i have now officially read the first chapter of EOTCT, which, as it turns out, is only 8 pages. why didn't someone tell me that two months ago? and while i appreciated hearing about webber's journey, i can't say that i resonate too much with it. for me, "rationalistic christianity" was life changing. i grew up in an evangelical church that lacked substance and relied on emotion and fear to motivate people to "salvation." when i reached westmont and started to take classes in philosophy and theology that explored questions of faith from a reason-based perspective, it changed my outlook on christianity. in fact- unlike webber- i loved every moment of apologetics. and in that apologetics class (thank god for wennberg), we even read chesterton's mystery-filled "orthodoxy." perhaps i have westmont professors (and god) to thank for helping me reach a vision of god that fulfilled both my intellectual and emotional yearnings. i am thankful that my church home in santa barbara also seems to balance the mystery of faith with the rationale of it. as the search continues for a church in sacramento, i am even more thankful for that. who knows- maybe i'll end up on the canterbury trail myself...
other things i learned in chapter 1:
- it is not a good idea to use the word "impenetrable" more than once on a page. i don't care if you're talking about the jungle or the mystery of faith- find a different word.
- did anyone else think that after webber wept and wept in his office, then his research assistant joined him in weeping, and then his class wept with him, the whole wheaton student body just might weep with him too during chapel?!? come on webber! that story needed a climax. (okay, okay, i guess having a renewed vision of God constitutes a climax.)
- it is unfortunate at this point in history that webber chose to describe god as a "maverick," but how could he have known?
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