Ray Li’s Blog

It’s been about 10 years since Tim Keller wrote his last book. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism is targeted to skeptics and believers. It’s the first book that I feel like would be really helpful to give to my friends who are skeptics.

It is divided like this:

The first half is called “The Leap of Doubt” and addresses 7 big questions against Christianity.

1. There can’t be just one true religion
2. A good God could not allow suffering
3. Christianity is a straitjacket
4. The church is responsible for so much injustice
5. A loving God would not send people to hell
6. Science has disproved Christianity
7. You can’t take the Bible literally

In the middle, there is an intermission.

In the second half of the book, titled “The Reasons for Faith,” he examines seven reasons to believe in the claims of the Christian faith.

1. The clues of God
2. The knowledge of God
3. The problem of sin
4. Religion and the gospel
5. The (true) story of the cross
6. The reality of the resurrection
7. The Dance of God

And then it closes with an Epilogue.

I had started reading a little bit of the 1st half and found it so-so. So I skipped to the intermission and 2nd half and loved it.

It is very well thought out, pierces the heart, and clarifies and puts many things in a framework which can be easily understood.

Now there are a few things that I feel iffy about, including his description of hell. But overall, I think the book is fantastic. Keller is like a surgeon, going straight for the heart. I’d really recommend picking up a few copies and giving them away.