Alternatives Quote by Timothy Keller
“Jesus' claims are particularly unnerving, because if they are true there is no alternative but to bow the knee to him.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Reason for God (2008)
The quote argues that if Jesus’s claims are true, they compel absolute obedience, highlighting the existential weight of belief.
In simple terms: True claims demand total surrender.
Key Takeaway
Consider the implications of absolute belief.
Themes
faith
authority
existential
obedience
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- religious conversion
- ethical decision‑making
- personal crisis
- public discourse
Key Concepts
theology
philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you give up if you accepted this claim?
- Can belief coexist with critical questioning?
A Different Perspective
It assumes no alternative perspectives, which may not hold for everyone.
![“24 A few pages later, Delbanco writes the following: [Alexis de] Tocqueville’s detection of a “strange melancholy in the midst of abundance” has a special salience today — because while we have gotten very good at deconstructing old stories (the religion that was the subject of my first chapter…” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/85a/timothy-keller-240_sad_24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the_25320.jpg)
![“[When asked how it felt to be a female prime minister:] I don't know: I've never experienced the alternative.” quote by Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/324/margaret-thatcher-463_alternatives_when-asked-how-it-felt-to-be-a-female-pr_15081.jpg)
