The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

A Modern-Day C.S. Lewis

Well, let me put it this way. Tim Keller nailed it on the head. I knew coming in it was good, but I did not think it would be THAT good. First part, he shows the flaws in the common objections of Christianity. And shows the validity of the assertions of Christianity. I think this is a book that Christians and Non-Christians (since he wasn't merely targeting Christians) can glean from. I was especially impressed with his chapter, "Christianity is a Straitjacket". Then again, I personally love the topic of Freedom.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Excellent and enlightening

I underlined 1/3 of the book and will soon be reading it again! I'm a 30 something lukewarm Christian and working on changing that. This book addresses skepticisms I've secretly had for years while helping to strengthen the faith that I'm discovering. I've wrestled with parts of the Bible and the church for years and "The Reason for God" hit most of those parts.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great for Christians and skeptics alike

A wonderful look at the questions that Christians and skeptics have and for which there are no easy answers. Adapts well for a Bible/ Book study.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Lucid and Convincing

The casual glance of the front cover may lead one to conclude that this must be a plain, and perhaps boring, volume laden with old, long theological words. This couldn't be farther from the truth. This is one of the most well written piece of popular apologetic I have read, and it successfully addresses the most modern issues that plague the minds of those in the post-modern societies. What I really appreciate about Pastor Keller's writing is that he effectively brings together vast array of knowledge from various different fields of knowledge, from science to philosophy to literature, to support his claims. For instance, in one of the chapters, he was referencing a story written by Flannery O'Conner, not only providing a deep analysis (which I was able to reference later on to help a friend who was reading the story), but also using it to a great effect to support his argument.

This book provides great answers to many of common objections to Christian faith, and I highly recommend to the seekers as well as those would like to learn to be able to defend their faith.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great for New Christians

As with most books arguing in favor of Chrisitanity I don't think it will change anyone's position. For me, it was thought provoking and inspired me to look deeper into the reasons for my own faith. As a devout Christian it did force me to re-examine my motivation and spiritual foundation. I think it is a excellent read for those who are Christians and want to continue down the path of becoming closer to God.

If you are a non-believer it will take more than a book to change your perspective, but this is a nice start.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Religion versus Christianity

Tim Keller eloquently makes the distinction between religion and Christianity betwen grace and works, and how God's grace to sinners humbles us to want to obey God in appreciaition for what Jesus has done rather than feeling guilty and fearsome, and compelled to obey.

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A modern, extraordinary apologetic work

Imagine your favorite professor in college. Now imagine him teaching, in that same comfortable-but-confident conversational style, about the most important topic you could imagine: does God exist, and if so, how do I know (or, what do I do now)?

A highly recommended book on why it's rational to believe and why it's
ok to sometimes doubt.

Considering the complex nature of the questions this book addresses, it's remarkable that he balances an easy-to-follow and interesting style with a brilliant intellect and great points, both original and from 2,000 years of philosophical, scientific and theological sources.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Keller is Clear and Compelling

Timothy Keller may have been a challenge to his first congregation, but any vestige of lack of clarity is long gone now. His writing is clean, clear and compelling, at once drawing you into his thinking and at the same time, causing you to digest his arguments while forcing you to reformulate your own.

Keller has taken a much-studied topic and synthesized it to its unarguable conclusions, taking nothing for granted and clearly honing the pertinent facts.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

The Reason For God - Is Clear

For those who know God, the God of the Bible seen through His Son Jesus Christ you will be encouraged and challenged to life your live more joyously in Christ's unending love, grace and mercy. For those searching for meaning and ultimately for God - the one and only Creator of the Universe - well you will find Him. Timothy Keller does a great job explaining the faith found in Jesus Christ and what it means to truly be a Christian. His insight into our skepticism breaks down the arguments to their lowest denominator and then bridges us back to discovering the God has been there all along, waiting for you to find Him - actually you need to ask God to find you (read the book and you'll understand!) I Challenge you to read this book and come to a different conclusion.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic book.

