Craig-Hitchens Play-by-play

I'm reposting here my Facebook updates where I reported on the debate as it was taking place.  (The third person reference is a Facebook format.)

Melinda Penner is sitting at the debate venue about ten rows from the stage. Good seats.

Melinda Penner is surrounded by a bunch of atheists at the debate.

Melinda Penner is meeting people.

Melinda Penner just saw Hitchens come in.

Craig's first positive argument for theism is the cosmological.

Melinda Penner is already irritated at the atheist behind her who keeps muttering at Dr. Craig's comments.

Now Craig is going to the moral argument.

Craig is moving fast. Now the resurrection.

Craig is now talking about the immediate experience of God as a properly basic belief and not arbitrary.

Craig concluded stating that Hitchens has to disprove these arguments and make a positive case.

Hitchens opened with a joke about Larry Craig and sincere gratitude for Biola's hospitality.

Hitchens thinks the idea of Christians having evidence is sweet but silly.

Hitchens says he can't disprove the design argument because it's a matter of faith. But Craig didn't use the design argument.

Hutchens denied the burden if proof because atheism makes no positive claim, but is only not persuaded by theism.

Hitchens thinks believing in design and the supernatural (suspension of that design) is silly.

Hitchens says he's just a skeptic.

Hitches just criticized Craig's writing. And says Craig puts revelation over rationality.

Hitchens says Christianity's cosmology is a disaster. Wrong over the centuries.

Hitchens essentially believes scientific explanations are sufficient and religion is extraneous and supernatural.

Craig begins rebuttal that given Hitchens speech he must agree that there is no good argument for atheism. Then says evolution is not relevant to theism. Doesn't disprove God's existence.

Craig gives odds against evolution and says if true it's a miracle and proof for God. Hitchens laughed with the audience.

Craig is quickly answering some of the theological objections Hitchens raised.

Craig corrects misuse of terms Hitchens used in deism and theism.

Craig points out that the evidences he offered were deductive so the premises must be disputed or else be irrational in denying conclusion. Hitchens didn't address premises.

That was a 12 minute tour de force by Craig.

Hitchens returns to absurdity of what follows from Christian cosmology.

Hitchens says there's no moral difference in the behavior of theists and atheists - note he doesn't offer a grounding argument, which was the point.

Hitchens says religion is the wish to be unfree.

Craig begins questioning Hitchens and asks about distinguishing atheism and agnosticism. Hitchens said atheism is the view that some statement isn't true.

Hitchens just said he'd be very depressed if theism were true. Audience oohed.

Craig presses him on the grounding question for morality. Hitchens doesn't want to be reductionist but will accept evolutionary argument.

Hitchens begins by asking Craig about miracles and exorcisms Jesus performed, virgin birth, etc. Craig answers but of course it's not the point of the debate and Craig didn't argue for it tonight. Atheist behind me is aghast Craig is willing to affirm these things.

Hitchens asks Craig if Islam is immoral. Yes. Then does he prefer if Hitchens were born today would he prefer he be born Muslim or atheist? Craig said he doesn't have a preference. Huge laugh from everyone including Hitchens. Hitchens trying to get assent that atheist more moral than religious person.

iPhone battery getting low. Responses then closing arguments.

Hitchens says religion is the result of unresolved conflicts about the world. And these go away if we emancipate ourselves.

Hitchens conceded closing statements. Hewitt says opening Q&A that we're interested in questions and not opinions from the audience. Hear hear!

Melinda Penner thinks this was a fascinating debate.

Melinda Penner is sure you'll be glad to know that she's still a Christian after the debate, and more confident than ever in which side has the better arguments and rationality in its favor.

[If you're interested in hearing Greg's response to the New Atheists, you can purchase and download Answering the New Atheists here.]

Comments

[Timbo]

Timbo likes this!

[Prince]

Great play by play. I enjoyed reading it - I was on a website earlier called debunking christanity cracking up at the fustration the "Athiest" bloggers on that website were having - It seems that after everytime a debate is done they are furious and always resort back to saying, "well, that doesn't mean God is real". Great argument fellas. Reading their blogs are like watching a Pee Wee's Playhouse episode, I know you are but what am I..... and so on - very very flimsy!

Everytime Dr. Craig is lined up for a debate one of the bloggers will write on that site nearly everytime, I'm sure Dr. Craig will destroy so and so but.... They can't stand the fact they don't have solid ground to stand on.

I'm just curious as to why they continue to stand behind their "Athiest Leaders/Debaters" when they keep taking a pounding at these debates. I think I would begin to question some things.

Carrier, Hitchens... None of them had an attack other than diversions for Craig. Humor and well, I think you're wrong are not arguments. They're grasps for I don't want to submit myself to a Creator. A scientist once said, "God is like the elephant in the living room". You see him, smell him and can't get around him but you have to swear he isn't there". God Bless....

[Mo]

Anyone know how long the debate went? The DVD will be available for purchase, but it's fairly expensive and I want to know if I should purchase it. (I'm out of work, otherwise I wouldn't have a problem shelling out the cash.)

[JillD]

It was 2 1/2 hours or so.

[Mo]

JillD -

Wow, that's pretty long! Awesome, thanks.

[Prince]

It was long but everyone that commented on it that was there said it was a very very moving debate...

[Alvin]

He shoots, he scores!!! And the crowd goes wild.