The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
Week 2: Chapter 1 — There Can't Be Just One True Religion
Read Chapter 1 of The Reason for God by Timothy Keller.
The claim that all religions are equally valid sounds open-minded and humble, but Keller argues it is actually self-defeating — and that taking any religion seriously requires the very kind of particularity critics want to forbid. Think carefully as you work through these questions.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Keller opens with the common assertion that "all religions are basically the same" or that "no one religion can be right and the rest wrong." What is the emotional appeal of that view? Where have you heard it most often — from friends, culture, social media?
2.He uses the illustration of the blind men and the elephant — the familiar parable meant to show that each religion only grasps part of the truth. Keller points out that the person telling the parable has to claim they can see the whole elephant. What does this reveal about the hidden claim embedded in religious relativism?
a.If someone says "all religions are just different paths to the same truth," what kind of knowledge about religion are they claiming to have?
b.Is that claim more humble or less humble than simply holding one religion to be true? Explain your reasoning.
3.Keller distinguishes between "strong" religious exclusivism (my religion is true and yours is worthless) and the unavoidable logic that if two religions make contradictory truth claims, they cannot both be correct. Do you think this is a fair distinction? Can you genuinely respect someone's religion while believing it contains serious errors?
Closing Prayer
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