Fun with Dick and Lane: See Dawkins Run!

Learning can be fun when the lesson is atheism and the text features quotes from Richard Dawkins. He is the foremost apologist for atheism, but has been dodging debate challenges from the foremost apologist for theism, William Lane Craig, for quite some time. It reminds me of the children's learning book "Fun with Dick and Jane" wherein I remember simple text, such as, "See Dick run! Run, Dick, run!"

Remarkably, in a public statement October 20, 2011, Dawkins states he and his peers have never heard of Craig: “He (Craig) parades himself as a philosopher, but none of the professors of philosophy whom I consulted had heard his name either.”[1] All things considered, that’s quite a statement by Dawkins, who is considered one of "The Four Horsemen of the Anit-Apocalype" who represent the New Atheism movement. In a 2007 YouTube video uploaded by richarddawkins.net, The Four Horsemen are seen in a round-table discussion wherein Sam Harris states, "Religion is held off the table of formal criticism" and Richard Dawkins nods his head approvingly. [2] Actually, it seems Dawkins is desperate to keep his atheism "off the table" and out of harms way. Craig has debated the other three horsemen; Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett. And now, only Dawkins is left. There's even a Facebook page devoted to The Four Horsemen, so it's not as if they exist in a closet.[3]

Dawkins wrote of Hitchens, “Christopher Hitchens: my hero of 2010" and "A gentleman and a truly formidable debater, Christopher Hitchens is a giant of the mind and a model of courage.”[4] Dawkins’ friend, the “formidalble debator” and “hero,” was soundly thrashed in a debate with William Lane Craig in 2009. A leading atheist blog, Common Sense Atheism, stated “Frankly, Craig spanked Hitchens like a foolish child.”[5]

In April 2011, Craig debated Sam Harris. At the beginning of the debate Harris remarked, "I’m very happy to be debating Dr Craig, the one Christian apologist who seems to have put the fear of God into many of my fellow atheists." Atheism defender Jon Loftus, who happens to be a  former student of Craig’s, witnessed the debate live and stated, “On a points basis Craig won.”[6] The fun began in earnest May 14, 2011, when a member of the Faculty of Philosophy at Oxford University (where Dawkins attended) was quoted as writing to fellow atheist Richard Dawkins concerning his refusal to debate Dr. William Lane Craig: "The absence of a debate with the foremost apologist for Christian theism is a glaring omission on your CV and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."[7] Ouch, that smarts.

The Daily Telegraph article outlined Dawkins’ response, “I have no intention of assisting Craig in his relentless drive for self-promotion”[8] The article further highlighted, “Prof Dawkins maintains that Prof Craig is not a figure worthy of his attention and has reportedly said that such a contest would “look good” on his opponent’s CV but not on his own.”[9]

Dawkins flip-flops

So, check the logic here. Dawkins said he won’t debate Craig because it won’t help advance Dawkins' own CV and career, yet Dawkins accuses Craig of self-promotion. But it gets better...

In June 2011, Dawkins stated he would never want to go on a show like the O’Reilly Factor because Bill O’Reilly isn’t intellectual enough for Dawkins: "If there are debates between two intelligent people, they are conducted effectively. But if they're conducted between an intelligent and educated person on the one hand and Bill O'Reilly on the other, they're probably not. Perhaps have more intelligent people as interviewers rather than people like Bill O'Reilly for a start. That wouldn't be great for ratings I suppose, but perhaps we should become less influenced by ratings."[10]

Nevertheless, after Fox News ran a story on how atheists were dropping out of professional debates with Craig that had been scheduled in England,[11] can you guess who wanted to appear on Fox News with the dilettante armchair philosopher Bill O’Reilly? As you might have guessed, Richard Dawkins.[12]

The Sheldonian Theatre

By October 5, in keeping with his flip-flopping ways, Dawkins was on the O’Reilly Factor in a tense exchange with Bill, all the while trying to promote his new children’s book, "The Magic of Reality: How We Know What’s Really True".

When had become apparent Dawkins would rather launch a series of ad hominum attacks against Craig,  rather than debate based on logic and reason, Craig issued a press release through his organization Reasonable Faith regarding what will occur at the Sheldonian Theatre. The plan was clarified that an empty chair would be ready for Dawkins, who could show up for a debate at any time up until the last minute. If he doesn't show up, "Craig will lecture on the weakness of Dawkins’ arguments in his book, The God Delusion. A panel of Oxford scholars will respond to his talk, before members of the audience are invited to ask questions from the floor."

Craig says of his debates, “These are academic forums, where one concentrates on the arguments and counter arguments, the truth of the premises in those arguments and objections to them, and not on personality or ad hominem attacks. Atheist Richard Dawkins, who has been publicly accused of cowardice {1} for refusing to debate the arguments he presents in The God Delusion, recently described Craig as a “deeply unimpressive...ponderous buffoon,” who uses logic for “bamboozling his faith-head audience.” Yet he still has not responded to the actual content of the arguments presented by Craig."

Toynbee is President of the British Humanist Association which describes one of its core values as "engaging in debate rationally, intelligently and with attention to evidence."

