The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
by Timothy Keller
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Read in March, 2008
Tim Keller's The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (TRG, hereafter) is the result of the many questions about God and Christianity pastor Keller has received over the years during his time at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, New York. Keller writes in a smooth, conversational tone. He addresses in clear language, 'real' questions from those who have crossed his path over the years, using every day examples to illustrate his points, and he does so with a pastoral hea...more
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Read in March, 2008
Fewer adjectives probably describe the present age better than polarized. Nowhere is this more evident than the struggle between secular modernism and traditional Christian faith. There are probably fewer people who have more understanding of the depth of that struggle and the difficulties in communicating across that polarized gap than Timothy Keller. Reason for God takes the approach that you communicate not between believers and unbelievers, but between believers and skeptics, for he argues e...more
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Read in March, 2008
Tim Keller has written an apologetic for Christianity that is sympathetic to the skeptical, well thought out, and dripping with the years of experience he has had doing this very thing in his own context. The first half of the book is his response to objections for Christianity, the second half is reasons to believe Christianity. There are several chapters alone that in my opinion are worth the price of the book (Chapters 7, 9, 11, 14, to name a few). I don't know if everyone will agree with eve...more
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So right now I am wrestling with "faith" and "Christianity", having been born into it, and having always processed it in a very intellectual way I never really got into what it meant to me at the level of the heart and bowels. I am going through that process now and one thing I've learned is that I dislike "Christendom" that is the established organized mainstream churches quite profoundly.
Nevertheless, Christianity (rather the Puritan version discovered in 17t...more
Nevertheless, Christianity (rather the Puritan version discovered in 17t...more
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Read in April, 2008
This is an excellent book that addresses many of the common objections to Christianity today. First of all, Keller points out how common doubt is to the Christian faith and how so many people allow doubt to push them away from Christ. But, he points out that “a faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who go though life too busy or too indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless when tragedy ...more
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Excellent so far. His explanation of judgement from Volf's work Exclusion and Embrace is incredible. Volf (a Croation who has seen the violence in the Balkens) says that understanding divine justice (that God will punish the wicked) is the only way for us to break free from the human cycle of violence.
Keller: "The human impulse to make perpetrators of violence pay for their crimes is almost an overwhelming one. It cannot possibly be overcome with platitudes like 'Now don't you see that...more
Keller: "The human impulse to make perpetrators of violence pay for their crimes is almost an overwhelming one. It cannot possibly be overcome with platitudes like 'Now don't you see that...more
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Read in April, 2008
I think this is the second book by Tim Keller, the Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. I must say, I'm very impressed. I think this book is a great work of apologetics. Keller addresses all of the right questions that people are asking these days, is always gracious, and never makes a bad argument. He draws heavily from his own personal experience as a pastor, quoting directly from conversations he's had with various new yorkers who have shown up to his church over the years...more
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Read in April, 2008
I checked this book out of the library expecting not to like it. Then I looked at the quote at the beginning of the first chapter and figured it couldn't be ALL bad: "I find your lack of faith disturbing. - Darth Vader". Any pastor who starts out his book with a Star Wars quote has caught my interest. Not all of Keller's arguments were completely convincing, but he forces you to look at things in new ways, whether you are coming from a place of belief or unbelief. He is daring enough t...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to Ryan by:
Grandview Public Libraryrecommends it for: Phil Meredith Julie Becky Lucas
I really enjoyed reading this book for a number of reasons, but primarily because it seems to fit the level of many of the conversations I've had with non-Christians. Although it is obviously written at a somewhat general level because it covers so many topics, I find it much more useful than books like Strobel's "Case for Christ" because it does a better job of acknowledging competing worldviews and philosophical viewpoints. That being said, this book is definitely not for everyone. K...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
Believers and non-believers alike
As a member of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, founded by the author, Tim Keller, it seemed a requisite that I read his recently published book. I probably wouldn't have bothered to pick it up otherwise. It was written mostly as a rational argument to answer the skeptics' disbelief of the existence of God, so as someone already deeply rooted in my Christian faith, I didn't expect it would have much to offer me. I was totally wrong. The first half of the book, in which Tim debunks the seven main ar...more
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Read in March, 2008
A book meant to offer a counterpoint to the Richard Dawkins/Sam Harris books on the atheist position. The first half of the book is a compilation of standard apologetic answers for common questions concerning faith and religion, specifically Christianity. For people who have questions about Christian intolerance, evil and suffering, the existence of God, or faith in general, this book provides a good introductory look at answers to those questions. It's written in very straight-forward and appr...more
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Read in March, 2008
I was converted from "educated" secularism in 2003. Every objection I had is addressed by this book for my background AND it's done by showing God in Jesus, and Jesus crucified.
