Tim Keller is anything but defensive. He respects the real doubts that people bring to Christianity. Although described as a Christian apologist, what makes Tim Keller so palatable is his winsome while sincere approach, his genuine interest in reason and respect for people's skepticism. And he's thoroughly intelligent.
His book The Reason for God -- in which he discussed whether of not belief can exist in the age of reason, an age of scepticism -- was born out of literally thousands of conversations with young people since the early 90s.
In 1989 Tim Keller planted a church by going throughout New York City, talking to young professionals about why they wouldn't believe in God. Most of the people he spoke to had one or more of about half a dozen troubles with Christianity: common objections that made Christianity too hard to believe.
The Reason for God is a trip through reasoning. Keller shows that all of the common problems people today have with Christianity are in fact based in beliefs - alternative beliefs about God and the nature of reality.
And here's the punch line but it won't spoil it for you: To really have integrity skeptics need to apply the same tests to their beliefs as what they are demanding that Christians apply to theirs.
I recommend the book, but perhaps what I've found even more helpful initially, is listening through a series of MP3 audios in which Keller speaks to Christians on most of the subjects he addresses in the first part of his book:
These are excellent, absolutely fantastic presentations: really polite, respectful, palatable, engaging, informative, relevant, thought out and enlightening.
Why not listen to one or all of the following Reason for God audios (I dare you):
And by the way, if you did want to read the book too, here it is: ReasonforGod.com
His book The Reason for God -- in which he discussed whether of not belief can exist in the age of reason, an age of scepticism -- was born out of literally thousands of conversations with young people since the early 90s.
In 1989 Tim Keller planted a church by going throughout New York City, talking to young professionals about why they wouldn't believe in God. Most of the people he spoke to had one or more of about half a dozen troubles with Christianity: common objections that made Christianity too hard to believe.
The Reason for God is a trip through reasoning. Keller shows that all of the common problems people today have with Christianity are in fact based in beliefs - alternative beliefs about God and the nature of reality.
And here's the punch line but it won't spoil it for you: To really have integrity skeptics need to apply the same tests to their beliefs as what they are demanding that Christians apply to theirs.
I recommend the book, but perhaps what I've found even more helpful initially, is listening through a series of MP3 audios in which Keller speaks to Christians on most of the subjects he addresses in the first part of his book:
These are excellent, absolutely fantastic presentations: really polite, respectful, palatable, engaging, informative, relevant, thought out and enlightening.
Why not listen to one or all of the following Reason for God audios (I dare you):
- Exclusivity: How Can There Be Just One True Religion?
- Suffering: If God Is Good, Why Is There So Much Evil in the World?
- Absolutism: Don't We All Have to Find Truth for Ourselves?
- Injustice: Hasn't Christianity Been an Instrument for Oppression?
- Hell: Isn't the God of Christianity an Angry Judge?
- Literalism: Isn't the Bible Historically Unreliable and Regressive?
- Doubt: What Should I Do with My Doubts? (David Bisgrove)
And by the way, if you did want to read the book too, here it is: ReasonforGod.com
1 comment:
So, Does the app also include a slider for parking as well. It would be nice to have the option to pick from "Parking on the Grass under the Sunday School window" or "Take the Tram from the back 40, section triple Z, right up to the sanctuary doors. Trip includes complimentary coffee and bagel."???
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