There have been numerous debates between Atheists and Christian Theists regarding various topics such as,"Does God exist","Can We be Moral Without God and The Problem of Evil.
Anyone who is unbiased will without doubt agree that Theists Philosophers seem to come out on top of most debates.
The most notable Christian Philosopher who most people will agree has never lost a debate is William Lane Craig.Craig has many debates.(over 40) during his 20 years career in apologetics.
If you ask me why most Atheists who have debated William Lane Craig have lost:
1.Presenting invalid arguments
2.Lack of proper rebuttals to Craig's argument.
Presenting Invalid/unsound Arguments
This is the most common mistake atheist philosophers make.It is rather shocking that people who teach logic would commit obvious mistakes in their argumentation.Take for instance John Shook (who is a philosopher) debated William Lane Craig.Frankly he has to be the worst of all Craig's opponents.They debated Naturalism/Theism.
John Shook after being pressed by Craig to present an argument for naturalism,goes ahead and presents this:
1.Nature Exists
2.We don't have evidence for the supernatural
3.Conclusion:Therefore Naturalism is true.
You are left in awe at this kind of amature mistake.The conlcusion does not follow at all.
The theme is prevalent in most of Craig's oppenents.
Craig can simply win most of these debates by default,sincfe the Atheist usually present unsound arguments.
Lack Of Proper Rebuttals
Craig has been presenting the same 5 arguments for Theism for 20 years.And yet all his opponents fail to present convincing rebuttals to his arguments.
A classic example is Craig's recent debate with Christopher Hitchens.Hitchens is used to his British rhetoric.And he thought that was enough to win debates.He had no coherent argument or rebuttal for any of craigs arguments.It was like he came to his senses too late."
Ohh,you mean i really have to present an argument in these debates instead of my usuall jabs at religion and rhetoric about imaginary gods?"
In my opinion,the best Atheist debators who really challenged Craig are: Walter Amstrong Sinnot and bradley.(all on the problem of evil).These were intellectual stimulating debates.
The problem is that,most Atheists prop themselves in high stools and think that Atheism is a given.That it should be obvious to people that Atheisim is true.but when put on the spotlight,most of these Atheist philosophers cannot defend their positions.John Shook was unabel to present a sound argument for naturalism,Luois anthony was unable to present a coherent atheistic ethical system with her debate with Craig on Morality,Hitchens was just a total mess.
Perhaps we should be listening to Theist vs Theist debates.Such as Wes Morristons Vs William Lane Craig on the Kalam Cosmoligcal Argument.Which was a very stimulating debate by the way.Or maybe William Lane Craig vs Richard Swirnburne on either the nature of God(Swirnburne holds the poistion that God can be contigent) or a debate on Moral ontology(Richard Swirnburne holds the view that Morality can exist outside of God.)
Or is there an Atheist Philospher who can fair better than the previous predecesors?We can just wait and see.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
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10 comments:
Great post.In think Richard carrier vs Craig's debate on the resurrection was a good one.
The hitchens/craig debate was especially disappointing.It was a mismatch.a journalist vs a philosopher debating philosophy!
Theists are handicapped explaining their beliefs. They base their arguments on a book they have not exhaustively researched about its origins.And, anything they can't explain is dismissed as works of a supreme being. Thats the mother of all cop outs.Theists are irrational and thrive on ignorance.
Attitudes like the one above is what has led to the many losses of atheists,going into debates expecting an irrational theist,only to be surprised to find competent logicians and philosophers.
Theist is just like any other comic book fanatic who believes in a superhero existence based on the writings of unknown author 60-80 years ago. Bible just happens to originate about 6000 yrs ago. Compared to earth history, that is relatively young making the bible collection of thoughts of simple minded people. That’s why we see reference of God coming down in a chariot. There is a reason why most of the big minds in science are Atheist or Agnostics and overwhelmingly why majority of poor people and less educated people believe in some sort of deity.
and yet atheists still lose in debates.
God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th...sounds like a McDonald's manager to me
Yes, but God takes showers and doesnt make poop filled burgers with 3 year old condements.
P.S. check out Lee Strobels A Case for book series.
You are a big joker. Wlliam Lane Craig believes in the bodily resurrection of jesus and thinks there is sufficient evidence for it. I wouldnt waste time debating him. But i bet he is a big asset to the deluded. He reassures them that their greatest desire, immortality, will be granted.
am sorry people, but i think atheists would win the argument, if theists are willing, just for two seconds to realize how crap and ridiculous their belief is, but you get the comfort of those nonsenses by hurdling up together into deluded groups
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=150484684619
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