The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism | Timothy Keller

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism | Timothy Keller | Wonderful book for searchers

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The Reason for God...

	The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism Timothy Keller Dutton Adult, 2008 - 293 pages average customer review:based on 131 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Today's Equivalent of Mere Christianity

Go to the nearest Barnes and Noble and take a stroll through the section of Bestsellers. You might be surprised to see so many books that are hostile towards Christianity (or theism in general). Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion and Christopher Hitchens' God is Not Great (among others) are flying off the shelves, telling readers that "religion poisons everything."

Thankfully, today you might find Timothy Keller's new book on the shelf as well: The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism.

Keller pastors Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, one of the strongest church-planting congregations in the United States. The subtleness of Keller's preaching style translates well into book form. The Reason for God exudes warmth in its simple and understated style, a manner of writing that stands in stark contrast to the exaggerated antics of Keller's atheistic foes.

The Reason for God is divided into two halves. In the first part (provocatively titled "The Leap of Doubt"), Keller takes six common objections to Christianity and unmasks the hidden assumptions behind each. For example, in the chapter on religious exclusivity, Keller takes the criticism that "there can't be just one true religion" and shows how the hidden assumption behind this criticism is actually exclusive and arrogant. Keller charts a similar path with other common objections (the problem of evil, the injustice of the church, the compatibility of religion and science, hell, etc.).

In the second half of the book ("The Reasons for Faith"), Keller makes his case for Christianity. He explains with how we can know God, he defines sin, and he lays out the differences he sees between "religion" and "the gospel." Particularly helpful are his chapters on the cross and resurrection. The result is a terrific case for the importance of faith in our world today.

The Reason for God is bound to upset many people. The radical atheists will most likely respond with harsh invectives towards Keller and his reasoning. Some Christians will shudder at the ecumenical "mere Christianity" that Keller advocates in the book. Others will not appreciate the way he wears his Protestantism on his sleeve, especially in the chapter on the cross.

In making his case for Christianity, Keller walks a fine line between avoiding denominationalism altogether and promoting his own denominational distinctives. Personally, I think he avoids both extremes quite well. In the final chapter, Keller encourages people to join the church (which he compares to the ocean - enormous and diverse). Some may quibble with the fact that Keller does not make the case for conservative Protestantism, but perhaps Keller's Reformed theology is coming through here, as he trusts in the sovereignty of a God who will lead his people to right belief and practice.

I look forward to using The Reason for God as a reference in my conversations with skeptics, in my teaching a class of 20-somethings, and in my own personal struggles with faith and doubt. The Reason for God will most likely be judged a "classic," a book that resembles Mere Christianity and other apologetic works that have impacted the Christian church. Pick up this book and read it. Better yet, buy several copies and start giving them away. You won't be disappointed.

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Wonderful book for searchers

Timothy Keller's book is an inspiring, spiritual, intellectual "journey" for those whose lives seem empty and shallow; and, for those whose current ways of living seem meaningless and unsatisfying. This book offers us all so much more.....a way to make the most of our human potential. Rev. Keller is an engaging writer. I recommend this book to everyone.

Not definitive, yet a must for believers

I never expect this book can convince a skepic. I doubt whether there exists one which appeals only to rationality, reason or logic can. As someone who earns his living through high probability trading, I deem the substance of this book extremely likely, if not absolute. Although I am only 80% satisfied with those answers (mostly semantics) to the seven questions in Part 1, I love reading Part 2 more coz the author had been relieved to write freely (and brilliantly) on sin, love, evolution theory, Jekyll and Hyde, the Trinity etc. A great spiritual read as outstanding as Yancey's What's so amazing about grace? and Cymbala's Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. Highly recommended!

p.s. Below please find some of my favorite passages for your reference.

We cannot consider a group exclusive simply because it has standards for its members. Is there then no way to judge whether a community is open and caring rather than narrow and oppressive? Yes, there is....Which community has beliefs that lead its members to treat persons in other communities with love and respect - to serve them and meet their needs? pg 40
One of the principles of love - is that you have to lose independence to attain greater intimacy. If you want the freedoms of love - the fulfilment, security, sense of worth that it brings - you must limit your freedom in many ways.....Freedom, then, is not the absence of limitations and constraints but it is finding the right ones, those that fit our nature and liberate us. pg 48/9
The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints. pg 54
I found no other religious text outside of the Bible that said God created the world out of love and delight. pg 82
All sins are attempted to fill voids. Because we cannot stand the God-shaped hole inside of us, we try stuffing in full of all sorts of things, but only God may fill it. - Simone Weil pg 160
The fact that Jesus had to die for me humbled me out of my pride. That fact that Jesus was glad to die for me assured me out of my fear. pg 200

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The Reason for God Answers Modern Questions

Tim Keller is in touch with the questions that people these days are asking about Christianity's relevance. He is intelligent and thorough, but sensitive, humble and humorous. I highly recommend this book to anyone with questions about Christianity.

"The wisdom from above is reasonable..."

Timothy Keller has written a good book, designed to appeal to both skeptics and believers. The first section of the book deals with doubts about Christianity that many believers have, as well as the most common objections to Christianity that skeptics have. The second portion of the book deals primarily with reasons for having (and keeping) faith.

Keller makes an interesting point in his introduction: "A faith without doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it." I believe that an unexamined faith is not worth believing in. I was raised in a Christian household, and even if I didn't know the answer to a particular question right then, I always knew that eventually (through study and research) I'd find the answer. Keller encourages Christians to examine their beliefs and ask themselves not only what they believe but why they believe it.

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