The Reason for God by Timothy Keller

Week 10: Chapter 8 — The Clue of Creation

Read Chapter 8 of The Reason for God by Timothy Keller.

Keller now moves from the clues embedded in human experience to the largest question of all: why is there something rather than nothing? The fact of the universe's existence — and its remarkable fine-tuning for life — is the opening move in his positive case for God.

Discussion Questions

7 questions

1.Keller opens Part Two by arguing that the skeptic also requires faith — faith that the universe has no personal origin. He says that theism and atheism are both metaphysical commitments that go beyond what science can demonstrate. Do you think that is a fair characterization of atheism?

2.He engages the cosmological argument: the universe began, everything that begins has a cause, therefore the universe has a cause. And that cause must be outside of space, time, and matter. Walk through this argument carefully. Where do you think its strongest and weakest points are?

3.Keller discusses the "fine-tuning" of the universe — the remarkable fact that the fundamental constants of physics are calibrated to extraordinarily precise values necessary for any life to exist. How does this fit with the naturalist explanation that everything exists by chance? How does it fit with the theist explanation of a purposeful creator?

a.The multiverse hypothesis is sometimes proposed as an alternative explanation for fine-tuning. What are the strengths and weaknesses of that hypothesis compared to theism?

b.Does the fine-tuning argument prove God exists, or does it simply make God's existence more plausible? Is there a difference?

4.Keller uses the philosopher John Leslie's illustration of a man facing a firing squad of fifty expert riflemen — all of whom miss. The man could say, "Well, obviously they all missed, since I'm here to wonder about it" (the anthropic principle). But Keller argues that the sheer improbability of the outcome still calls for explanation. Do you find this illustration compelling?

5.He quotes the physicist Freeman Dyson: "The more I examine the universe and the details of its architecture, the more evidence I find that the universe in some sense must have known we were coming." How does this statement from a scientist land differently than if a theologian said it?

+ 4 more questions in this week

Get all 112 questions across 16 weeks

Get Full Guide — $24.99

Closing Prayer

Full guide

Creator and Sustainer of all things, we stand before a universe we did not make and cannot fully comprehend, and we confess that we often take its very existence for granted. Thank you that behind the staggering complexity and beauty of what is, there is not an impersonal force but a personal Father who spoke it all into being. Give us the sense of wonder that drives us toward you rather than away from you, and anchor us in the truth that we are not accidents but beloved creatures. Amen.

Week 9 View Full Guide Week 11

Get the Complete 16-Week Study Guide

All 112 discussion questions, weekly reading schedule, closing prayers, and a downloadable PDF for your group.

Get Your Guide — $24.99

All Weeks in This Guide

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 Week 16

More by Timothy Keller Faith & Theology