15 Dec. 2016

The Selection of the Debates

By the finale of 2016 C.E., there were somewhere between 600 to 700 available public religion debates in the English language, centering on either God, a particular religion versus naturalism or atheism, or a number of side issues like the reconciliation of faith and science, etc. This list does not include the debates between supernaturalist theistic religions which are also available online, such as the debate between David Wood (Christian) and Shabir Ally (Muslim); and the list does not include debates performed on social media platforms or even traditional online debate forums.

Out of those 600 to 700 public debates not performed on online forums, there are more than 60 debates which focused on the God question itself, even though, granted, some of them delved into a sort of "God and morality" debate. I should also preface this by saying that I do not consider debates of "creation versus evolution" to qualify as a debate focusing on the God question itself, unless there is an actual significant thrust to make, say, an argument in favor of supernatural or Divine abiogenesis or an argument against naturalistic abiogenesis.

So then, what are the sorts of debates that qualify in this list of about 60 classic God debates? Well, there is the classic Warren-Flew debate (8 hours long), the Craig-Flew debate, the Copleston-Russell debate, and many more.

These 60 debates I have already reviewed and taken notes for, in an effort to build toward a massive work of literature on the God debate itself. I will list the debates below, in case you wish to peruse them, or glean whatever you want out of them. Of course, I cannot guarantee that the links will still be available. After all, at least one if not more were only live-streamed, as far as I am aware, but so be it.

Anyway, after watching about 60 debates, one gets a pretty good idea of what most people are going to say in a God debate, at least prior to any substantial progress in the debate as it stands.

Now, one would think that I would go to the trouble of ranking these in order of importance, but alas, no luck.

The 55 Classic Debates

Debate #1: Arif Ahmed v. Gary Habermas

Ahmed, Arif and Gary Habermas. “#2 Debate – Arif Ahmed vs Gary Habermas – Did Jesus Rise Bodily from the Dead – 2008.” 13 Mar. 2008. Cambridge University. Posted by DarkViper8888 under Atheist vs Theist Debates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mum8KtQSqQ. Accessed 30 Mar. 2016. Web.

Debate #2: Arif Ahmed v. William Lane Craig

Ahmed, Arif and William Lane Craig. “The Existence of God.” http://www.machinephilosophy.com/philox/debates/Arif%20Ahmed%20vs.%20William%20Lane%20Craig%20%28existence%20of%20god%29.mp3. Accessed 19 Jan. 2016. Web.

Debate #3: Max Andrews v. Justin Schieber

Andrews, Max and Justin Schieber. “Does the God of Christianity Exist?” 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtRMIj-BVQI. Accessed 31 Oct. 2015. Web.

Debate #4: Walter Sinnott Armstrong v. William Lane Craig

Armstrong, Walter Sinnott and William Lane Craig. God? A Debate between a Christian and an Atheist [Point-Counterpoint Series]. James P. Sterba, ed. New York City, New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.

Debate #5: Dan Barker v. Kyle Butt

Barker, Dan and Kyle Butt. “Debate: Does the God of the Bible Exist?” 12 Feb. 2009. University of South Carolina. Posted 22 Jun. 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnk4UCvY89U. Accessed 16 Dec. 2015. Web.

Debate #6: Dan Barker v. Russell DiSilvestro

Barker, Dan and Russell DiSilvestro. “Does the God of the Bible Exist?” 19 Apr. 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iObfJUdDO6w. Accessed 1 Feb. 2016.

Debate #7: Michael Shermer v. Paul Viggiano

Branch of Hope Church. “Reconsidering God: The Michael Shermer – Paul Viggiano Debate.” 17 Sept. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FCk4aA-vIQ. Accessed 11 Dec. 2016. Web.

Debate #8: Kyle Butt v. Blair Scott

Butt, Kyle and Blair Scott. “Debate: God Does Not Exist.” University of North Alabama. 5 Jan. 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwnLckSPrK4. Accessed 23 Nov. 2015. Web.

Debate #9: John Shook v. Carter Griffin (CFI Debate Series)

Center for Inquiry. “CFI-DC | John Shook vs Carter Griffin Debate: Does God Exist?” Posted 7 Mar. 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmLFBPghhvc. Accessed 6 Oct. 2016. Web.

Debate #10: John Shook v. Doug Geivett (CFI Debate Series)

Center for Inquiry. “Does God Exist? Doug Geivett vs. John Shook.” 31 Jul. 2009. Posted by ThomisticTheist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynV2Zbp5iEw. Accessed 7 Oct. 2016. Web.

