Introduction: 

We begin this course with reading Chapter 8 of The Reason for God followed by viewing several video clips of Tim Keller addressing some of the issues raised in his book. In this chapter Keller asks this seminal question: “How can we believe in Christianity if we don’t even know whether God exists?” In response, Keller lays out a series of clues – “divine fingerprints” – that point to the existence of God. Although Keller admits that there is no absolute proof of the existence of God, these clues provide the world with compelling evidence that God does, indeed, exist. Keller's "clues" include: "The Mysterious Bang," The Cosmic Welcome Mat; The Regularity of Nature, The Clue of Beauty and (ironically) "The Clue Killer" (natural selection) which Keller argues is a clue in and of itself.

After having completed the readings for this session and reviewed the accompanying video you may choose - on a purely optional basis - to answer the study questions and submit them at etwimber@hotmail.com or to contact Dr. Wimberley by phone or email to request a time for dialogue about what you have learned. You may do so by phone or dialogue via Skype or Facetime. Dr. Wimberley's phone number is 239.405.4164. We may convene group meetings of the class using the Zoom application on our computers. You can enroll in this course by emailing etwimber@hotmail.com or by texting Dr. Wimberley at 239.405.4164.

Readings: 

Keller, Timothy (2009) The Reason for God. New York, NY: Penguin, Clues of God Slides; Chapter 8; Chapter Slides

Video: 

Tim Kellor on Making Sense of God; Inspiration for Writing Reason for God; The God Who Is.

Study Questions:

1. In the first seven chapters, Keller examines the beliefs beneath the seven biggest objections or doubts people in our culture have about the Christian faith.  Where did you find comfort in these chapters?  Where do you still have doubts or questions?
2. Keller makes the observation that “from the outside the various Christian churches and traditions can look extremely different, almost like distinct religions” (p. 116).  What’s your experience? Have various branches and denominations contributed to skepticism, fear, and anger against the Christian faith in your own life or with people you know? What do you make of the fact that the Christian church has so many distinct denominations? (and then there are the many versions of ‘non-denominationalism’…)
3. Keller is intentional about his word choice.  There are clues for God but not proofs for God.  Do you find Keller’s word choice appropriate?  Can you think of something better?  How helpful is Keller’s metaphor of God as playwright who writes clues to his reality into the universe (p. 123)?  Again, any ideas for a better or different image?
4. At the beginning of chapter 8, Keller includes quotes from Somerset Maugham and Jean-Paul Sartre saying that “life has no meaning” and that “there’s nothing, nothing, absolutely no reason for existing.”  Why do Christians get out of bed each morning? What is your personal reason for getting out of bed every morning?
5. Keller refers to St. Augustine’s argument that human desires – and especially, desires that cannot be completely fulfilled – are clues to the reality of God.  For example, he states: “…while hunger doesn’t prove that the particular meal [such as a steak dinner] will be procured, doesn’t the appetite for food in us mean that food exists?  Isn’t it true that innate desires correspond to real objects that can satisfy them, such as sexual desire (corresponding to sex)…and relational desires (corresponding to friendship)” (pp. 134-135).  He goes on to argue that the human longing for meaning, love, and beauty are strong indicators that God exists.  Do you agree that universal human desires point to God, or might there be other explanations?
6. What clue(s) for the existence of God are the most compelling in your life?  Why?  Are there other compelling clues for the existence of God that Keller does not include in this chapter?