Very clear, honest, and engaging.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Another recommendation

To "Anonymous" No. 2: May I recommend HOW GOOD IS GOOD ENOUGH by Andy Stanley. Short and to the point, it is a simple and straightforward explanation of our need for a savior.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

No reason, No God, No logic

I am a yet-to-be-believer who likes to read books about the validity of Christianity, proGod books if you will, I also read books that are proatheist. That being said this book was not very helpful at all. I found Part one of the book to be...how can I say this, but a complete waste of time. He makes so many presumptuous assumptions, but states them as absolute facts. He talks about love, like their is an absolute definition of the word. His whole piano player metaphor about how doing something, anything, enslaves you!!! What pish-posh. Obviously if you do something it restricts you from doing something else, but if you are doing something you like, you love, are you being enslaved??? Almost everything he presents as absolutes, I see handfuls of counter arguments. 'Only a Sith deals in absolutes'--Obi-Wan, and to this Keller would obviously refute that Obi-Wan's statement is an absolute. Duh. All of Part One is constructed on a elementary school style argument, which is: 'I know I am but so are you.' He encourages people to be open-minded, which is great advice, but there is not much value in that for people who are already open-minded. If you are an atheist who reads book about religion and god, in hopes to find them, then this is not the book for you. Obviously if you are an atheist reading about god, then you are already open to new ideas. Part two of the book is ok, but nothing I did not read in Mere Christianity. If you are trying to find God, more specifically Jesus, then I recommend the afore mentioned Mere Christianity and The Case for Christ, two very good books and two very different styles of presentation. I recommend this book to people who are Christians who think they are 'good' people, who think their doo-doo don't stink. And to atheists who think that Christians and other god believing persons are idiots, this book is a good start, but my recommendation is to read Case for Christ first. Keller does sort of counter some of Dawkins 'The God Delusion' arguments, but I would put The God Delusion on top of this book. I'd give Delusion say 3 and a half stars.

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A Nice Try, but...

...ultimately not what I hoped for. I was wanting a fresh, validating, positive response to Dawkins/Harris et al (the angry atheists) while also not swinging too far in the literalist direction. I was hoping for the sweet spot, and instead got a bit of the slightly stale warmed-over C. S. Lewis. I like Lewis, but I wanted something fresh...and non-circular, logically. If you are looking for that middle path between militant atheism and the intellectual straight-jacket of Christian literalism, I would recommend Marcus Borg's The Heart of Christianity, rather than Timothy Keller's pretty good effort. He ultimately veers toward a literalistic view of Christianity which is intellectually unfulfilling for many.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Good Reasons for defending the faith

What i like most about Keller's book, The Reason for God, is it gives you a logical, common sense defense of the Christian faith without having to slam other religious traditions. It strikes me that Keller is fair and balanced in his approach, giving equal time to the arguments against and the reasons for believing in Christianity. As G.K. Chesterton noted, its not that the Christian ideal has been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and left untried. That is what I most enjoyed about the book, Keller gives us many reasons to try or practice the faith even its most difficult parts for it will deliver the ultimate reward of finding salvation from a loving and just God. In addition, C. S. Lewis fans will especially enjoy this book as Keller liberially quotes from his many favorites such as Mere Christianity, Four Loves and The Great Divorce. Finally, I am now better prepared to explain my Christian faith as well as to understand and practice it in my own life. You will be a better person for reading this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

Just as C.S. Lewis answered the skeptics of his day, Tim Keller has written what feels very much like an updated version of 'Mere Christianity'. It has all the hallmarks of becoming a classic. Like Lewis, he goes through the major objections modern people have to Christianity and shows how nearly by logic alone these objections are easily answered. They simply don't stand up to scrutiny and reason. For Christians who get anxious when someone challenges their faith with questions like 'how could a good God allow suffering' or 'how can I believe in a religion that is so hostile to science?', you will love this book. These objections are easily defeated with a little knowledge and a little logic. And Keller is a master at showing believers how they can answer these objections in a loving, patient and even charming way! When you really understand these issues, there is no reason to ever be anxious or defensive when a friend confronts you with these questions. And for non-believers, you will find Keller's logic insightful and illuminating. As he does with his Sunday sermons, which are directed to a very secular New York audience, he will challenge you to think. You may not walk away with your mind changed, but your beliefs will be challenged and your thoughts will be clarified. After all, it is when our beliefs are challenged that they are either changed or clarified. So, don't be afraid to take the challenge! Each question is discussed in a single chapter. These questions could have books and books written about them, but that was not the intent of this book. Don't expect a detailed treatise on each question. Rather this book gives a concise overview laying out the logical, factual and historical frameworks through which these questions can be considered.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A great book, but with shortcomings

I was raised Christian, so I know a lot about the culture of the Christian church. Currently, its values are under a consistent attack. In the first half of the book Keller does an excellent job at re-explaining Christianity to people who have common misunderstandings. He reveals that Christianity, at its core, teaches love. This is so true and is not respected by many modern-day atheists.

