Why Christianity Must Change or Die by Spong - Essay Example

? Analysis at Work Introduction The ability to meet the needs of a specific audience and to provide insight into various concepts is based on the perspectives which an author takes. In the book, “why Christianity Must change or Die: A Bishop Speaks to Believers in Exile,” by John Spong, there are several tactics used to reach to the audience and to get a specific response with action. The intended audience for those that are reading this book are Christian’s that belong to a church and which are interested in the future of the church. The purpose for writing the book combines with this specifically by showing that the church is now at a transitional point in history which it must begin to use to change the approach to religion. The purpose is to show that the religion can transition, specifically to keep the initial spirit of Christianity alive. To do this, Spong uses repetition, anecdotes and prediction as rhetorical strategies, all which allow him to convince the audience of the need for a new reform in the church. Spong’s Audience When beginning to read this book, one can instantly define the audience as strong Christians in the church. The individuals are devoted to the religion of Christianity and what the church offers, specifically because of tradition, honest belief in God and the understanding of creating a specific relationship to God through a church. This is depicted from the various chapters about defining God in Spong’s book, as well as the first approach which is used in the book, which is to create a basis that everyone reading the book has an understanding of God and the divine presence. More important, this is one that goes outside of Christianity into the general idea of what God is, specifically to establish a connection between different types of Christians that are devoted to the sense of spirituality. “The God I know is not concrete or specific. This God is rather shrouded in mystery, wonder and awe. The deeper I journey into this divine presence, the less any literalized phrases, including the phrases of the Christian creed, seem relevant” (Spong, 4). This particular quote shows how the idea of God is one that is based both in Christianity and outside of the name and form which is often attributed to God. This is done specifically to speak to Christians who are devoted to the faith but which come from different walks of life. Another characteristic that is essential about Spong’s audience is with the belief that each is noting the need to change the church and the expression of believing in God. It is this main concept that Spong basis his book and various ideals. The main idea is to find devoted Christians that have lost faith in the present churches and the actions which have been taken, as well as the hypocrisy which is often associated with the church. The concept of the believers in exile is the first way which this is seen, with specific references to churches that aren’t acting on the belief in God. The second is with the continuous association with the main words of the Bible as well as the need to build a church of the future. There are phrases based on destroying the old church and building one that is new and creating a new religious understanding (pg. 227). These show that those reading the book are most likely looking for new answers about the functions of the church and what is needed for this time period. Rhetorical Strategies The audience that is defined is then able to easily be seen the different concepts which apply to the building of a new church, specifically because most aren’t looking for the same attributes as the current status of religion. The first way in which this is seen is through the use of repetition. The repetition includes specific words repeated over different phrases as well as repeating the same ideas throughout the book. For instance, there is constant repetition of “being in exile” and coming out of the exile with a “new church.” The repetition of these words then begin to influence the reader with the same belief that Spong has with the exile that has come from the church as well as what it means to create reform. By using the continuous words, there is the ability to grasp the main theme that is in the book. The second way in which Spong approaches the rhetoric to convince the audience of the exile of the church is through anecdotes. The anecdotes used are based on how the church currently exhibits ideas of Christianity to idealistic examples of what this would look like if it were changed. The anecdotes are inclusive of stories that can be applied to various situations. For instance, Spong takes time to describe a Protestant preacher speaking to a Buddhist mystic and trying to justify that the Buddhist doesn’t believe in God, despite the tributes which the monk has received, followed by an understanding that there are currently limits in the idea of worship (185). This works as a story example and an anecdote, specifically by showing that the limitations that are a part of the church are initiated by the preachers and those who have certain beliefs that are restricted. Another use of anecdotes comes from the references to the Bible that Spong shows. He uses this in combination with metaphors, general descriptions and with the ability to make a connection to both the past and present of Christianity. At one point, Spong brings in his own stories to show that the questions he asks are common among others. “It was for me a most unusual moment. While I was busily going about my duties in one of the churches of our diocese, a lay woman walked up to me and asked, ‘Bishop, is it possible to be a Christian without being a theist? Her question stopped me cold. Church people do not normally ask this kind of question” (pg. 56). This anecdote draws the immediate attention of the reader because it is a personal story. This is followed by Spong trying to justify the question, find the right answers and lead to conclusions about what belief meant. This serves as an example of what many of the readers may question and how it leads to inaccurate conclusions as well as the need to expand one’s thinking about what God and the church should be. These small examples and stories are then able to provide insight into the main theme and tie into the questions which the readers are interested in while showing the conclusion through the story. The third rhetorical device that is used by Spong is predictions. The predictions of what the church is and what it could be are the two contrasting areas that Spong works into. The predictions that Spong points out are based on the future of the church, all which he points toward the choice being initiated by others understanding of the church and the ability to renew the main beliefs or move against these. “But that religious understanding is doomed to die, no matter how frantically or hysterically people seek to defend it. It will not survive….In less than a hundred years I am certain that the shape of religion in general and Christianity in particular will be clear. The new role and purpose of the Church and the continuing meaning of liturgy will be apparent” (pg 227). This prediction is one that shows how the present way in which the church is run is one which will not continue. At the same time, it predicts what can happen to the church if those reading the book begin to take action and rebuild the church into a new and contemporary form that fits with alternative beliefs. Spong combines this new purpose and ideals with specifics about what can or shouldn’t be included in the church and how this can lead to reformation of religion. These predictions are able to motivate those reading the book to think about the new possibilities for church reformation, specific to the thesis of Spong. Conclusion In Spong’s work, there is an understanding of the ideas of Christianity and how they don’t match with the theological purpose behind God. Spong uses repetition, anecdotes and prediction to show how the Christian religion is one which is not attributed to the historically relevant ideals as well as the concept which came from the Christ being. The approach which Spong works is then able to effectively reach the audience, specifically by showing that the church has to be rebuilt and those that aren’t interested in the religion are in exile, specifically because of the different and expanded definitions and beliefs which one has. Spong is able to demonstrate and show these differences, which then convinces the audience of a need to change the concept of church. Works Cited Spong, John. Why Christianity Must Change or Die. Christianity for the Third Millennium: New Jersey, 1998. Read More