The concept of God in John Shelby Spong

John Shelby Spong is a theologian known for his radically subversive views that challenge the theological foundations of the Christian tradition. This thesis aims to examine Spong's concept of God from the perspective of the philosophy of religion with a critical approach. The starting point of the research is Spong's radical critique of classical theism: he argues that the traditional theistic view, which defines God as a supernatural being separate from the world, is no longer sustainable in the modern age. In this context, the thesis begins by exploring the background and rationale behind Spong's claim that "theism, as a way of defining God, is dead." The methodology employed consists of philosophical and conceptual analysis, supported by a review of Spong's major works and the relevant literature in order to uncover the intellectual foundations of his views. The scope of the study is focused specifically on Spong's understanding of God; other aspects of his theology, such as biblical criticism or ethical thought, are discussed only insofar as they illuminate the central theme. Throughout the thesis, the fundamental characteristics and underlying assumptions of Spong's concept of God are presented in a systematic manner and then evaluated from the standpoint of the philosophy of religion. The findings reveal that Spong departs from the classical image of God as a transcendent and personal Subject and instead portrays God as an "impersonal" power that is experienced within the universe and in the depths of human consciousness. While Spong states that God can be found within the human being as the source of life and love, he defines God as "the sum of all that is, plus something more," thereby expressing a panentheistic orientation that goes beyond pantheism. The central argument of the thesis is that although Spong's attempt to reinterpret religious belief in the context of secularization and modernity constitutes a noteworthy theological reconstruction, his redefinition of the concept of God brings with it certain philosophical difficulties. Indeed, the results indicate that the philosophical and theological implications of Spong's concept of God are contentious. Reducing God entirely to an immanent principle has been labeled by some theologians as a form of "theological atheism," and some critics argue that this approach is, in practice, tantamount to denying God altogether. Taking these criticisms seriously, this thesis examines the coherence of Spong's conceptualization and questions its adequacy in terms of religious experience. Furthermore, the study reveals Spong's threefold reformulation of the concept of God as "Life," "Love," and "the Ground of Being." With the formula "God = Life → Live fully, God = Love → Love wastefully, God = Ground of Being → Be fully oneself," Spong redirects religious meaning from doctrinal absolutes to ethical and existential engagement rooted in human experience.