The Reason for God

I am reading a wonderfully insightful book right now called The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller.  In the first half of the book Keller takes the 7 most common doubts people have about Christianity and proves them wrong.  In the second half, which I haven't read yet, he discusses 7 reasons for faith.  Don't worry.  I'm not in a crisis of belief or anything, but it feels good to have logical answers for some of those questions that have lingered in the back of my mind.  Keller actually encourages believers to wrestle with their doubts, not to simply ignore them, because "only if you struggle long and hard with objections to your faith will you be able to provide grounds for your beliefs to skeptics, including yourself."

With all the media coverage of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, I see why people are attracted to their congregation.  They seem so open, inclusive, and compassionate in their acceptance of all beliefs.  I have had a handful of conversations over the last few years with people who wonder why all religions can't be true.  "How can Christianity claim to be the only way?  It is just arrogant and narrow-minded."  My only answer has always been where Christ says, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).  This might be enough for a person of faith, but for skeptics, it likely isn't.  

The Reason for God poses a strong argument that it is not in fact closed-minded to claim Christianity as THE truth, but rather just the nature of being a community.  "Any community that did not hold its members accountable for specific beliefs and practices would have no corporate identity and would not really be a community at all.  We cannot consider a group exclusive simply because it has standards for its members."  

Even today I heard a student almost bragging that she believes all religions are true.  It seems so progressive and tolerant to make this claim.  However, "if Christians are right about Jesus being God, then Muslims and Jews fail in a serious way to love God as God really is, but if Muslims and Jews are right that Jesus is not God but rather a teacher or prophet, then Christians fail in a serious way to love God as God really is."  It is obvious that we all can't be right, yet we must remember that at the center of the Christian belief system is a man who died for his adversaries, praying for their forgiveness.

I'm afraid I have muddied what Keller made so clear, but it is 11:00.  P.M.  And 5:30 a.m. will be coming too soon, so hopefully you will find a nugget somewhere in this mess.  Anyway, I recommend this book for skeptics and believers alike.  And if you know a seeker who wouldn't be offended by such a gesture, this would be a great gift.