THE DEBATE VIEWER

The God Delusion debate.

Dawkins and Lennox dispute whether scientific explanation supports atheism, whether faith can be evidence-based, and how morality and the claims about Jesus bear on Christian belief.

University of Alabama at Birmingham · 3 October 2007

COMPLETE ORIGINAL RECORDING

KEEP THE QUESTION IN VIEW

Does explaining a natural process settle whether that process has an ultimate purpose or source?

Compare the assertion, its supporting reason and the response.

IN THIS EXCHANGE

12 sections · 95 speaker turns.

SECTION 1

Welcome & format

Supplied transcript · Original speaking order

I’m Larry Taunton, Executive Director of Fixed Point Foundation, and I want to tell you a little something about the debate you’re about to see featuring Professor Richard Dawkins and Dr. John Lennox, both men of the University of Oxford.

The question has been asked of us many times, why sponsor a debate on this issue, that is, the new atheism and religion, or in this case, more specifically, Christianity?

Fixed Point Foundation is a Christian organization that seeks to draw public attention to hot-button cultural issues, and since September 11th of 2001, the new atheism and its charges against religion have been one of those issues. Interestingly, many Christians and atheists feel that their views are frequently mischaracterized in the larger cultural discussion.

To address this, we wanted to find individuals who represented the beliefs of their respective camps. We think we have two of the very best in Richard Dawkins and John Lennox. We’re grateful to both men for their cooperation. John and Richard were delightful to work with and enthusiastic about the project from beginning to end. We think you will find what follows informative, challenging, and thought-provoking.

Good evening. I’m Larry Taunton, Executive Director of Fixed Point Foundation, the sponsor of this event. We welcome you to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alys Stephens Center, and we also welcome those who are listening around the world.

Tonight’s debate features two of the great minds currently writing and speaking on this issue, Professor Richard Dawkins and Dr. John Lennox. I will not waste time now giving you their biographies, as you will find them in your program, but it has been my pleasure to get to know both of these men.

We have brought you here this evening under rather false pretenses. There’s actually not a debate this evening. Richard Dawkins wanted to come to the Bible Belt to announce his conversion to the Christian faith. Perhaps I’m mistaken. Incidentally, Richard is representing the atheistic position in this debate, if you didn’t know that. And Dr. John Lennox, the Christian one.

There’s something that I would like to say about the debate itself. We have thought that much of the discussion on this issue hasn’t been particularly helpful, as it’s frequently framed as science versus religion. What we are seeking to do this evening is to narrow the discussion just a bit, and hence the name of this debate, The God Delusion Debate.

So this debate will feature and will focus on the book, The God Delusion, and Richard’s assertions therein over and against the Christian faith.

A word about Fixed Point Foundation. We are a Christian organization, and unashamedly so, but we also seek thoughtful civil discussion on meaningful issues. And questions regarding eternity we think are meaningful indeed. We ask that you extend every courtesy to these men, whether you agree with them or not.

Undoubtedly there will be much said this evening that you will take issue with. Nonetheless, we hope you will extend to them a southern welcome.

We’re also pleased to have with us tonight, serving as our moderator, Judge Bill Pryor. Many of you will recall that he was the Attorney General for the state of Alabama and is now a federal judge. Bill, thank you very much.

We ask also that you turn off your cell phones and join me in greeting these men and turning it over to Bill Pryor.

Thank you, Larry. Good evening. Welcome to the debate.

You all know the theme, and Larry has introduced it, the God Delusion versus Christianity. There will be a structure to our debate this evening. We will begin with opening autobiographical statements from each of our debaters, beginning with Professor Dawkins and then turning to Dr. Lennox.

When I ask that each of them provide those statements, I will ask them to tell us something about themselves, each of them, and something about the book, The God Delusion.

We will then turn to the six major theses of Professor Dawkins’ book, The God Delusion. Now, obviously, it’s a long book. We can’t cover everything in it, but we have selected what we think are the six major themes. And to introduce each of those themes, I will read some excerpts from Professor Dawkins’ book and then give him an opportunity to elaborate and then Dr. Lennox an opportunity to respond.

Each of those exchanges should be about five minutes per side. And then what is not reflected in your program is that each of our debaters will finish the program with final statements, with concluding remarks. We will start that with Dr. Lennox, and then we will turn to Professor Dawkins.

So, Professor Dawkins, tonight you will have both the first and the last word, I suppose in the interest of Christian charity. Professor Dawkins, could you begin our discussion with an autobiographical statement? Tell us something about yourself and about the book.

THE QUESTION UNDERNEATH

Welcome & format

Identify the claim, the reason and the reply.

PREPARE BEFORE YOU DEBATE

Study the questions underneath.

Has science made God unnecessary?

The world we investigate is sustained by its Creator.

Why is there something rather than nothing?

Creation depends on the self-existent God.

Can we be good without believing in God?

No one is righteous by nature. God's image remains, and common grace is real.

Does the resurrection really matter?

Christ rose bodily. Our forgiveness and hope depend on it.

Conviction with an open Bible. Scripture first. Reformed convictions. Sources you can examine.

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