I came to this book after reading one of the recently published atheist books (Onfray), followed by Bishop Spong's latest. It seemed that this book might give me a mainstream Christian response to those, rounding out the range of views. The publisher's blurb says that it shows "how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief". I'm sorry to say that it does no such thing. Each time I've picked it up I have found myself reading it until I put it down in frustration. I've found lots of non sequiturs, confusion, and unconvincing arguments based on unstated premises. It's taking a long time to read. Two stars rather than one, because it quotes C.S. Lewis so often that I've decided to read his books instead. ( )

Tim Keller's new book, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, is currently #7 on the New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction Bestseller's List - and for good reason. This is an articulate, reasonable, compassionate, and informed defense of Christianity.

Keller's book is written for both believers and skeptics and addresses the seven most common objections people have to Christiantiy.

Part One: The Leap of Doubt:

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

Then Keller builds a case for the plausibility of Christiantiy in seven chapters.

Part Two: The Reasons for Faith:

8. The Clues of God
9. The Knowledge of God
10. The Problem of Sin
11. Religion and the Gospel
12. The (True) Story of the Cross
13. The Reality of the Resurrection
14. The Dance of God

This book is so good, it could become the Mere Christianity (C. S. Lewis's famous defense of Christianity written in the first half of the twentieth century) of the twenty-first century. Here's what I like about Keller. He speaks the language and understands the mind-set of postmoderns, because he has worked with them, witnessed to them, and pastored them for nearly twenty years in Manhattan. But he is orthodox in his theology, not shying away from the more difficult aspects of historical Christian doctrine. Instead, he faces these "hard doctrines," acknowledges the difficulty these pose to many people, and then offers nuanced and intelligent answers to the questions.

Keller is also a gifted communicator, drawing from an amazing breadth of philosophy, literature and popular culture. This one's a keeper. I'll read it again and hope lots of others will read it too. ( )

Timothy Keller narrates the abridged audio version of his book. He responds to the skeptics' questions regarding Christianity and the Bible, one by one. ( )

This book really spoke to me. Keller's arguements are well reasoned, well presented and logical. He addresses many of the issues that skeptics raise without being dismissive or belittling. I even like the double entendre of the title: reason as in purpose and reason as in intellect. ( )

An excellent and winsome defense of the Christian faith for modern young adult cynics and skeptics. ( )