Debate #11: Robin Collins v. Peter Millican (The Collins-Millican Fine-Tuning Debate)

Collins, Robin and Peter Millican. “Is the Fine-tuning of the Universe Evidence for God? Robin Collins vs. Peter Millican.” Unbelievable? 19 Mar. 2016. http://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable/Episodes/Unbelievable-Is-the-fine-tuning-of-the-Universe-evidence-for-God-Robin-Collins-vs-Peter-Millican. Accessed 20 Mar. 2016. Web.

Debate #12: Andrew Copson & Arif Ahmed v. William Lane Craig & Peter S. Williams

Copson, Andrew; Arif Ahmed; William Lane Craig; and Peter S. Williams. “#102 Debate – A Copson, A Ahmed vs WL Craig, PS Williams – Is God a Delusion – 2011.” 2011. Posted by DarkViper8888. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq4Jm3Tk-tU. Accessed 25 Mar. 2016. Web.

Debate #13: William Lane Craig v. Kai Nielsen (basically a God and morality debate)

Craig, William Lane and Kai Nielsen. “Does God Exist?” University of Western Ontario. Feb. 1991. http://www.reasonablefaith.org/does-god-exist-the-craig-nielsen-debate. Accessed 5 Dec. 2015. Web.

Debate #14: William Lane Craig v. Keith Parsons (The Prestonwood Debate)

Craig, William Lane and Keith Parsons. “#1 Debate – Keith Parsons vs William Lane Craig – Why I Am or Am Not a Christian.” Prestonwood Baptist Church. 1998. Posted by DarkViper8888 on Atheist vs Theist Debates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ihy7G1T_Ig. Accessed 30 Mar. 2016. Web.

Debate #15: William Lane Craig v. Massimo Pigliucci (The Knoxville Debate)

Craig, William Lane and Massimo Pigliucci. “The Craig-Pigliucci Debate: Does God Exist?” University of Tennessee at Knoxville. 1995. http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/craig-pigliucci0.html. Accessed 20 Apr. 2016. Web.

Debate #16: William Lane Craig v. Peter Millican (The Birmingham Debate)

Craig, William Lane and Peter Millican. “Does God Exist?” Birmingham University. Oct. 2011. Posted by The Reasonable Faith Tour (UK). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEw8VzzXcjE. Accessed 25 Mar. 2016. Web.

Debate #17: William Lane Craig v. Theodore Drange

Craig, William Lane and Theodore Drange. “Does God Exist? The Evidence for and against.” InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. 1997. Posted by Thomistic Theist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfUfs3PyM4A. Accessed 24 Mar. 2016. Web.

Debate #18: Heina Dadbhoy v. David Wood [No Longer Available]

Dadabhoy, Heina and David Wood. “Debate: Does God Exist?” 31 Dec. 2014. Posted by Acts17Apologetics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1pOrPS4CPc. Accessed 23 Jan. 2016. Web.

Debate #19: Austin Dacey v. William Lane Craig (2004 Dacey-Craig Debate)

Dacey, Austin and William Lane Craig. “#12 Debate – Austin Dacey vs William Lane Craig – Does God Exist – 2004.” Posted by DarkViper8888 under Atheist vs Theist Debates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bxzRikd6LY. Accessed 11 Sept. 2016. Web.

Debate #20: Austin Dacey v. William Lane Craig (2005 Dacey-Craig Debate)

Dacey, Austin and William Lane Craig. “#197 Debate – Austin Dacey vs William Lane Craig – Does God Exist (Rematch) – 2005.” Posted by DarkViper8888 under Atheist vs Theist Debates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f2JV4X2TeA. Accessed 17 Apr. 2016. Web.

Debate #21: Richard Dawkins v. John Lennox (The Great Britain Fixed-Point Debate)

Dawkins, Richard and John Lennox. “Has Science Buried God?” Fixed-Point Foundation. 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0UIbd0eLxw. Accessed 4 Dec. 2016. Web.

Debate #22: Dinesh Dsouza v. Christopher Hitchens (Hitchens Fixed-Point Debate II)

Dsouza, Dinesh and Christopher Hitchens. “The Existence of God.” http://www.machinephilosophy.com/philox/debates/. Accessed 19 Jan. 2016. Web.

Debate #23: John Ferrer v. David Smalley

Ferrer, John and David Smalley. “The Problem of Evil // Dr. John Ferrer vs. David Smalley.” The Bible and Beer Consortium. 24 Feb. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzeJCSM78VE. Accessed 20 Apr. 2016. Web.

