Engaging, Relevant , and Faithful

books:


	• The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism Timothy Keller Dutton Adult, 2008 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 107 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

wow

An incredible explanation of faith for the people in today's culture. One of the clearest and most intelligent discussions of the reasonableness of believing that I have ever read. If there were 6 stars I would award it 6 stars. This belongs in the hands of every agnostic, skeptic, "Sunday and Easter only" Christian and honest, intelligent seeker of truth.

very good apologetic

this is good for seekers, skeptics, and those who ask questions such as "why do bad things happen to good people?"

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Engaging, Relevant , and Faithful

For anyone familiar with Keller as the pastor/teacher of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and already acquainted with his thoughtful, winsome teaching style, The Reason for God will read as an extension of these qualities in print. The book is an engaging, enjoyable read, relevant to contemporary skepticism about Christianity, and a faithful exposition of the historic Christian message.

Skeptics will find in Keller a friend who has listened to their questions and concerns, wrestled with the intellectual and affective implications of those, and then provided reasonable winsome answers without being preachy.

Believers will find in Keller a brother who, much like Francis Schaeffer, has a gift to unfurl the banner of the gospel into contemporary culture. They will be challenged to think about their faith while simultaneously reflecting on the magnificence of the work of Jesus.

The first six chapters address the hang ups contemporary skeptics have with religion and Christianity in particular. The next chapters present some positive considerations for the reasonableness of belief in God. In the final chapters, Keller presents a 21st century version of Mere Christianity; unfolding the message of historic Christianity.

The Reason for God is an excellent read. It is a rich interaction with the skepticism of our days and faithful explanation of the Christian faith. It would be an excellent graduation gift for a young person going to college, for anyone struggling with questions about Christianity, or for the believer who wishes to enrich their understanding of the gospel.

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Helpful Resource for Apologetics

Everyone likes a good book that provides tools for apologetics, right? Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, has provided an articulate, readable, and helpful book for thinking people who seek to better understand and explain Christian belief. In this work he provides answers to some of the most common objections raised concerning the existence of God, and the "reasons for faith" found in the Christian tradition.

In his introduction, Keller begins by saying:

"There is a great gulf today between what is popularly known as liberalism and conservatism. Each side demands that you not only disagree with the other as (at best) crazy or (at worst) evil. This is particularly true when religion is the point at issue. Progressives cry out that fundamentalism is growing rapidly and nonbelief is stigmatized. They point out that politics has turned toward the right, supported by mega-churches and mobilized orthodox believers. Conservatives endlessly denounce what they see as an increasingly skeptical and relativistic society. Major universities, media companies, and elite institutions are heavily secular, they say, and they control the culture.

Which is it? Is skepticism or faith on the ascendancy in the world today? The answer is Yes. The enemies are both right. Skepticism, fear, and anger toward traditional religion are growing in power and influence. But at the same time, robust, orthodox belief in the traditional faiths is growing as well." (ix)

Because Keller's willingness to acknowledge that both religious and secular outlooks are gaining adherents, he proposes that an alternative to increasing polarization between two extremes is needed. Keller's own ministry has found that what may be emerging is a "spiritual third way." He believes younger Christians, who have wrestled with doubt and come out the other side, "are the vanguard of some major new religious, social, and political arrangements that could make the older form of the culture wars obsolete"(xix).

The book has two major divisions. The first part, titled "The Leap of Doubt," addresses these concerns:

There Can't Be Just One True Religion
How Could a Good God Allow Suffering?
Christianity is a Straighjacket
The Church is Responsible for So Much Injustice
How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?
Science Has Disproved Christianity
You Can't Take the Bible Literally

In this portion of the book, Keller draws from philosophy, theology, and examples from his ministry to address these objections to religious belief. Each chapter begins with a quotation from persons expressing these objections-presumably persons that could be met on the streets or in cafes in New York City(and perhaps your community). Keller is not afraid to engage leading atheist thinkers, including Ricard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. His responses to these objections are well-reasoned and invite conversation. Because many of these objections are so common, I found Keller helpful. At the very least his answers provide a platform from which one might develop their own responses to thinking people who may have objections to the existence of God.

In the second part of his book, entitled "The Reasons for Faith," Keller presents reasons one might at least consider the existence of God, and whether the truth concerning that God might be found in the Christian story. Here are the chapter headings:

The Clues of God
The Knowledge of God
The Problem of Sin
Religion and the Gospel
The (True) Story of the Cross
The Reality of the Resurrection
The Dance of God

As I hinted above, this book is good. Throughout the book you hear excerpts from Keller's story and ministry, largely drawing from his experience of planting a church in an area thought to be devoid of hope for the proclamation of the Gospel. When Keller told others of his desire to plant a church in NYC, people scoffed. Over time, Keller's church has reached over 5,000 persons. When Keller tells his story, it makes sense. He is an intelligent, thoughtful person.

The worship services which take place at Redeemer have no frills, but are simply composed. Dr. Keller, in his preaching and in his ministry, sought to create a welcoming space for thinking people and provide them with reasoned, compelling answers for believing that the Christian story was true. Keller would make it a practice to remain in their worship space following services so that people could ask questions about the sermon. Sometimes discussion would last over an hour following the conclusion of the service. In these spaces Keller could answer questions, allow his heart to be made known, and challenge his interlocutors when they possessed objections. These conversations also allowed Keller to better understand the city in which he was conducting his ministry.

Keller is Presbyterian, though he does his best to make this book accessible to persons from a broad range of the Christian tradition. I appreciate Keller's book because it is open, thoughtful, and articulate. His telling of the Christian story does not shy away from categories of sin, the need for repentance, and an understanding of the atonement which includes belief that Jesus' death is more than illustrative of the sacrificial type of life we ourselves should lead. Keller asserts that Jesus's death and resurrection possesses a cosmic significance affecting our redemption. In the death of Christ we are justified, as Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins.

I found this book helpful and would recommend it. It includes both philosophical and theological treatments that are intellectually engaging, as well as personal stories which illustrate his key points. If you're seeking to improve your own ability to articulate your faith, or perhaps are seeking a resource to help you engage non-Christian friends, family, or persons in your community, you may find this a helpful resource.

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Good for its purpose

In response to some of the 1 or 2 star reviewson this book, I believe Keller does a fine job in terms of the purpose of his book. His reasons for belief are aimed not as much at the modern mindet of extreme rationalism or scientism (though he does deal with those issues briefly) but at the postmodern ethos that pervades places such as Manhatten. So, when it comes to discussing the nature of truth, exclusivism, etc. Keller clearly shows that one may rationally believe in objective truth and that a particular religion/philosophy/worldview may be said to be true. Now, he thinks Christianity is the best option and his method of showing that is somewhat different from traditional apologists (i.e. Craig, Geisler, Sproul, etc.) though there is some continuity.

A scientific rationalist will probably not be persuaded by Keller's book. However, a twenty-something year old aspring postmodern artist who sips a mocha in Starbucks will be intrigued by Keller's reasoning that Christianity alone provides hope and fulfills what is true, good, and beautiful.

Whether one agrees with Keller's position in the end should not have on doubt that he is very keen concerning the postmodern rhetoric or young and middle-aged urbanites. He speaks to there questions and concerns, not neccesarily to a philosophy of science professor at a local college or university.

In addition, I think everyone acknowledges the fact that most individuals are clearly better at writing or speaking. Keller's greatest strength is oral. Even in listening to his sermons on the chapters in his book, I enjoyed hearing his material than reading it.

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, page 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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