A live blog debate will be held between atheist journalist Christopher Hitchens author of the best-selling God is Not Great and Christian Philosopher and Theologian Dr William Lane Craig author of too many things to list here.
They will debate the topic: Does God Exist? Catch the live blog debate here on Sunday 5 April 2009 at 3.30pm NZ time [4 April 2009 at 7:30 pm (PST)];
Dr Craig debated Dr Bill Cooke at Auckland University in 2008 on the topic “Is God a Delusion?” Video footage of that debate here.
Tags: Atheism · Christopher Hitchens · Debates · Philosophy of Religion · William Lane Craig13 Comments
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My prediction: logic (Craig) + wise-cracks (Hitchens) = (sadly) with little real engagement.
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Craig usually manages a few wisecracks but I agree Hitchens isn’t likely to bring much logic to the table and there will probably be little real engagement… hmmm what other Craig debate does that remind me of?
Recent blog post: Belief without Proof: Is Belief in God Rational if there is no Evidence? Part I
Being a little risky in making a predication my guess is that it will play like this.
Craig will open with his usual summary of five arguments. Hitchens will open with some popular level attacks on Theism and Christianity. In the first rebuttal Craig will exploit the lack of philosophical rigor in these arguments and show them up as philosophically untenable. Hitchens will attempt a rebuttal of Craig’s arguments but one not based on any real deep understanding of the issues, particularly if he attempts to address the philosophy of time, metaphysics, or cosmology behind the Kalam cosmological argument. In the second rebuttal Craig will then clean up, he will point out the misunderstandings in Hitchens rebuttal will reiterate his first points. Hitchens will have no come back accept playing the crowd.
The only issue that I can see going Hitchens’s way his ability to play the crowd with humour etc or if Craig fails to explain the necessary nuances to the audience in a way the counters Hitchens’s populism. However, in past opponents of Craig have not really made this work against him. Moreover in this instance is Talbot so the audience is unlikely to be packed with people this will work on. Moreover, the faculty and grad students of Talbot will probably be present and they will understand the issues quite well.
Recent blog post: Does God Exist? Christopher Hitchens v William Lane Craig
pretty thorough, realistic and likely forecast, Matt!
Recent blog post: tree planting
I don’t keep up with these things… has it been proven yet that Christopher Hitchens exists?
Hey, how come whenever I click a link from your blog I get the page – but your URL is still showing?
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Well there is a book he allegedly wrote, however, we know he wrote the book because the book said it was written by Hitchens. This is obviously circular. Many others claim to have personally experienced him but we would be irrational to believe in his existence based on such subjective ‘evidence.’
Recent blog post: Does God Exist? Christopher Hitchens v William Lane Craig
Not sure as it is not doing it to me… What browser and operating system are you using?
Recent blog post: Does God Exist? Christopher Hitchens v William Lane Craig
What awards have we been nominated for?
Recent blog post: Does God Exist? Christopher Hitchens v William Lane Craig
You will just have to take belief in Hitchens as properly basic and believe it on faith.
Recent blog post: Belief without Proof: Is Belief in God Rational if there is no Evidence? Part I
The debate would be very interesting. But I already have my stand I believe God do exist:-)
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.-= My last blog-post ..God does exist =-.