{"id":47,"date":"2011-05-02T00:28:54","date_gmt":"2011-05-02T04:28:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/fearofwhales\/?p=47"},"modified":"2011-05-01T15:00:19","modified_gmt":"2011-05-01T19:00:19","slug":"jesus-in-wonderland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/fearofwhales\/2011\/05\/jesus-in-wonderland.html","title":{"rendered":"Jesus In Wonderland"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Let’s consider your age to begin with
\n–how old are you”
\n“I’m seven and a half exactly.”
\n“You needn’t say ‘exactually,'” the Queen remarked. ” I can believe it without that. Now I’ll give you <\/em>something to believe. I’m just one hundred and one, five months and a day.”
\n” I can’t believe that!<\/em>” said Alice.
\n“Can’t you?” the Queen said in a pitying tone. ” Try again: draw a long breath, and shut your eyes.”
\nAlice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said: “One can’t <\/em>believe impossible things”
\nLewis Caroll<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a>I’ve spoken before about how theologically indefensible it is to believe that you are saved by thinking<\/a> (rather than by Jesus)
\nWe’ve familiarized ourselves with Jesus’ call to “believe in me” but missed the boat at some level when we began to translate that into our lives as “Think real hard that I exist”
\nThat interpretation, as conservative as it seems, simply will not hold up biblicaly.
\nBut even if the bible did support it (which it doesn’t) there is another flaw is this typical theology which Caroll here exposes.
\nHow exactly are you supposed to believe something on purpose? If you think it’s true than you think it’s true, and if not, then drawing a long breath and closing your eyes is not going to help you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Let’s consider your age to begin with –how old are you” “I’m seven and a half exactly.” “You needn’t say ‘exactually,’” the Queen remarked. ” I can believe it without that. Now I’ll give you something to believe. 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