Renowned atheist Christopher Hitchens clashed with Christian theologian William Lane Craig in a Saturday discussion over the existence of God. More than 4,200 people attended the sold-out event, moderated by Hugh Hewitt. Another 11,000 people listened to the debate via live feeds across 30 states and four different countries.
by Gail Patches
Excerpted from The Whittier Daily News
"Due to the special attributes of the speakers, it will be easy for people to walk away from the event thinking their guy won," said Craig Hazen, director of Biola's Christian Apologetics program, which along with the university's Associated Students, hosted the event.
"People don't usually change their minds when they hear something like this. But what an opportunity to sharpen the issues."
During the debate, Craig claimed there are no good arguments supporting atheism. He reasoned God's existence through five systematic arguments based on the universe, nature's intelligent design, morals, biblical facts and the supposition that God can be personally known and experienced.
Hitchens put the burden of proof on supernaturalists. He said doubt is a luxury enjoyed by atheists, and attacked Christians' "retrospective" acceptance of evolution.
"If there was a God, it still wouldn't prove that this entity cared about us, answered prayer, cared about who we had sex with or in what position," Hitchens said. "Emancipate yourself from the idea of a celestial dictatorship and you've taken the first step toward becoming free." ...
Craig is a world-traveled lecturer and author, a professor at Talbot School of Theology and has degrees in economics, politics and philosophy. Hitchens is a well-known journalist who has worked for Vanity Fair, The Nation and Slate. ...
This is the second time Hitchens and Craig have met over theological issues this month. The first was during a panel at the Christian Book Expo in Dallas. Read the full article here.