title: The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love
author:  John Shelby Spong 
description: In the <i>Sins of Scripture</i>, Bishop John Shelby Spong takes on a thematic exploration of the Bible, carefully analyzing those passages that inform some of our key debates, like the role of women in the church and in society, and homosexuality, to name just two. Beyond that he also looks at scriptures that have helped shape culture and history -- bringing to light the undercurrent of anti-Semitism he finds in the Gospels, for example. The journey is particularly compelling because Bishop Spong believes in and values the good the Bible has brought to many through the ages. His goal is not to define the Bible itself as something to be set aside, but instead to honor and value what he loves about it while still labeling what he dramatically calls "texts of terror" for what they are. <P>The true joy of the book is found in Spong's vigorous intellect, which he shines bright in an attempt to catch a reflection of the age, culture and circumstances in which the texts he examines were written. Like an archaeologist working with ideas instead of tools, he removes the rocks, brushes away the sediment and reports on what he finds. What were the roots and cultural realities behind the Scriptures that define the role of women in the church? What were the hopes and fears driving the writers who condemned homosexuality in such stark terms? What is the justification behind scriptures recommending "the rod of correction" (or as Bishop Spong simply labels it: "[t]he physical abuse of children&#8230;".) <P>Whether or not you agree with some of his musings along the way, many of his conclusions are hard to argue with. Putting aside the issue of divine origin of the Bible, no one can deny passages have been used in service of very human ends. Finally, the Sins of Scriptures can be seen as a careful observer of what those ends have been. And when taken on those terms, it makes an interesting read, regardless of one's religious background.--<i>Ed Dobeas</i>
zlib_text: NOTE TO T H E READER 
  S
  INCE the publication of my first book, 
  The End of Faith, thousands of people 
  have written to tell me that I am wrong 
  not to believe in God. The most hostile of 
  these communications have come from Chris-
  tians. This is ironic, as Christians generally 
  imagine that no faith imparts the virtues of 
  love and forgiveness more effectively than 
  their own. The truth is that many who claim to 
  be transformed by Christ's love are deeply, even 
  murderously, intolerant of criticism. While we 
  may want to ascribe this to human nature, it is 
  clear that such hatred draws considerable sup-
  port from the Bible. How do I know this? The 
  most disturbed of my correspondents always 
  cite chapter and verse. 
  While this book is intended for people of 
  vii 
  
  all faiths, it has been written in the form of a 
  letter to a Christian. In it, I respond to many of 
  the arguments that Christians put forward in 
  defense of their religious beliefs. The primary 
  purpose of the book is to ar