RELIGIOUS FIGURE

John Shelby Spong

1931 - 2021

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John Shelby "Jack" Spong (June 16, 1931 – September 12, 2021) was an American bishop of the Episcopal Church. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, he served as the Bishop of Newark, New Jersey, from 1979 to 2000. Spong was a liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator, and author who called for a fundamental rethinking of Christian belief away from theism and traditional doctrines. He was known for his progressive and controversial views on Christianity, including his rejection of traditional Christian doctrines, his advocacy for LGBTQ rights, and his support for interfaith dialogue. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in 18 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 16 in 2024). John Shelby Spong is the 3,044th most popular religious figure (down from 3,017th in 2024), the 11,768th most popular biography from United States (up from 12,174th in 2019) and the 109th most popular American Religious Figure.

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Among RELIGIOUS FIGURES

Among religious figures, John Shelby Spong ranks 3,044 out of 3,187. Before him are Gianni Ambrosio, John Kilian, Ravi Zacharias, Peter Hollingworth, Abdul Rahman, and Ricardo Vidal. After him are Gintaras Grušas, Dávid Bartimej Tencer, Richard Cushing, Katharine Jefferts Schori, Antonio Napolioni, and Hilarion Kapral.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1931, John Shelby Spong ranks 576. Before him are Paulias Matane, Clement Arrindell, Isidore Mankofsky, Teresa Brewer, Barbara Barrie, and Ricardo Vidal. After him are Bruce C. Murray, Rip Taylor, Nirupa Roy, Bob Kenney, Alfred Kuchevsky, and John Kerr. Among people deceased in 2021, John Shelby Spong ranks 622. Before him are G. Gordon Liddy, Lars Høgh, Isidore Mankofsky, Lisa Banes, David Darling, and Albán Vermes. After him are Satya Vrat Shastri, Mike Gravel, Chelato Uclés, Beverly Cleary, Mick Rock, and Tuomo Ylipulli.

Others Born in 1931

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In United States

Among people born in United States, John Shelby Spong ranks 11,770 out of 20,380. Before him are Marceline Day (1908), Jules Feiffer (1929), Dave Coulier (1959), Jimmy Bryan (1926), Michael Pitt (1981), and Perry Farrell (1959). After him are Ward Kimball (1914), Paul Pierce (1977), Gregory Maguire (1954), Mike Dunleavy Jr. (1980), John Kiffmeyer (1969), and Lil Pump (2000).

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Among RELIGIOUS FIGURES In United States

Among religious figures born in United States, John Shelby Spong ranks 109. Before him are William Cameron Townsend (1896), James Aloysius Hickey (1920), Lillian Disney (1899), David Miscavige (1960), Ezra Taft Benson (1899), and Peter the Aleut (1800). After him are Gintaras Grušas (1961), Richard Cushing (1895), Katharine Jefferts Schori (1954), Terence Cooke (1921), John Hagee (1940), and Scott Hahn (1957).

American born Religious Figures

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