Two Philosophers Debate the Existence of God

Is God the greatest fact or the greatest illusion? Of all the questions posed by philosophy this is surely the most important. Has scientific knowledge made belief in God unnecessary and outdated? Is the universe all there is and God merely a human invention and a fantasy? Or is there an uncreated being, who is absolute, perfect, eternal, and personal that we call God? If there is no God man can free himself from an illusion that no longer casts its transcendental spell. But if God exists humans can find meaning and purpose in life and a secure foundation for ethical behavior. These issues will be addressed by two distinguished philosophers who will offer widely differing points of view.

William Lane Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at Biola University in La Mirada, California. He is known for his contributions to the philosophy of religion, philosophical theology, and historical Jesus studies. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Birmingham in the UK, where he studied under the British philosopher John Hick; and a doctorate in theology from the University of Munich, where he studied under the German theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg. He has authored or edited more than 30 books and has engaged many prominent academic atheists in public dialogue and debate. For more information see his web site http://www.reasonablefaith.org.

Victor J. Stenger is Emeritus Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Hawaii and currently Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at the University of Colorado. He was a pioneer in the emerging research focused on neutrino astronomy and very high-energy gamma rays. Stenger is an advocate of philosophical naturalism, scepticism, and atheism. He has published nine books on cosmology, skepticism, and atheism, most recently The New Atheism: Taking a Stand for Science and Reason (2009). For more information see his home page at http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger.