Christian Apologetics: Who Needs It? - William Lane Craig

http://reasonablefaith.org - California, September, 2007 - William Lane Craig at California Christian Apologetics Conference. Dr. Craig speaks on the importance of Christian apologetics and the defense of the faith.

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[lourak]

I am an admirer of Craig - but I don't think he is successful here in reconciling the notion of the self-sufficiency of direct experience, with the utility of reasoning as an aid to religious commitment. He claims that one can experience doubt in his faith. How then is the faith experience decisive in terms of ones religious commitment?

[drcraigvideos]

@lourak Huh? Dr. Craig is completely right about having a properly basic belief in God via the witness of the Holy Spirit. If you have doubts that doesn't mean you didn't have a viridal experience.

[lourak]

@drcraigvideos Thanks for responding! Well - if you read my comment carefully, you will see that I am not making a claim as to the impossibility of genuine religious experience, in the absence of a sound philosophical basis for ones faith. I think, however, that Craig has not properly made the case here.  Briefly, to follow up on your comment - what would you say is the nature of this doubt, if it does not bring into question the very basis of ones faith?

[drcraigvideos]

@lourak You said, "He claims that one can experience doubt in his faith. How then is the faith experience decisive in terms of ones religious commitment?" And I've spoken of Craig's view on the properly basic belief in God. Then you said I misunderstood you. Look, Craig was speaking on PPB in God via the Holy Spirit what more do you want? The fact that you called it "self-sufficiency" tells me you don't understand what he's talking about.

[THEEVANTHETOON]

@fansofbands

"sit around in their basement with nothing but an associates degree"

I'd like to guess that most angry Youtube Atheists are either teenagers or people that have never had to participate in rational discussion in their life, judging by the quality of such conversations (I'm a freshman in high school, and I have little trouble responding to these objections that they probably copy and paste off of their fellow, uninformed, internet-Atheist bloggers).

[4hq]

love the series where he's talking to christians...

thank you..

[h0lystrike]

@THEEVANTHETOON You're right; I was one once. Then I got saved =)

[H0tkebab]

WLC is the modern day C.S Lewis.

[lourak]

@Halfturretslicer Indeed - I'm sure Craig could fill in some of the gaps in his reasoning here. I am only asking for some kind of explication on the NATURE of doubt, in a philosophical model that claims it is not decisive to the faith experience.

[Halfturretslicer]

@lourak This is a very interesting thought, lourak. I think you might be right. If a person needs to use reasoning in order to keep his/her faith intact then that does seem to alter the basis of the person's faith, doesn't it? It's like your basis of faith is in reasoning, not in the witness of the Holy Spirit... I'm afraid I fall into this category. :( It would be the dream of a lifetime to talk to Craig personally regarding these matters...

[trickjacko]

Come to Mexico again please.



[bladudemovies]

Thank you for your time if you are able to respond to my question that was just posted. I was just wondering if you could perhaps better explain what you men by your theory so I as well as others could understand your mindset. Thank you again fr your time and i would appreciate if you could please respond.-Robert