Rational defense of Christianity?

[watchamadoodle]

It just puzzles me. There are many areas of knowledge, so I understand a Christian who doesn't know the reasons to disbelieve Christianity. I don't understand Christians that know these reasons and even agree with them - like John Shelby Spong (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Shelby_Spong). I suppose I need to buy one of his books and read it.

I guess, you mean this character, since you're wiki link actually leads nowhere.

John Shelby "Jack" Spong (born June 16, 1931) is a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church. From 1979 to 2000 he was Bishop of Newark (based in Newark, New Jersey). He is a liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator and author. He calls for a fundamental rethinking of Christian belief away from theism and traditional doctrines.

You won't find people like him on any christian board, since he would be banned within a short period of time. The one thing I learned to understand about internet boards is that you usually don't find the moderates there in great numbers. Especially when it comes to politics or religion.

Thanks, I fixed the link now so it should work. You are probably right that he would be banned.

I read a post yesterday by a Christian who characterized Genesis as a collection of myths rewritten with a monotheist spin. Accepting these kinds of ideas is a slippery slope for Christians IMO - where do you draw the line? Spong has a book showing how many of the gospel stories are rewrites of earlier Jewish Midrash (I haven't read the book - just the overview).

I've read some quotes from Episcopalian priests in "Caught in the Pulpit" by Dennett that were very confusing. They sounded just like strong atheists, but they insisted that they were still Christians.