Faith. Doubt. Belief. Skepticism.
What if there was a place that encouraged you not only to question your faith, but also to doubt your doubts? What if Christians and skeptics could sit down together, as friends, to look at the convictions behind both faith and doubt?Tim Keller's The Reason for God is one of the best vehicles we've seen to foster this kind of conversation, so we're organizing a reading group for skeptics and believers alike.
- the group begins in February and is open to anyone with questions or doubts about the Christian faith.
- we'll meet regularly as friends to wrestle with Keller's ideas over lunch and beer - to see about what resonates (and what doesn't!), to thoughtfully examine our beliefs (and our doubts!).
- the purpose is not to "convert" anyone (we don't think we can). Rather, it's to create a safe place for people to process their faith and their doubts in community.
- the group will be co-led by Christian Cryder (an All Souls pastor who's been deeply influenced by Keller), and Jori Frakie (a good friend and thoughtful skeptic who loves Keller's book but isn't persuaded by it).
About Tim Keller
As the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in downtown New York City, Tim Keller has spent years interacting with some of the most thoughtful, intelligent skeptics on the face of the planet. Amazingly, many of them now attend his church.Whereas many Christian authors end up preaching to the choir, Keller writes for unbelievers and the Christians who love them. He believes that dialog "across party lines" is tremendously valuable - both for those who believe (that they might better examine their faith), as well as those who don't (that they might better examine their doubts).
In other words, Keller thinks we actually need friends who think differently than we do, to help us see things about our beliefs (or unbelief!) that we might miss on our own. Here at All Souls, this is the kind of community we are seeking to create. Maybe you can help us?
