Making Sense of God by Timothy Keller
Week 5: Chapter 4 — Religion Is Just a Personal Preference
Read Chapter 4 of Making Sense of God by Timothy Keller.
Previewing Week 5 of Making Sense of God
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 14-week guide when you’re ready.
Modern culture tends to treat religion as one lifestyle preference among many — fine for those who like that sort of thing — but Keller argues this misunderstands what religion actually claims to be.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.What does Keller mean when he says that treating religion as 'just a personal preference' misunderstands what religion claims? What kind of claims does Christianity actually make, and why do those claims resist being privatized?
2.Keller engages the concept of 'expressive individualism' — the idea that the self is the sovereign source of meaning and that authenticity means living out your inner desires. Where do you see this worldview most powerfully at work in contemporary culture?
3.He argues that 'expressive individualism' is not a neutral or obvious stance but a particular, historically contingent philosophy with its own assumptions. What are some of those assumptions? Do you find them convincing?