Now in paperback, the provocative national bestseller that issues a daring call for contemporary understanding of scripture. Outspoken and controversial, Bishop Spong brilliantly reclaims the Bible from the narrow-minded literalism that has been used to justify slavery, ban textbooks, deny the rights of gays and lesbians, subordinate women, and justify war and revenge.

By popular demand—study guides to two of Bishop John Shelby Spong's bestselling and controversial works, including questions, reflections, and summaries for group and individual use.

John Shelby Spong was the Episcopal Bishop of Newark for twenty-four years prior to his retirement in 2000. Since then he has taught at Harvard University, the University of the Pacific and Drew University and he has been a visiting lecturer at universities and churches throughout North America and the English-speaking world. His books have sold over a million copies and he is regarded as one of Christianity's frontier twenty-first-century thinkers. His bestselling titles include "Eternal Life: A New Vision, Jesus for the Non-Religious, The Sins of Scripture, A New Christianity for a New Worl