On the other hand, in the second portion of the book, I thought Keller failed to deliver by using weak arguments for God, sometimes getting lost his perceived beauty of Christian theology. He used arguments rehashed by C.S. Lewis to make the argument that morality proves God's existence. It really does not, especially because Christians have a framework of what they want to see in the world, and will point good things to God and bad things to sin.

Early in the book he points out he thinks he believes in natural selection in regards to Creation, but urges the reader this ultimately does not matter. He later goes on to use elements of sin and the creation story as major points in his argument. How does this not matter or matter again?

Keller believes that a life without God leads to emptiness, but a leads with God leads to fullness. This should make a difference in the person, right? He then goes on to say that we shouldn't expect Christians to be any "better" or different than non-christians. What? I thought a life without God leads to emptiness? It seems like the people who think God exists think their life has greater purpose, thus, they will feel less-empty.

Keller tries to point out moralists who only put faith in morals will feel anger when their life goes wrong, but won't Christians? Job became angry with God. ANY of us would feel angry/depressed if life went bad. What angers ME a little bit is that Keller has the audacity to say that Christians are "above it all" when it comes to putting their treasures in this world, just because they think their focus and source of reason comes from something in the heavens. He's trying to say Christians are different because of what theology says, but makes the excuse that they aren't really that different. This is a very weak and short-sighted argument.

I would have respected this book much more if Keller admitted to a lot of the problems in Christianity, its theology, and the Bible itself, but when it came down to it, he's trying to prove something so hard he makes blanket statements to convince the reader.

Nevertheless, this book will make you think, whatever your position on God.

I recommend reading it.

A powerful tool for honest self-examination

I've now read Keller's book three times, reducing it into a dog-eared kaleidoscope of multi-colored highlighted passages. Keller quells a typically polarizing discussion initially by acknowledging that omniscience is required to either prove or disprove God and, lacking that, we must look instead to "clues" of His existence accessible by the rational mind. Keller compassionately turns non-believers arguments back upon themselves for re-examination while challenging Christians to evaluate their under underlying motivations and assumptions of a "Christian life". Keller delineates how skepticsm exists within the church as well as secular society, though more subtle and dangerously deceptive. Keller's reductionist approach removes many of the barriers for believers and un-believers alike to fully grasp the message of the gospel, dispelling any notion of merit or any obstacles to grace unless we ourselves have created them in our hearts and minds. If consummed objectively, "A Reason for God" is as compelling and life-changing a book as I have read. It is insightful, provocative, humbling and at the same time assuring and energizing. One cannot help but reassess the honesty of their faith or disbelief which may, in fact, be one in the same.

A much needed work in 21st century postmodernism

Timothy Keller¿s most renowned book is a solid apologetics book explaining why Christianity is not only reasonable, but the true path to God. Such a thought provokes much controversy and heat in the midst of our ¿tolerant¿ and post modernist world, but if such a claim is in fact true, then the truth must be proclaimed no matter what. Keller uses this book to answer some of the most prevalent objections to the Christian faith.

Keller devotes sections of the book to explaining the objection at hand. He does a respectable job by analyzing the strength and weakness of such objections, then explains what the Bible has to say about the issue at hand, and uses sound reason and logic to enhance his arguments.

Overall, Reason For God is a good apologetics book in defense of the Christian faith. I wouldn¿t say it¿s as great as Frank Turek and Gary Habermas¿ work, but it¿s nonetheless, a good start for seeking unbelievers, and new Christians wanting to strengthen their faith.

Powerful reading about God. Highly recommended. I gave a copy to friends.

As an Air Force fighter pilot and now environmentalk engineer, I stick to concrete facts and results. I have involved myself in community and church (Lutheran) activities and was repulsed by society - individual/committee actions are often illogical and perplexing. This book lays out the reasons God allows these activities, and convincingly substitutes the idea of what is MOST important to you? Overlook the minor arguments everyone talks about ad naseum, and simply do your best. A wonderful book, the best I have seen in my search for truth.

Keller at his best

Tim Keller's rational reasoning for faith is a materpiece and should be read by anyone who is skeptical about Christianity