Christopher Hitchens vs. Douglas Wilson Debate at Westminster Theological Seminary, Part 4 of 12

A debate at Westminster Theological Seminary between Christopher Hitchens, renowned atheist, and Douglas Wilson, renowned Christian author. It was moderated by Dr. Scott Oliphint, and you can read his response to the debate at http://www.wts.edu/stayinformed/view.html?id=296.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Christopher Hitchens
• Douglas Wilson
• Hitchens-Wilson debate
• atheist
• apologetics
• Scott Oliphint

[writersblock26]

Thank you for posting this, WestminsterOnline.

[WestminsterOnline]

@writersblock26 Our pleasure!

[frilansspion]

@ClamCrunchy no I wouldnt say that is "valid" as you put it. we exist in a massively abstracted plane (physics-wise) and we have rules that comes with being conscious and having sympathy and empathy with others. any power or knowledge comes with responsibility. besides that, "blaming" physical laws or atoms is obviously pointless. blame or guilt are not concepts in natural science. (I dont mean to say it like if you wouldnt know it, I know you do. but still)

[ClamCrunchy]

@frilansspion Here's what I mean. If we accept a totally naturalistic view of evolution, then the behavior of humans must ultimately be reducible to a very complex interplay of genetics and environment. Thus it is always valid to blame one's behavior on genetics and environment, rather than to take personal responsibility, is it not?

[frilansspion]

@ClamCrunchy do you mean responsibility in some cosmic sense then? why would there be a need for that? Im not sure what youre claiming but that is an outrageously simplistic argument.

[ClamCrunchy]

@bryanttillman Nope, said nothing about any God. What I'm saying is that we aren't responsible for our actions, because our behavior is totally determined by genetics and environment. It would only make sense for us to have such things as "guilt" or "shame" if had the ability to make a free choice, beyond merely what genetics and environment dictate.

[bryanttillman]

@ClamCrunchy Mankind was NOT born yesterday, and neither was his culture. Guilt, Shame, and everything else are from our interactions w/ each other....or are you saying that all things good and evil are from god exclusively? Jesus! God can't be an originator ofr ALL things, or we won't have any room for ourselves.

[ClamCrunchy]

@bryanttillman In what way specifically?

[weefeatures]

@bryanttillman right and no one ever associates it with Jesus ever.

[bryanttillman]

@weefeatures "Christ" is an alteration of a greek common noun, "Chrestos", meaning "KIng". It isn't even Jesus' name.

[bryanttillman]

@ClamCrunchy You're assertions are arbitrary. Fail.

[ClamCrunchy]

Hitchens accepts a naturalistic view of evolution, but seems to still think that we have can have "responsibility" for abolishing slavery. A true materialist could not believe they have responsibility for their actions, nor do the ideas of "guilt" or "shame" make any sense if we are merely products of genetics and environment, as we certianly are.