This debate between atheist philosopher, Raymond Bradley and Christian philosopher and blogger, Matt Flannagan, was entitled "Is God the Source of Morality? Is it rational to ground right and wrong in commands issued by God?" It was held at the University of Auckland, in New Zealand, on 2 August, 2010.
Bradley is an Emeritus Professor of Philosophy with areas of specialty in Philosophical Logic, Metaphysics, Logical Atomism; he has previously debated William Lane Craig, Edward Blaiklock and many other Christian scholars and describes himself as an older generation "new atheist".
Flannagan is an Auckland based Philosopher and Theologian with areas of specialty in Philosophy of Religion, Ethics and Theology; he has previously debated Bill Cooke, Zoe During and writes for the popular Christian blog MandM (www.mandm.org.nz).
The format of the debate was as follows:
Dr Bradley: Opening Comments [20 min]
Dr Flannagan: Opening Comments [20 min]
Dr Bradley: Reply to Dr Flannagan [10 min]
Dr Flannagan: Reply to Dr Bradley[10 min]
Dr Bradley: Closing Comments [7 min]
Dr Flannagan: Closing Comments [7 min]
Questions from the floor: [30 min]
The moderator for the debate was Professor John Bishop.
This debate is brought to you by the Evangelical Union (http://www.tscf.org.nz/campus/university_of_auckland/auckland_university_evangelical_union/) and the Reason and Science Society (http://reasonandscience.doodlekit.com/home) with the support of Thinking Matters (www.thinkingmatters.org.nz). The opening statements and first replies can be found at MandM (www.mandm.org.nz).
Bradley completely failed to answer my two point question regarding morality not being sentiment baced but a matter of, and relates to objective facts, thus If irrespective of how we might feel about the existance of a Hell...if hell is an objective fact, that jesus preaching about it *IS MORAL* and not to do so would have been as immoral as not trying to wake a sleeping man that the house was on fire!
twikiriwhi 9 months ago