Timothy Keller

Arguing that most Americans are members of the Christian faith, a response to promoters of science and secularism addresses key questions about suffering, exclusivity, and the belief that Christianity is the only true religion. 50,000 first printing.

Belief in an Age of Skepticism

The Reason for God

Joshua

Why would such an exclusive belief system lead to behavior that was so open to others? It was because Christians had within their belief system the strongest possible resource for practicing sacrificial service, generosity, and peace-making. At the very hereof their view of reality was a man who died for his enemies, praying for their forgiveness. Reflection on this could only lead to radically different way of dealing with those who were different from them. It meant they could not act in violence and oppression toward their opponents.

We cannot skip lightly over the fact that there have been in-justices done by the church in the name of Christ, yet who can deny that the force of Christians" most fundamental beliefs can be a powerful impetus for peace-making in our troubled world?

Jessie!

Dan Radunchev

All doubts, however sceptical and cynical they may seem, are really a set of alternate beliefs.

A person's faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection. 

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, that are plausible rather than ridiculous or offensive. And, just as important for our current situation, such a process will lead you, even after you come to a position of strong faith, to respect and understand those who doubt.

God's grace does not come to people who morally outperform others, but to those who admit their failure to perform and who acknowledge their need for a Savior.

We cannot skip lightly over the fact that there have been injustices done by the church in the name of Christ, yet who can deny that the force of Christians' most fundamental beliefs can be a powerful impetus for peace-making in our troubled world?

We have an impasse between the strengthening forces of doubt and belief, and this won't be solved simply by calling for more civility and dialogue. Arguments depend on having commonly held reference points that both sides can hold each other to. When fundamental understandings of reality conflict, it is hard to find anything to which to appeal. The title of Alasdair MacIntyre's book, Whose Justice? Which Rationality? says it all. Our problems are not going away soon. How can we find a way forward? 

First, each side should accept that both religious belief and skepticism are on the rise. Atheist author Sam Harris and Religious Right leader Pat Robertson should each admit the fact that his particular tribe is strong and increasing in influence. This would eliminate the self-talk that is rampant in each camp, namely that it will soon be extinct, overrun by the opposition. Nothing like that is imminently possible. If we stopped saying such things to ourselves it might make ward opposing views.

Religious believers should also be much less dismissive of secular skepticism. Christians should reflect on the fact that such large sectors of our formerly largely Christian societies have turned their backs on faith. Surely that should lead to self-examination. The time for making elegant dismissive gestures toward the other side is past.

Then there will be an understanding, sympathy,and respect for the other side that did not exist before. Believersand nonbelievers will rise to the level of disagreement rather thansimply denouncing one another. This happens when each side haslearned to represent the other's argument in its strongest and mostpositive form. Only then is it safe and fair to disagree with it. Thatachieves civility in a pluralistic society, which is no small thing.

Listen to "Farther Along" by Josh Garrels

https://open.spotify.com/track/5qninDC32ywn4sOtBwwACO

Many assume that if there were good reasons for the existence of evil, they would be accessible to our minds, […] but why should that be the case?

The Reason for God quotes

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