Debate Audio: Christopher Hitchens vs. William Lane Craig


Good morning everyone! Just wanted to make you aware that the audio of last evenings debate between Christopher Hitchens and William Lane Craig will be made available here.

You can also read a "blow by blow" report at the Does God Exist Debate blog.

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad A. Gross

Comments

Anonymous said…
I have a detailed summary of my own posted here.
E.D. Mills said…
On the “Does God Exist Debate” blog, Mr. Hitchens made this interesting statement: “What gives meaning to my life is the fact that I am free of false beliefs. I have real liberty. Those ‘primates’ who think they can tell me what to do on the basis of their beliefs. I am free of implausible beliefs”.

Immediately the Scripture text of 2 Peter 2:18-19 was brought to my mind: [Speaking in reference of false teachers] “…when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.” (NKJV) I couldn’t have came up with a more apt statement on my own, of that I am sure.

The Bible teaches that if when we obey our sin nature (continue to sin) we are slaves of sin, but when we obey from the heart the doctrine of Christ, we are slaves of righteousness. (See Romans 6:18-23) I proclaim that it is Christ Jesus who offers true liberty…
~ John 8: 34-36 ~

Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

…And I testify that I have experience this Liberty in my own life. I believe that mankind can find real liberty from no source other than the Son of God.

Mr. Hitchens continues with “If you ask them really which world they care about, you will find it will be this one because they know this is the only real world there is.”

This hardly a fair question, because by containing the word “which” it does not allow for the option of caring about both worlds. I would consider it implausible to be asked to choose to only care about one or the other. I care about this world because I am currently in this world, and the next world because it is eternal. Even if I indeed only cared about this world, as he implied, it would not prove the Eternal World does not exist.

I also find it implausible that Mr. Hitchens could possibly have the knowledge that every Theist knows “this is the only real world there is” because in order for Mr. Hitchens to know this statement to be fact, he would have to have access to the thoughts of every Theist and that would make him Omniscient. And if he were Omniscient that would indicate that Mr. Hitchens is God and thus his whole debate immediately fails. Does it not?
Chad said…
E.D. Mills,

Hello there! I to have experienced the Liberty that comes only from following Christ. The verses you included are very applicable and relevant considering Mr. Hitchens' position.

Each time I have heard Hitchens debate (and that has been quite alot) I don't hear any formed arguments for atheism, or even against theism, just complaining and playing on the listener's emotions.

Your second point is an interesting one! I guess that would put a damper on the debate! :-) I suppose he (The "Hitch") would reply by saying that he was making a generalization, not to be taken literally. Or, he would just call you a "primate!"

Hitchens makes numerous absolute statements that have no evidential grounding. He is a very good storyteller, no doubt, and is very fun to listen to. I believe that has played a huge part in his success.

I intend to share more of my thoughts on the debate in a future post.

Godspeed