly interesting to me were the ideas of reviving the idea of betrothal, and of a church ceremony for divorce. The latter chapter almost made me cry - having witnessed painful divorces of family members and been through very painful breakups myself, the idea of having a ceremony to mark the end of the relationship surrounded by friends, friends who are then given a chance to remain friends with both halves of the couple, was very moving and appealing.

However, if you are a traditionalist, for this book to make an impact, you have to be open looking at things from a different viewpoint for a little while. You have to be ready to let go of a little security and prejudice and get to the compassion that is supposed to be the heart of Christianity. This isn't a human sexuality textbook - it is about humanizing religion and bringing the old attitudes into line with modern knowledge and reality. It takes courage to look at beliefs you hold dear and evaluate them objectively, and not a lot of people have the strength to do it. Spong does - do you?

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Hope and Understanding, June 24, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Living in Sin?: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality (Paperback)
I purchased this book as a 40 year old woman facing divorce. The book helped me wrestle with the most fundamental beliefs held for many Christians. The text allowed me to re-think my life adventure and begin with the freedom that the creator intended. Spong, in this book, delivers a magnificent apology of hope and unending possibilities in life and love.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


29 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars a sin to love?, August 25, 2004
This review is from: Living in Sin?: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality (Paperback)
A God that we can love today is a God that asks us to embrace and celebrate - not just tolerate - difference.

John Shelby Spong makes it clear that Christianity's ideas of morality must be brought up to date. In many ways the teachings of Jesus, and the portrayal of him in the gospels, have never (or rarely) been taken by modern orthodox believers to their logical, radical conclusion.

The early Christians took Jesus to heart and followed his precepts according to their own pre-scientific understanding of human nature. They celebrated 'difference' as long as it did not threaten their male-dominated, female-subordinated view of the world. We now know this is wrong. Today everyone is free to be who they really are, and all sexual behaviour is recognised as equally valid provided it is between consenting adults, no-one is exploited, and no harm is done.

The modern Christian, if he is truly following Jesus, as the early Christians did, is honour-bound to live in the radical life-affirming way exemplified by the founder of his faith. There is no excuse anymore. Either everyone is loved, and we do mean everyone - not just believers - or God is not truly loving. Everyone is a beloved child of God - no favourites - or God is not a good parent.

The Christian of today has to be leading the cause of sexual liberation for all. He has to be fighting for the sexually, socially, religiously, and economically marginalised. John Shelby Spong has taken to heart what Jesus meant when he said: "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." - Matthew 25:40.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews











Only search this product's reviews



Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
Some people will regard this as a book about sex. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
appropriate vulnerability, priestly writers, lesbian people
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Hebrew Scriptures, Holy Scripture, San Francisco, The Episcopal Church, Ten Commandments, New Testament, United States, Roman Catholic, Mother Nature, World War, Christian Scriptures, Gentile Christians, King David, Middle Eastern, Red Sea, Holy Spirit, King James Bible, Lutheran Church, Mother Earth, Sigmund Freud, Study of Issues Concerning Homosexuality, The Christian Century
New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:



Books on Related Topics (learn more)


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums





Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject