Here’s something I’ve never written in the first sentence of a book review—until now: hands down one of the best books I’ve read in recent years. After reading it, I wasn’t at all surprised that Timothy Keller’s The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (Dutton, 2008. ISBN#978-0-525-95049-3) had found its way onto the New York Times Bestseller list shortly after coming off the press. A Presbyterian pastor who leads a rapidly growing and culturally engaged flock at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, Keller serves up a compelling and reasonable apologetic for today’s postmodern doubters and skeptics … who do, by the way, make up a large portion of his community and congregation.

Using his backgrounds in theology and philosophy, along with his sharp analysis of contemporary culture, Keller takes readers through answers to a series of familiar questions and faith-barriers such as: “How could a good God allow suffering?” and “How can a loving God send people to hell?” In the book’s second half Keller masterfully weaves a tapestry of the reasons for faith that is centered on the cross and the unfolding divine drama of creation, fall and redemption. In effect, he invites readers to join in on God’s dance.

For the last several months, Keller has been criss-crossing the country to share the book’s message with captive packed-house audiences made up of believers and doubters alike—most of them younger in age. A humble and unpretentious man whose draw is the fact that he speaks to people’s hearts without being flashy, Keller is showing that in the midst of the shift to the postmodern, reasonable truth is still heard by those whose hearts are hungering for God. Reading The Reason for God is not only a wonderful individual exercise, but it will go a long way in shaping your conversations with the doubters and skeptics you know.

—Walt Mueller