Debate - Does God Exist? William Lane Craig vs Herb Silverman

[thebigboxl]

that whole "we're all atheists!" argument is quite silly.

[theocratickingdom30]

I have to admit, the comment about being a Christian that doesn't believe in inerracy puzzled me and a lot of people.

[themakerofmine]

Thank you for posting this debate!

[themakerofmine]

Thank you for this debate positing!

[tjobv]

I sitll dont understand the Ontological Argument...

If it possible that God exist, and thus would exist in all possible worlds etc. then how does it follow logically that he actually exist?

Somebody explain please?!?!?!

[scar504]

@tjobv Glad to do so. God is defined as the ultimate being, the epitome of existence. Now when we think of something in our heads it exists either in our cognition, in reality, or both. Since god is the greatest of beings it cannot merely exist as an idea therefore if we can conceive of a truly ultimate being then it must exist outside of our minds as well.

[clockwatcherrocker]

@scar504 I dont understand how conceiving the idea of a god means it exists outside of our minds. By this logic at one time people thought thunder was created by a god. Since people conceived of an ultimate being created thunder, does that mean it exists?

[seansalvador1]

@tjobv

It doesn't follow, IE it is a non sequituer and an abvious one at that! It's not even hidden beneath other levels of argument as other non sequiturs tend to be.

[devintarr]

@tjobv ...even possible that a Maximally Great Being exists, then in fact a maximally great being MUST exist. Did you follow that? Let me know if I lost you anywhere, or what questions you still might have. :)

Warmly,

Devin

[ztarzcream]

@devintarr How does one know if it's possible that a maximally great being exists? And what does "possible" mean?

[EmceeBorg]

@ztarzcream When Craig says 'possible' he is strictly speaking of logical possibility. If you want to show that a maximally great being isn't possible, you'd have to show the concept to be incoherent (i.e. it contains a contradiction). If there is no contradiction, then it's logically possible for a maximally great being to exist.

[hadihadi222]

He put lady gaga in the same level as animals ? lol

[holdenc96]

"[Humanism] is whistling in the graveyard, pretending not to notice the darkness, not to notice the impending nilhilsm that is closing all around you." That is the most morose thing I've ever heard Dr. Craig say.

[LiveForGreatness]

I just thought of something... If they say "Christianity arose from fear..."

Can't we say that atheism came from happiness, meaning, what atheist like?

[scar504]

@LiveForGreatness There's no reason to stoop to the level of genetic fallacies, but if you were to say anything you would need only say they may believe it out of fear as well, the fear of hell. However, this is not a good point it's just like calling someone stupid because they called you stupid it's facile.

[imkluu]

Help me out here, does Herb Silverman's argument break down to:

I can't prove God exists or does not exist so I am an Atheist but the bible is full of what I perceive as mistakes and immorality so Dr Craig must be wrong in his arguments for the assistance of God.

[holdenc96]

I have seen Dr. Craig use the SAME EXACT arguments over and over against in all his debates! Geez...these atheists have access to his arguments and he never changes them! Don't they ever come prepared? I love it when atheists say that Dr. Craig "uses the same tired arguments." Well, until atheists actually come prepared to a debate and actually address the arguments, why should he change them? In fact, I think it's funny! If an argument can stand such sintense crutiny, what does that tell you?

[dbronco72]

@holdenc96 Fantastic comment! I was actually confused about the date of this debate. When I heard Silverman's opening speech, I blurted out loud (I was alone) "has he ever heard Dr. Craig speak before?" I mean, didn't he even see Dr. Craig's debate with Hitchens? I found myself wondering if Silverman was just some guy found on the street having been talked into filling in for the actual chosen opponent. I get better responses and arguments from my homeboys. This is just unacceptable. I hurt.

[Mazinga]

@holdenc96 very good observation!!! why should someone change his arguments when they don't have been refuted. He should change them because of political correctness, or just to be non predictive. another question I ask is, why atheists always come with the lame argument against God's existence that "God is bad so he doesn't exit" - What???? that just would tell that God exists and HE is bad, not that he doesn't exist. Ouh my, they want to belief everything but in God.

[empreme]

I guess Silverman never saw the Zindler debate.... They're saying much of the same stuff.

[Nazam44]

What were the audience reacting too at 1:15:00?

[ebeatworld]

Silverman is the king of red herrings. This debate is NOT about biblical inerrancy! He keeps attacking the Bible. Craig probably could defend many of those Biblical claims. But Silverman is clueless that it has NOTHING to do with the debate.

[ApologeticsArsenal]

@ebeatworld Reminds me of the Sam Harris debate. Harris pretty much gave up his case for atheism after the first rebuttal of Craig, and reverted to attacking Biblical inerrancy. It was at that point when Craig holds up a copy of the book "Is God a Moral Monster?" by Dr. Paul Chopan which undermined Harris' appeal to emotion. Dr. Craig is good about keeping his opponents on topic.

[ebeatworld]

@ApologeticsArsenal Exactly. Sam Harris, for being such a big shot, was maybe one of Craig's worst opponents. I have to say, though, Silverman might take the cake.

[Birdieupon]

Eugh. What a terrible opponent for Dr Craig. This is kids' stuff.

[DLAbaoaqu]

1:38:53 -- What's this all about?

[jmanexpress]

This was a joke Dr Craig spanked Silverman so hard the bottoms his ancestors are red.

[talkingfortruth]

Mr Craig is a true gentlemen and distinguished scholar. Very high class. A man of Godly character. Praise God for his schoolmate who lead him to Christ those years ago so he can so effectively defend the faith once delivered unto the saints.

[ASeventhSign]

I've watched a few of these debates. I've yet to see a well orchestrated argument for from the atheist point of view. I wonder what opponent Dr. Craig would say was his most formidable?

[ElasticGiraffe]

This math professor is clueless. It just illustrates that leaders of atheist and secularist organizations are not elected on the basis of their critical thinking skills. >.>

[ElasticGiraffe]

If the window into a moral epistemology is simply reflecting on whatever makes you feel good, then the only evil people out there would be masochists. After reducing the ontological basis of ethical truth to a relative and ever-changing social construction which he claims to embrace on the basis of "feeling" alone, he has the audacity to make his central argument in this debate over the existence of God the claim that the ANE biblical authors said that God affirmed the permissibility of slavery.

[Jayoung1000]

Herb Silverman doesn't believe in alien abduction!!!!! WHAT! Has he never seen ET?

[Jayoung1000]

Thanks for posting!

[godswordsheal]

This Silverman has been completely out played in this debate...He had no chance from the beginning. He was clearly trying to play out of his league.

[xscar10]

Herb really didn't know how to debate very well... Well, compared to willam at least.

[HaShim383]

if anything I heard from Silverman was a topic against the reliability of the scriptures and based on emotionalism...I'm surprised Craig didn't call him out on that.

[wizzy2k4]

wait wait wait wait wait, WHAT??? Did he just compare the beliefs of terrorist to that of the disciples and early Christians? The Disciples and early Christians were EXECUTED, and they willingly walked to their executions and executions and persecutions that were predicted by Jesus if may add, they didn't blow themselves up -____-. My God, what ignorance.

[danieljanca]

Notice at 1:54:10 Silverman says: "I live as if there is no God...". I'm praying for his family that he doesn't..., but seriously, he cannot ground moral values on his view, yet he's affirming them. It's surprising how uninformed and unprepared opponents of Dr. Craig are. As if Silverman just watched some pop-atheist videos the previous night. I mean, I could've presented a better case for atheism just by having watched almost all available debates of Dr. Craig. There weren't even arguments!

[Lacocacolaman]

I feel so bad for the people that debate William Lane Craig. I cringe at their horrible answers. He's debating the topic "Does God Exist?" and the atheist always attack the bible... I think I could even debate better for the atheist than they can.

It's like watching a blind man shooting at a moving target.

[ninjaeim]

"Whistling in the graveyard " ! Excellent exchange! Dr. Craig has once again proved that Christian theism is by in large the more rational worldview. The artful dodger? More like the artful machine gun! I truly thank God for people like Dr. Craig, who so soundly warrant the Christian faith. Of course, this is merely an addition to the work of the Holy Spirit, but nonetheless an anchor for the battleship of God.

[signofthehammer]

ufff...I feel sorry for people that seem good persons and not just stupid atheists but unfortunatly cant grasp God's word and offer plain bad arguments in an attempt to avoid God's existance. Anyway..good try mister Silverman.

[Bigjon145]

This was ridiculous, lnothing new from the atheists, just the same whining and complaining, "What about Abraham and Isaac?" "What about the multiverse?" "What about quantum physics?" *facepalm* God bless Craig for being so patient of dealing with the same objections in EVERY debate.

[95TurboSol]

Good stuff!