When I became a Christian, 3 other books: the New Testament, The Case for Christ, and Desiring God were primary in my conversion. The Case for Christ proves the Resurrection as a historical event. The New Testament self-authenticates itself as God's Word and shines Jesus Christ out to the reader. Desirin...more
When I became a Christian, 3 other books: the New Testament, The Case for Christ, and Desiring God were primary in my conversion. The Case for Christ proves the Resurrection as a historical event. The New Testament self-authenticates itself as God's Word and shines Jesus Christ out to the reader. Desirin...more
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Read in March, 2008
This is an above average apologetic primer for the orthodox Christian, its not the best available but it covers a good range of protests to the Christian Faith with very pastoral and reasonable answers. Its not highly academic though new Christians might not follow everything. Pastor Keller operates in NYC which is very secular so he deals with the questions he most often gets from new believers or skeptics. In the second half of the book he gives his ideas on why you should believe the Chris...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
Christians, skeptics
Logical answers to common doubts about Christianity; also, the foundational beliefs of the faith. This book has received some nice reviews, and with good reason. Keller handily utilizes logic, as well as great quotations from both believers (C.S. Lewis, Flannery O'Connor), and skeptics (Stephen Jay Gould) to answer the most common doubts people have about the truth of Christianity. Plus you've got to love a guy who starts out his book on apologetics with a quote from Star Wars. Recomm...more
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Read in April, 2008
"Easter means that in a world where injustice, violence and degradation are endemic, God is not prepared to tolerate such things - and that we will work and plan, with all the energy of God, to implement victory of Jesus over them all. Take away Easter and Karl Marx was probably right to accused Christianity of ignoring problems of the material world. Take it away and Freud was probably right to say Christianity is wish-fulfillment. Take it away and Nietzsche probably was right to say it...more
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This book is similar to CS Lewis' Mere Christianity. I would recommend both books for anyone who has questions, beliefs, and who wants to know more. Tim Keller is the pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian in Manhatten. He does a wonderful job of clearly explaning answers to the main questions regarding Christianity. "How can there be one faith?" "How can God allow suffering?" He includes many examples from people in his congregation. I learned a lot from this book and definitely r
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I've read the first part and reading the second part. I think this is a wonderful read for someone with questions about God. Keller covers the hard questions. Critics say this book doesn't have enough scripture. That reasoning also looks like this - in order for me to teach you what it means to be Italian, I need to speak to you in Italian. If someone you care about has concerns or is asking the hard questions, this book will give you good answers & questions to ask your friend.
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Read in March, 2008
I enjoyed this book. Would probably give it more like 3.5 stars. Keller loves C.S. Lewis and quotes him many times. He covers a lot of ground in this book and therefore doesn't go too deep into specific areas. A good overview of the faith and culture and made more interesting because he pulls from so many sources. All that said, Keller is a great speaker and I would recommend downloading some talks by him in addition to the book.
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After Kirill heard Tim Keller speak and defend the belief in God so concisely to a highly critical audience, he ordered this book written by my friend Erin's NYC pastor from Redeemer Presbyterian Church. I can't wait to read it, I hear he is a modern-day CS Lewis. Hoping to hear him in person when I visit New York next month.
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Read in February, 2008
I haven't read any God books in a while and this one is really well-thought out. The premise is that all of the reasons to reject a belief in God are actually a belief in something else (example: it takes as much of a leap of faith to believe that there cannot be just one God as there is to believe in one God). Hmmm... an interesting read for any faith background.
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