Cambridge Union Society God Debate (Oct. 2011) - WL Craig, PS Williams vs. A Copson, A Ahmed

http://reasonablefaith.org - The motion for this debate was "This House Believes that God is not a Delusion". It took place before a packed house at the Cambridge Union Society on 20th October 2011, as a part of William Lane Craig's Reasonable Faith Tour 2011. Be sure to watch until the end to hear the results of the votes!

Proposing the motion were William Lane Craig and Peter S.Williams.
Opposing the motion were Arif Ahmed and Andrew Copson.

Related:

Andrew Copson Tries to Smear William Lane Craig with Dishonesty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhu2ukFHjWY

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[archangelcats]

did a cambridge student really said "if God exist then who created God?" really?

[drcraigvideos]

@archangelcats What's worse is that the person who asked that question was the same person who asked Dr. Craig that... well, same question again previously before this!

[stuartbrand]

it's the wrong seat to chose when wearing a kilt

[drcraigvideos]

@stuartbrand LOL! At least he kept his legs closed.

[soccerdanny4]

The moderator sucks. aren't they supposed to moderate? Not let random people argue while someone is giving an argument. There's also a question he didn't let the proposition answer to.

[drcraigvideos]

@soccerdanny4 In this case, it's very very very small moderation. This is what they do in the Cambridge Union type of debate apparently.

[changeinjoy]

Whatever one thinks of God's existence, it strikes me as disingenuous either to try to argue that belief cannot be delusional by definition - or to try to claim that "delusional" means no more than a false belief.

In common usage, we all know that calling a person delusional is different from simply claiming to disagree. There seems to be a negative pattern of trying to make vitriolic claims, then toning them down with bland definitions when asked to defend them.

[starshkr46]

I was afraid that Dr. Craig was a little bit manipulative towards the audience but now I understand. The opposition acted cowardly and hid their (weak) objections at the end to avoid interaction. Just pathetic. Dr. Craig made good use of his time with what he could and it seems it actually got them the vote.

On another note, Is Ahmed playing dumb or is he really that ignorant? At least the girl in the right kept me entertained...

[Jeremyakita14]

who won the debate in Cambridge

[Jeremyakita14]

Arif Ahmed and Andrew Copson sounded disrespectful

[fjoo]

@soccerdanny4 It's meant to be a case presentation where the "people" can protest or intervene if they hear something they object to. It's a form of debate. though it seems with slight modifications. I don't know the details around mace debate, but it's not just a matter of bad moderators.

[testinganidea]

“difficulty connecting KALAM to Christian god”

Even if you believe the argument is valid it does not yield a “very powerful, personal” being as Dr. Craig posits. The god of this argument need only sustain quantum gravity and visible universes like ours are inevitable (Hawking and Mlodinow 2010). It would need no other powers and it need not be personal as no choices/agency is required. There is certainly no linkage to traditional Christian claims such as personal, omniscient and omnipotent.

[blurpeace]

@soccerdanny4 The speaker signals to allow those questions. It's part of the style of debate in England.

[jmanexpress]

If I was Dr Craig i would consider changing my name to Dr Boss,

[needtoalwayslearn]

@rgonzalez2593 I find the Kalam and Leibniz Cosmological Arguments solid. I've been moving towards the Christianity aspects of his arguments and am finding a little difficults.

Are there any debates where WLC points out the God is purely good, or that he must be benevolent ?

[heinno777]

Nice debate, fair result - wonder what the vote would be at a USA university, if the same words were spoken

[testinganidea]

@rgonzalez2593 Some would say "... a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound of fury, signifying nothing." (Macbeth act V, scene 5)