Making Sense of God by Timothy Keller
Week 4: Chapter 3 — Doesn't Religion Lead to Violence and Injustice?
Read Chapter 3 of Making Sense of God by Timothy Keller.
Previewing Week 4 of Making Sense of God
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 14-week guide when you’re ready.
The charge that religion is a primary driver of violence and oppression is one of the most emotionally powerful objections to faith — Keller takes it seriously and examines it carefully rather than simply dismissing it.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Keller acknowledges that religious belief has been used to justify terrible violence and injustice throughout history. How does he distinguish between misuse of religion and religion itself? Is this distinction convincing to you, or does it feel like special pleading?
2.Keller argues that the 20th century's most catastrophic violence — under Stalin, Mao, Hitler, and Pol Pot — was carried out by explicitly secular or anti-religious ideologies. What is the implication of this historical observation for the claim that religion is uniquely prone to violence?
3.He distinguishes between violence done in the name of religion and violence that is actually motivated by religion's core teachings. What is the difference? How would you evaluate the Crusades or the Inquisition by this standard?