The Reason for God: Belief in God in an Age of Skepticism

How could a loving God send people to hell? Why does he allow suffering? Can one religion be "right" and the others "wrong"? Responding to the questions of open skeptics and ardent believers, Keller draws from literature, philosophy, reason, and real-life conversations to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief.

The 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.

As the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, Tim Keller started his congregation with a few dozen people. It now draws over five thousand weekly attendees who meet in three Manhattan locations. Redeemer has since spawned a movement of churches across America and throughout major world cities. Many pastors model their churches on Redeemer and Tim’s thoughtful style of preaching.

In The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, Timothy Keller makes a compelling and thought provoking argument for believing in one God. Recently, there have been many critics and skeptics on the existence of a God and on religion, specifically Christianity. This book refutes the claims made by critics such as Dawkins and his colleagues. However, besides just refuting the claims, Keller examines, in turn, the biggest reasons for doubt people have, and the most compelling reasons to believe in God. Keller’s main purpose is to draw readers into rethinking what they have been told and to learn how to deal with doubt and disbelief.

The author of the book is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. Knowing the mind of a skeptic, Keller clearly defines the six biggest doubts that people in our culture have toward Christian faith and the reasons behind them. He then makes an intriguing case against each reason. Later in the book, Keller draws upon the reasons why one should believe in Christianity and God. The book is solidly researched and well written and makes an intelligent argument without getting weighed down in religious terminology.

I found the book challenging because it made me consider the foundations upon which I hold my beliefs. Keller’s points also helped me see the underlining issues of the skeptic’s mindset. The reasons for believing helped to reaffirm my beliefs in Christianity. Overall, I think this book deserves to be read by any doubter, as well as every believer. -- Timothy Steece, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com

In The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, Timothy Keller makes a compelling and thought provoking argument for believing in one God. Recently, there have been many critics and skeptics on the existence of a God and on religion, specifically Christianity. This book refutes the claims made by critics such as Dawkins and his colleagues. However, besides just refuting the claims, Keller examines, in turn, the biggest reasons for doubt people have, and the most compelling reasons to believe in God. Keller’s main purpose is to draw readers into rethinking what they have been told and to learn how to deal with doubt and disbelief.

The author of the book is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. Knowing the mind of a skeptic, Keller clearly defines the six biggest doubts that people in our culture have toward Christian faith and the reasons behind them. He then makes an intriguing case against each reason. Later in the book, Keller draws upon the reasons why one should believe in Christianity and God. The book is solidly researched and well written and makes an intelligent argument without getting weighed down in religious terminology.

I found the book challenging because it made me consider the foundations upon which I hold my beliefs. Keller’s points also helped me see the underlining issues of the skeptic’s mindset. The reasons for believing helped to reaffirm my beliefs in Christianity. Overall, I think this book deserves to be read by any doubter, as well as every believer. -- Timothy Steece, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com

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Reviewed by Johnson Chang-Fong (Washingtonville, NY), July 13, 2009

Keller has written a great book. He looks for the underlying beliefs of each question or objection to the Christian Faith and persuasively, sympathetically and winsomely corrects them (with the heart a pastor/evangelist and the mind of a scholar) in line with Biblical doctrine.

Reviewed by Rick Harrington (Haverhill, MA), June 09, 2009

The right arguments in the right tone. Keller is very winsome and yet wonderfully biblical. If you like guys like CS Lewis, GK Chesterton, etc. you will like Keller's approach. Highly, highly recommended!

Reviewed by Logos Bible Church (Edinburg, TX), January 28, 2009

So far this book is good, though a bit cerebral. If you are the bookworm type and are looking for the reason behind the reasons that explain the reason, than this book is for you. Keller is excellent, his theology is outstanding, but this book is definitely not for the average dude out there.

Reviewed by Mark Youngberg (Berrien Springs, MI), October 30, 2008

This book is not for the faint of heart or those who want to simply respond with traditional answers. The book is an excellent source book for overview of current controversy between atheists and religion. Keller is joining a new way of apologists who are fighting secularism with the same weapons aimed at Christianity.

Reviewed by Rev. Gordon Harper (Gillette, WY), October 17, 2008

As one who has always struggled to balance my genuine faith against my pragmatism, "The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller is a great read. Keller's Biblical and practical answers to logical questions regarding Christianity are concise, clear and ultimately quite satisfying. A must read for any sincere but searching skeptic.

Reviewed by www.bookbargainsandpreviews.com (Batavia, NY), May 11, 2008

This is a wonderful work of Christian apologetics. It examines the tough questions that are asked, not just by unbelievers, but by believers also. It also takes a look at the arguments used to attack the Christian Faith and gives the reader the tools to stand up for their beliefs. The Reason for God is written in an easy to read, understandable fashion, not just for the scholar. It is a book that everyone should have on hand to sharpen our skills in debating the existence of God with an unbeliever.

Reviewed by Dave (Sterling, CO), May 09, 2008

A very well written book, this is an excellent resource for anyone who is seeking, has seeking friends or family, or anyone (like myself) who is into Apologetics. The book is broken into two main sections, the first examines the main secular arguments AGAINST God and Christianity, exposing the logical fallacies and misconceptions of the vast majority of atheist arguments. The second section is a general overview of a lot of affirmative evidence FOR creationism and Theism in general, and for God and Christianity in particular. The author, while clearly speaking from a Reformed perspective, does an excellent job addressing the issues, while leaving the theological implications to the reader. My only complaint is that this book does seem to mostly stick to hitting the high points of an argument, and is not heavy on the details. This is a minor complaint, however, as there is a LOT of content, and if each subject were given an in-depth treatment, the book would need instead to be several volumes. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious about faith, wants to deepen their faith, or wants help sharing it.

Reviewed by Karl Schaffenburg (West Point, MS), May 01, 2008

Outstanding. The best piece of Christian apology I have seen since Lewis (with apologies to N.T. Wright). Not only is the work accessible, it examines in detail the argumnets which underly secular attacks on the faith, allowing an apologist to engage a doubter on their own field. I am using this now as the foundation for an enquirers' class of the college-aged.

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