The Reason for God

Belief in an Age of Skepticism

Timothy Keller

Chapter 1: There Can't Be Just One True Religion

Doubt: ChristianityÕs perceived exclusivity is perhaps THE stumbling block

All religions canÕt be right about the nature of God
Religious exclusivity is a force for conflict in the world

Civic and cultural leaders invoke three approaches to religion

Outlaw it Ð Russia, China, Cambodia, Nazi Germany
- The late 19th century believed religion was going to die out anyway
- But efforts to suppress it have generally made it only that much stronger

Condemn it Ð discredit and discourage it via education and argument
- All major religions are equally valid and basically teach the same thing
- Of course the assertion that doctrines donÕt matter is itself a doctrine!
- Each religion sees part of spiritual truth, but none can see the whole truth
- But how could you possibly know that unless you yourself could see the whole truth that you just claimed no one can know?

Keep religion completely private.

Religious belief is too culturally and historically conditioned to be ÒtruthÓ Keller used to hear all religions were equally true Ð now hears they are equally false! This is a form of relativism, but we now understand that ÒRelativism relativizes itself!Ó as in ÒAll claims about religions are historically conditioned except this one!Ó

Audio/Video Reference

R Nave