Listen to the Critics

I listened to a Tim Keller podcast this week on the critiques of Religion:

“The modern critique of religion comes from Freud, Marx, and Nietzsche. Freud claimed that religion is psychological self-justification, that we created God to assuage our guilt and fear. Marx claimed that religion is a sociological self-justification, that we created God to exclude those unlike us. Nietzsche said that religion is nothing but a power trip, an attempt to use God to accrue power over others. However, Jesus himself critiqued religion and turned it on its head. This message was given by Rev. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on February 21, 1999. Series “Redeemer Open Forums“.”

What really struck me was how nuggets of truth can be imbedded in a criticism. Were these critics of Christianity correct? Resoundingly no. However, were they correct in how some practice their Christianity? Yes, very much so. We are sinful therefore we can attempt to misuse our religion to our own sinful advantage.

Stay humble my friends.

Soli Deo Gloria