Debates apart from Tonybee and Grayling have been confirmed in Manchester and Birmingham universities, where Craig will engage with Oxford academics, Prof. Peter Atkins (science) and Prof. Peter Millican (philosophy)."[13]

At least some atheists in England are willing to debate. Richard Dawkins may have somehow rationalized that it may look better on his  CV to promote a children's book rather than debate the foremost defender of theology, but this choice probably doesn't bode very well for the public's opinion about atheism. Buses in Oxford are plastered with signs calling Dawkins out on the carpet: "There's probably no Dawkins. So stop worrying and enjoy Oct 25th at the Sheldonian Theatre." Dawkins has the home-game advantage.

The gauntlet was originally thrown by Dawkins when he wrote "The God Delusion." The fact that he calls belief in God delusional and is unwilling to defend his argument in debate, as Atheism's main front-man, is quite disingenuous. Craig has clarified the cowardice and hypocrisy by taking the gauntlet back and throwing it down at Dawkins' front door in Oxford England.

Dawkins may wear his mantel proudly as the primo "Horseman of the Anti-Apocalypse," but perhaps another horseman should point out that he seems to be charging in the wrong direction. The Sheldonian calls. Is chivalry dead in England? Or is atheism dead? You be the judge.

As noted by Dr. Craig, “Being accused of being self-promoting by Richard Dawkins is, as Sam Harris remarks, sort of like being accused of bad taste by Lady Gaga.”[14] Comments by Dawkins are a great source of comic material for new Christian jokes.

Experts in their fields have commented on Dawkins' refusal to a debate them as well, for example, Michael Behe, a biologist like Dawkins, and Stephen Meyer, a philosopher/scholar, both of whom are published in peer-reviewed articles.  But the exchanges between Dawkins and Craig in the news are probably the most amusing. Even Dawkins' fellow atheist Oxford Don, Daniel Came won't let Dawkins off the hook. In an article published October 22, Came states "Richard Dawkins' refusal to debate is cynical and anti-intellectual." He states "Using William Lane Craig's remarks as an excuse not to engage in reasoned debate is a typical New Atheist polemic."[15] Ouch, Came is not sparing the rod. Dawkins' latest excuse is that the Bible says horrible things, therefore he won't debate Craig. This is supremely disingenuous because Dawkins has debated plenty of other Christians who have believed the Bible is true.

On October 25th, 7:30pm at the Sheldonian Theatre on Broad Street in Oxford England, there will be an empty chair set out for Mr. Richard Dawkins at the debate, God willing. If Richard isn't out promoting his children's book he may have time to stop by and debate. He's flip-flopped on his opinion regarding Bill O'Reilly's talk program, so maybe he'll flip-flop on his decision not to debate Craig as well. With moral relativists you just never quite know what to expect.

When you watch the video at this embedded link and see Craig dismantle the main arguments in Dawkins' book "The God Delusion", then you'll better understand the reason Dawkins is running from a debate.[16] By dodging debates, Dawkins is underscoring the weakness of atheism as a worldview. Mind if I cheer you on Dawkins? Go, Dawkins, go! See Dawkins go! 

As I read the Stand to Reason blog post today posted by Amy Hall, I was reminded we need to pray for Richard Dawkins and other atheists. The scriptures declare "The fool has said in his heart 'there is no God.'"[17] And while it is true atheism is quite foolish and at times humorous, its consequences are truly serious.

References

[1] Guardian, Why I refuse to debate with William Lane Craig

(http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/20/richard-dawkins-william-lane-craig)

[2] Youtube, The Four Horsemen HD: Hour 1 of 2 - Discussions with Richard Dawkins, Ep 1, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DKhc1pcDFM)

[3] Facebook, Four Horseman, (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6037801975)

[4] Guardian, Christopher Hitchens: my hero of 2010, (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/01/christopher-hitchens-richard-dawkins)

[5] Common Sense Atheism,  The Craig-Hitchens Debate, Luke Muehlhauser on April 4, 2009 (http://commonsenseatheism.com/?p=1230)

[6] Debunking Christianity, If You Were Scoring Points Craig Won, But Harris Clearly Had the Better Arguments, John W. Loftus, 4/08/2011(http://debunkingchristianity.blogspot.com/2011/04/craigharris-debate-if-you-were-scoring.html)

[7] Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God, The Daily Telegraph, May 14, 2011 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html)

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] YouTube, Richard Dawkins Prefers "Unintelligent" debates with Bill O'Reilly over Bill Craig (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzEUNUumT3w)

[11] Fox News: Christian Philosopher William Lane Craig Is Ready to Debate, but Finds Few Challengers (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/19/christian-pastor-atheists-debates/#ixzz1bZHCY3Z)

[12] YouTube, Richard Dawkins Prefers "Unintelligent" debates with Bill O'Reill

[13] Reasonable Faith, Press Release, British Humanists Take to the Bunkers Against Reasonable Faith's Dr. William Lane Craig, (Tonybee, Grayling, Peter Atkins, Peter Millican, Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford) (http://www.pr.com/press-release/348093)

[14] YouTube, Richard Dawkins Suffers from Projection while Evading William Lane Craig [mirror]

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5zp76Yj7bo)

[15] Guardian, Richard Dawkins's refusal to debate is cynical and anti-intellectualist, 

(http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/oct/22/richard-dawkins-refusal-debate-william-lane-craig)

[16] The Main Argument of the God Delusion Refuted

RICHARD DAWKINS THE GOD DELUSION RESPONSE BY WILLIAM LANE CRAIG

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-SgDpyiKPc)

[17] Psalm 14.1b