[atbigdog24002]

Did the fact that Silverman pronounced miracle mirecle bug anyone?

[thorkyll]

is there anything we can do to try and pressure the cowards to debatee Dr Craig in the UK?

[drcraigvideos]

@thorkyll Well, don't you see, evolution has not given Dawkins a healthy dose of testosterone to debate Craig. Blame natural selection :)

[LiberalsUtopian]

@drcraigvideos Yeah lots of atheists have low testosterone issues.

[treasuredroperX]

@drcraigvideos Why would Dawkins debate william lane Craig?Just as dawkins would own him in evolution, william lane craig would own him in philosophy. They have two different specialties.

[drcraigvideos]

@treasuredroperX Well, Dr. Craig is open to evolution and he has in fact debated experts and better-thinking scientists than Dawkins on evolution. After all, Craig debated Francisco Ayala.

[emailjough]

Silverman, like so many atheists, just doesn't get it.

Something isn't immoral because the bible says so; the bible say so because it's immoral.

Silverman continued to attack epistemology when Craig was defending ontology.

Saying you can't believe in God because of how His followers behave can be just as easily applied to atheism. It's irrelevant to the debate topic.

Silverman says there is no evidence for Gods existence but largely ignored the lines of evidence that were presented to h

[aveyowyns]

Silverman's opening statement sounded like a university essay.

[aveyowyns]

I don't think logical proofs for God's existence can be made any more clear ... yet, the atheist still whines.

[AdviceGod]

The god of the bible cannot exist by definition of his attributes. Omniscience and omnipotence are mutually exclusive, if the future is perfectly known then the power cannot be had to alter it in any way, precluding gods existence

[drcraigvideos]

@AdviceGod Why is it so difficult for people to understand the ontological argument? Can you actually give some effort to listen to the argument without giving a flippant remark?

[treasuredroperX]

@drcraigvideos I agree

[atbigdog24002]

@AdviceGod what do you mean by the future? do you mean what "will" happen, what "might" happen or what "will" happen?

[ritamalik]

I simply can't believe it! These supposed "distinguished" atheists paddle the same nonsensical arguments as your run-of-the-mill YouTube atheist! When are these guys going to get it!? An atheist is someone who believes in NO GOD whatsoever! Neither the Wotan and Thor worshiper who is a polyTHEIST nor the Hindu Brahman worshiper who is a panTHEIST nor the worshiper of Yahweh who is a monoTHEIST is any sort of Atheist what so ever! Get it already!!!!! It is not that difficult to understand!

[wordception]

Thanks for uploading these debates. It has been a real privilege to be exposed to Dr Craig's work.

[bwest8888]

Poor mathematician. Just regurgitating New Atheist Dawkins-type crap. Didn't even engage Craig's philosophical arguments.

I have to say, as an atheist, I'm starting to become a fan of Craigs even though I don't ultimately agree with him. We both have something in common. Great love of and respect for, philosophy as a discipline.

I've only seen like 2 debates out of a crapton, that I can remember, where Craig loses IMO. And his opponents were professional philosophers. Big surprise.

[IloveYOUviruses]

Once I went to a show, there was a table and an empty hat, then, a rabbit popped into being out of nowhere, nobody was amazed, they were atheists.

[shyninjagirl]

@IloveYOUviruses That's a little mean. You're implying that atheists believe in "something from nothing," which is a gross oversimplification of some of our beliefs.

[drcraigvideos]

@IloveYOUviruses LOL!

[iftheyonlynew]

@drcraigvideos you are awesome, thanks for posting these videos and for defending the christian faith! What you are doing is just as important as the debates themselves. Through your videos and others alike, you helped me on my search for truth, and it wasn't long after till i had an incounter with God myself! I pray that Jesus continue to give you strength and wisdom.

[treasuredroperX]

@IloveYOUviruses Why would they be amazed? 

[deadlyrhythm]

@IloveYOUviruses Actually, a great number were amazed and were very interested in what caused it, so they decided to try and find out, from that they could see, how it happened. They did not simply roll over and admit that a god did it, though it was perhaps possible. They found the evidence given not quite good enough for such a bold claim so they continued to search for the truth, whatever it may be. You know, one day we might have all the answers. But first we have to look.

[ObscureDEG]

The moment the camera shifted to william lane craig i was just like "ahhhh Yeahhhhh" Way to go Mr. Craig!

[DanielAnchondo]

@ObscureDEG Yeah! 1:13

[ivanisavich]

Thanks for uploading.