Keller @ Veritas and Google

As Tim Keller continues his book tour and college campus talks (in Chicago last night and tonight), Veritas has put up his Columbia University talk, "Exclusive Religion in a Pluralistic Society: What are the Tensions and How Do We Move Forward?" 

I'm sure many of you have seen that Keller spoke at Google.  How awesome is that?  Justin Buzzard was there and gave us plenty to chew on.  Thanks Justin.

I did not make it to Keller's talk last night because I was at the Doctor trying to figure out what is wrong with me.  He thinks I may have a touch of pneumonia.  Exciting.  I'm not going tonight either, unfortunately.  If anyone makes it to a Chicago event, I'd love to hear/read how things go.

Comments

[Burly]

I went to the Northwestern event last night after work. Here's the low down:

1.) His presentation was very "Keller." So, it was very good. It was a "fly over" summary of the book with some good, quick apologetics.
2.) His wardrobe was very "Keller." I'm now going to go buy a few mock turtlenecks, wear my tweed jacket more often, and bring back the '90s braided leather belt.
3.) He got too many softball pitches from Christians - and not enough questions generally. The only written question he answered was the "WHAT ABOUT HELL?" question. The verbal questions were mostly a.) "Christian softball pitches" and b.) some "intelligent design" type questions. His response on the evolution thing was something to the effect of: I don't want to deal with the red herring organic arguments, I'd rather address the physical impossibility of a universe without a creator. If someone else was there and I got this (or anything else) wrong - chime on in.
4.) He answered the "but-what-about-the-Bible's-inconsistencies/contradictions" question with the ol' "read-n.t.-wright's-resurrecion-of-son-of-god" - decide if the resurrection is true - and then deal with the minor stuff.
5.) He answered questions with the Gospel - go figure.
6.) He talked about the two ways of living - a.) the gracenarrative vs. the moral-performance-narrative (more on that here by this guy: http://oneresolve.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/my-prideful-narrative/ [note: I didn't read his post thoroghly yet - and I don't know him]).

Bottom line: it was straight of off the hook and made me want to buy mock turtleneck shirts.

[Burly]

Sorry ... just went to Buzzard's blog. He did the same thing at Northwestern. Could have not wasted your time ...

[Curtis Watson]

I also went to the event last night @ Northwestern and loved every minute of it. I would echo that he did get mostly easy questions from the faithfull. I hope it wasn't only Christians at the event! This is my first time hearing Keller in person. Obviously a great communicator who is comfortable with people of all walks of life. All in all a great time and I think Keller seems to model the grace narrative in every sentence, phrase and facial expression. I didn't once get the impression he had all the answers but that he was comfortable with the strengths and limitations of apologetics and the whole argument for God.

[Joe Thorn]

How is everyone missing the most important part of this post? Steve, I have heard of bobble-heads, but you are the first to invent the Tim Keller Google-Head™. Well done my brother.

[Justin Buzzard]

My pleasure...

I too like the Keller-Google-Head.

[Burly]

Also of great import: TK referenced the "Stop it" Bob Newhart skit again. He loves that skit. I still haven't seen it but know now that I MUST. Furthermore, and finally, I should have said above:

Bottom line: it was straight UP off the hook and made me want to buy mock turtleneck shirts AND A PAIR OF PENNY LOAFERS.

[Paul VanderKlay]

I saw the Bob Newhart "Stop it" remark in the First things interview http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=981 and didn't get it either. I YouTubed it and found a MadTV sketch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYLMTvxOaeE

It nicely illustrates a lot of what Keller talks about in terms of preaching to the will rather than the heart.

pvk