william l. craig

[Angrboda]

I'm told that Craig lies and twists the truth like a two bit carney man. I haven't spent enough time watching him to see if that's true. What little I've seen of him he appears an able tactician, and the degree of charm and conviction he exudes is certainly effective. I think generally, Christian apologists break down into distinct groups. You've got the thinkers, like Planting, Swinburne, and Tillich. Then you've got the spinmeisters and bullshit artists like Craig (ostensibly). Ultimately, I can admire someone for being good at what they do, even if what they do is pure evil. (I love watching Kevin Trudeau on late night infomercials.) If Craig lives up to his reputation, I'm sure it will be a good show.

For what it's worth, he's already helped me see a basic truth which had escaped my notice prior to hearing him in one debate, though in the opposite way that he had intended. There's always something to be learned, even more so from people who, for better or worse, are simply good at advancing the cause of their own special interests. Given that Craig and Ray Comfort are similar apologists in style, there's probably not a whole lot that separates them in terms of technique and message. So it's tempting to dismiss them both in the same breath. However, the complexity and sophistication of a Craig holds greater fascination. At the end of the day, I love a good con as much as a clever bit of science or philosophy. Maybe I'll find myself liking Craig for all the wrong reasons.