William Lane Craig is a major hypocrite, as if that is any surprise.
To engage in a debate, both sides need to be willing to change their mind, if shown that evidence, reasoned argument and valid logic do not support their position. If one side is not willing to change their position, then the debate is useless.
Craig fails this requirement, he has said numerous times that faith is more important than evidence:
"it is the self-authenticating witness of the Holy Spirit that gives us the fundamental knowledge of Christianity’s truth. Therefore, the only role left for argument and evidence to play is a subsidiary role… The magisterial use of reason occurs when reason stands over and above the gospel… and judges it on the basis of argument and evidence. The ministerial use of reason occurs when reason submits to and serves the gospel. In light of the Spirit’s witness, only the ministerial use of reason is legitimate. Philosophy is rightly the handmaid of theology. Reason is a tool to help us better understand and defend our faith"
Not only does this statement above invalidate his ability to engage in a formal debate, it also seems pretty hypocritical to even take part in debates based on evidence and logic, as he admits they are unimportant to his beliefs.
Not only that, he refuses to debate John Loftus (a former student of Graig's), author of such books as: 'Why I became an Atheist' and 'The Christian Delusion', for idiotic reasons.
To engage in a debate, both sides need to be willing to change their mind, if shown that evidence, reasoned argument and valid logic do not support their position. If one side is not willing to change their position, then the debate is useless.
Craig fails this requirement, he has said numerous times that faith is more important than evidence:
"it is the self-authenticating witness of the Holy Spirit that gives us the fundamental knowledge of Christianity’s truth. Therefore, the only role left for argument and evidence to play is a subsidiary role… The magisterial use of reason occurs when reason stands over and above the gospel… and judges it on the basis of argument and evidence. The ministerial use of reason occurs when reason submits to and serves the gospel. In light of the Spirit’s witness, only the ministerial use of reason is legitimate. Philosophy is rightly the handmaid of theology. Reason is a tool to help us better understand and defend our faith"
Not only does this statement above invalidate his ability to engage in a formal debate, it also seems pretty hypocritical to even take part in debates based on evidence and logic, as he admits they are unimportant to his beliefs.
Not only that, he refuses to debate John Loftus (a former student of Graig's), author of such books as: 'Why I became an Atheist' and 'The Christian Delusion', for idiotic reasons.
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
