Provocative Thinker Bishop Shelby Spong to Speak in Chicago April 24

Online, April 21, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Bishop John Shelby Spong offers relief to those who have suffered psychological and spiritual wounding at the hands of spiritual leaders or religious institutions as well as an opportunity to recover from the damage. The Theosophical Society will host Healing Our Religious Wounds to be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glen Ellyn, Illinois on April 24, 2010 from 9am - 3pm. The speaker, John Shelby Spong, who served as bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey for twenty-four years until his retirement in 2001, is considered the champion of an inclusive faith by many, both inside and outside the Christian church. His best-selling books include Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism and A New Christianity for a New World. His most recent book is Eternal Life: A New Vision
Many people today have become alienated from their own spirituality. Some have suffered a loss of faith. Others have been terrorized by images of a vindictive God or have even been abused physically. Many women feel that religion has inculcated a sense of inferiority and even sinfulness in them simply because of their gender. Still others have been ostracized because of their sexual orientation. A large number of these people are feeling a need to confront their wounds from their religious backgrounds.
Bishop Spong has been a strong proponent of feminism, gay rights, and racial equality within the church and society at large. Join Bishop John Shelby Spong, champion of faith and fearless advocate of church reform, for this all-day event. Bishop Spong will speak on the topics "Religious Wounds: The Power of Guilt" and "Religious Healing: The Power of Wholeness."
The organizers of Healing Our Religious Wounds intend neither to restore religious faith nor to destroy it. They seek to heal some of the psychological damage, whether mild or severe, that may have come from religious backgrounds and to help people move toward greater wholeness and integration. For those who do not feel that they have been damaged by religion, the conference will offer ways of avoiding spiritual pitfalls and deepening their understanding of the truths that underlie all faiths.

As an affiliate organization of the Theosophical Society in America, Quest Books is happy to receive any inquiry into this event or any related requests for information including interviews and media releases.