Product DescriptionThe End of Faith. The God Delusion. God Is Not Great. Letter to a Christian Nation. Bestseller lists are filled with doubters. But what happens when you actually doubt your doubts?
Although a vocal minority continues to attack the Christian faith, for most Americans, faith is a large part of their lives: 86 percent of Americans refer to themselves as religious, and 75 percent of all Americans consider themselves Christians. So how should they respond to these passionate, learned, and persuasive books that promote science and secularism over religion and faith? For years, Tim Keller has compiled a list of the most frequently voiced “doubts” skeptics bring to his Manhattan church. And in The Reason for God, he single-handedly dismantles each of them. Written with atheists, agnostics, and skeptics in mind, Keller also provides an intelligent platform on which true believers can stand their ground when bombarded by the backlash. The Reason for God challenges such ideology at its core and points to the true path and purpose of Christianity.
Why is there suffering in the world? How could a loving God send people to Hell? Why isn’t Christianity more inclusive? Shouldn’t the Christian God be a god of love? How can one religion be “right” and the rest “wrong”? Why have so many wars been fought in the name of God? These are just a few of the questions even ardent believers wrestle with today. In this book, Tim Keller uses literature, philosophy, real-life conversations and reasoning, and even pop culture to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief, held by thoughtful people of intellectual integrity with a deep compassion for those who truly want to know the truth.
What Others Say
Concise, Clear Arguments
It starts strongly with the almost paradoxical problem that the special grace offered by God through Jesus requires substantial reflection and justification when compared to the acts-based grace of other religions. I wrote paradoxical because in Judaism, acts matter, what you believe is secondary, nice, but not damning by absence. Jews think of this as superior to Christianity, but it allows very sloppy thinking, which the carefulness of Keller shows.
The highlight of the book is really on pages 58-62. These words would and will turn many thoughtful non-Christians into acolytes.
If I could add one thing to the early text, it would be a reference to Gödel's Incompleteness theorem. Most people think it means that nothing ... Read More
Reasonable
At last, here is a crisp intellectual reply to the challenges raised by secular, humanist and atheistic thinkers against Christian doctrine and belief. Tim Keller addresses their most common and pointed questions in an eloquent, firm and thoughtful way. Best of all, he does so without the rancor, sarcasm and arrogance that have typified so many of the challengers themselves. He invites people to seek the truth, and offers solid, sensible supporting points for each argument.
He readily admits the profound harm and mistakes that have been made by those claiming to be Christians who act contrary to the teachings of Jesus and the early church. By drawing a distinction to clarify the true message and beliefs of the faith, he dispels multiple ... Read More
you better be willing to use your brain
I was a little disappointed in The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, probably because I have listened to a lot of Tim Keller's messages and I guess I was hoping for new ideas in The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. I didn't find many points that I hadn't already heard him speak about but that doesn't mean his points aren't intelligent and helpful because they are. I was hoping to give The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism to some friends, but after reading it, I think it's too intellectual for them to want to read it. It's a well written, clear, helpful book . . .expectations are a bummer.
He is risen!!
In the shrewd analysis of Timothy Keller (no relation to Helen), "The Reason for God" comes down to this: "If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all he said. If he didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said?" (p. 202). And that is so true!
Jesus of Nazareth DID rise from the dead, so everyone can just forget about Plan B. And yet, Jesus has sometimes been criticised for not sticking it out in the tomb as long as he promised before making his escape--which is one of those things that Keller's book frankly forces us to accept. Jesus said he would stay dead for three days and three nights (e.g., Matthew 12:38-40). He was taken down from the cross at sunset on Friday. By midnight, his body was wrapped ... Read More
Clear Discussion of Reason for God's Existence
Timothy Keller has given a clear and simple discussion of the reason for God's releveance and exitence in contemporary society. As a New York pastor for the last decades, he writes with authority and compassion. I recommend The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism to anyone seeking a guide to truth.
