One day the biological clock will stop. What to believe in when you know for sure that the end is inevitable? What can you hope for if you are no longer ready to listen to pious tales? Critics call John Shelby Spong the most virulent heretic of the twentieth century. Supporters are the forerunners of new global shifts in religious worldview. This book is the first opportunity for Russian-speaking readers to get acquainted with the ideas of one of the brilliant intellectuals of our time, who sets the direction for all the most interesting theological debates today. A solemnly sad symphony composed by an old master at the end of his life, a monumental credo, a heartfelt confession, a deep representation of the views of an intellectually honest Christian on life and death.