Atheist Warns: Do Not Underestimate William Lane Craig
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Atheist blogger Luke Muehlhauser (of commonsenseatheism.com) warns atheists not to underestimate William Lane Craig*. Well over the majority of immature and naive youtube atheist videos and blogs have either deliberately lied about Craig, completely misunderstood his argument, or dodged many of Craig's written and audio/video material. It's no wonder the majority of these skeptics and critics are not educated in history, science, religion or philosophy. Better thinking atheists, however, are catching on to the dishonest display many in their unbelieving community have of him; and are actually calling them out on it! * - http://commonsenseatheism.com/?p=2996 Do Not Underestimate William Lane Craig by Luke Muehlhauser on September 2, 2009 I have repeatedly asked atheists not to underestimate or dismiss Christian apologist William Lane Craig. ... when discussing his favorite topic, the Kalam cosmological argument for God's existence, I think Craig is remarkably clear, philosophically rigorous, and scientifically informed. I will even say he almost always understands the philosophical and scientific issues in play better than his professional critics, who are physicists or philosophers themselves. This should be no surprise, as Craig has dedicated his life to those issues. However, atheists often throw out naive objections that they assume must defeat the argument. I think the subconscious thinking of the atheist may go something like this: 1.If the Kalam cosmological argument is sound, then atheism is false. 2.But atheism isn't false, because God is very improbable (due to the argument from evil, the absurdity of magic, etc.) 3.Therefore, there must be a problem with the Kalam cosmological argument somewhere, and I don't need to bother understanding Craig's responses to every objection that has been offered. This is similar to a common reasoning tactic of the believer, what ex-apologist called "modus tollens-ing" any objection to theism: 1.If objection x is sound, then theism is false. 2.But theism isn't false, because argument y is sound (or, because I know God to exist from my personal experience of him). 3.Therefore, objection x is not sound. I think atheists raise many objections to the Kalam argument that they would never think to raise if they didn't know that (according to the Kalam argument) they implied a Creator. For example, it seems to me that some atheists object to the causal principle ("Everything that begins to exist has a cause") only after they see it as Premise 1 of Craig's argument. They would never think to object to the causal principle otherwise. The fact is that Craig holds his own very well against scientific objections from professional physicists, and -- amazingly -- seems to understand the scientific issues better than they do. On top of that, he always understands the philosophical issues better than they do. Just to drive my point home, here's a video of Craig answering high-level questions about the Kalam argument from philosophers and physicists, including some former debate opponents. Craig's understanding of the scientific issues is astonishing (and his understanding is only increased by the recent contributions of James Sinclair to Craig's chapter in The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology)...
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William Lane Criag is without a doubt the best scholarly debator when it comes to Christian apologetics. His intelligence level is astounding and he is truly blessed.
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Jesus is real, and He's God. There is a reason atheists can't pull off what for them should be an easy take down of an ancient superstition.
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I cannot believe that Craig believes the dogma he preaches. He sounds to me like a politician trying to save his job.
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So the great and mighty MATREYIA thinks WLC is an idiot. Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens don't, but the great and mighty matreyia knows better than them. Only the great and mighty matreyia understands that the second law of thermodynamics, and cosmic background radiation, and red shift of receding galaxies (= WLC's premises) are all UNPROVABLE (!). He is the true genius of our age. Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens know nothing. They should listen to matreyia. They could learn something from him.
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What is this supposed to do? I have watched numerous long debates starring WLC and he is an idiot. He uses logic correctly, but his premises are totally unprovable and it is humorous how he like many religious folks attempts to prove the supernatural/metaphysical with science and empirical data. Either you stick with supernatural or you stick with science because if you try to shoe horn the two together you get nonsense. This is because invoking supernature/magic to explain events makes science a moot point. There is no need for science if there is magic. And if there were magic, it is only because that thing is something that we cannot yet understand or explain via language scientifically. In former days, this was rampant.... There was a Thor the God of Thunder that made the thunder and Zeus made lightening...etc.
Nowadays, we have no need of such supernatural explanations. This has always been the way and it will continue to be the way and Abrahamic myths are no different. They too have and will continue to shrivel away with each scientific discovery and explanation that arises...from misdiagnosing demon possession due to epilepsy or mental illness to witchcraft due to genetic disorders... the whole of the religious explanations will be moot sooner or later.
Does this mean there is absolutely no god(s)? Of course not. There is no way of knowing. A god is a thing that is far superior than we mere humans...and in this cosmos, there are many such things. -
Well of course with no doubt, WLC is a man of God. He is blessed and gifted in this area. :-)
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They're bolstering him up - so they look better when they knock him down.
WLC looks bad as soon as he strays away from the protection of a rigid debate format - to a more conversational style of debate -
Don't understand the point of this video..
William laine Craig is very popular and a master at twisting info, so yeah compared to other Christians, atheists have to work harder to keep Craig on topic.. -
Lol it's a petty that the site opens with "granted, craig can be very silly when he discusses the bible... Nevertheless, I think that everyone, both atheïst and theïsts, should recognize that Craig is not someone whose opinion should be underestimate, or ridiculed. He wasn't raised as a Christian, so there is no reason to suspect that he is deliberately lying or deceived full, to propagate his own worldview. It flatters Hitchens that he makes this kind of statements btw...
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I'm a christian and although I disagree with Hitchens on his views of God, I liked him. I don't see atheists as the enemy.
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Care to elaborate on your original quote or are you too emotional to think right now?
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Oh, I see now that you're just talking out of your ass. My mistake,
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Umm...so what's your comparison between "empirical theory" and what else? A theory, deductive or inductive, is a fudge factor to explain the science behind something that is unprovable, like evolution. Please next time take into consideration that I treat everyone that they have the capability to think for themselves. But since ignorance is dominated in a society of subjective relativism I don't expect that being "specific" in "empirical theories," will release those trapped in Naturalism.
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You need to be more precise about the distinction between an empirical theory that uses probability and deductive logical reasoning. That's what is important when speaking about how theories never becoming proved, but only not yet "disproved." The difference was traditionally put as that between deductive and inductive logic (with probability theory replacing the inductive argument later on). if you don't, people won't know why you're saying evolution isn't as factual as a triangle with 180 deg.
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Yarpen is a troll
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So now you attack my professors? Wow, beyond immature junior! I'm sorry that my credentials in science bother you but hey you have proven over and over again that you lack a formidable education, you rebuttal by name calling, and your so-called evidence is basically religious in nature and not once have you provided any empirical evidence that you are logical or reasonable. You are a sad pathetic person whom I do pity. I can only pray that you open your mind to the facts of God. God Bless! :-)
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I pity your teachers. You are as thick as a brick. Here's something for you. watch?v=kMAt0a5EWw0 I suggest you watch it.
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Actually I am! Getting my BS in Business Management Information System. Will be done in about a year since my AAS in Network and Microcomputer Specialist and my hours training in electronics with the US Navy. Afterwards my Masters is next. Woo!
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Go back to school kid.
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