Debate #24: The Great Warren v. Flew Debate

Flew, Antony Garrard Newton and Thomas Bratton Warren. “Does God Exist? Thomas Warren vs. Antony Flew.” North Texas State University. Denton, Texas. 1976. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqpvL_E5H3k. Accessed 10 Sept. 2016. Web.

Debate #25: Antony Garrard Newton Flew v. William Lane Craig

Flew, Antony and William Lane Craig. “Does God Exist?” 1998. Posted 16 Dec. 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NixhL0CoH2s. Accessed 27 Mar. 2016. Web.

Debate #26: John M. Frame v. Michael Martin (Frame Transcendental Argument Debate)

Frame, John M. “A Brief Response to Michael Martin’s Transcendental Argument for the Non-Existence of God.” 1996. http://www.reformed.org/apologetics/index.html?mainframe=/apologetics/martin_TAG.html. Accessed 5 Feb. 2016. Web.

Debate #26, when found online, was found split up into several articles, on two different websites. The link above is originally to merely one of those articles.

Debate #27: Steve Fuller v. Victor J. Stenger

Fuller, Steve; Justin Brierley; and Victor Stenger. “#285 Debate – Victor Stenger vs Steve Fuller – Is God a Failed Hypothesis – 2010.” 2010. Posted by DarkViper8888. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srJD5mo7thg. Accessed 26 Mar. 2015. Web.

Debate #28: Norman Geisler v. William de Vries

Geisler, Norman and William de Vries. “Does God Exist?” Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts. 8 Apr. 1981. http://normangeisler.com/listen/mp3s/debates/Geisler-DeVries%20Does%20God%20Exist%20unedited%202nd%20recording.mp3. Accessed 9 Dec. 2016. Web.

Debate #29: Christopher Hitchens v. William Lane Craig (The Hitchens Biola Debate)

Hitchens, Christopher; Hugh Hewitt; and William Lane Craig. “Does God Exist? William Lane Craig vs Christopher Hitchens.” Biola University. 2009. Posted by Cosmology Today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMSylcscjrw. Accessed 27 May 2016. Web.

Debate #30: Douglas M. Jesseph v. William Lane Craig

Jesseph, Douglas M. and William Lane Craig. “Does God Exist? William Lane Craig vs. Douglas M. Jesseph.” Reasonable Faith. 1998. http://www.reasonablefaith.org/does-god-exist-the-craig-jesseph-debate. Accessed 9 Jun. 2016. Web.

Debate #31: Paul Kurtz v. William Lane Craig

Kurtz, Paul and William Lane Craig. “#236 Debate - Paul Kurtz vs William Lane Craig – Is Goodness without God Good Enough – 2001.” Franklin & Marshall College. Posted by DarkViper8888 under Atheist vs Theist Debates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr_RzS-579o. Accessed 13 Apr. 2016. Web.

Debate #32: Stephen Law v. William Lane Craig

Law, Stephen; Justin Brierley; and William Lane Craig. “Does God Exist?” Westminster Central Hall, London. Oct. 2011. Hosted by Premier Christian Radio. Posted by The Reasonable Faith Tour (UK). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7FhphWDokA. Accessed 24 Mar. 2016. Web.

Debate #33: John Lennox v. Michael Tooley

Lennox, John and Michael Tooley. “#295 Debate - Michael Tooley vs John Lennox - Atheism and Christianity.” Veritas Forum and the University of Colorado. 2013. Posted by DarkViper8888 in Atheist vs Theist Debates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtQmR1TtQf8. Accessed 14 Sept. 2016. Web.

Debate #34: The SKU Redux Debate

Manus, Zach; Greg Ojakangas; Charlie Self; Victor Stenger; Richard Carrier; J. T. Eberhard. “Does God Exist? SK2 Redux” Hambone Productions. 10 Dec. 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WJ31_ZXJ_0. Accessed 14 Dec. 2015. Web.

Debate #35: Timothy Joel McGrew v. Zachary Moore (God and Miracles Discussion)

McGrew, Timothy Joel and Zachary Moore. “Could It Ever Be Rational To Believe in Miracles?” Bible and Beer Consortium. livestream.com/accounts/12497542/events/4663424. Accessed 10 Jan. 2016. Web.

Debate #36: Stefan Molyneux v. Johnson Rice

Molyneux, Stefan and Johnson Rice. “Against the Gods? Atheism versus Agnosticism: The Great Debate (Hour 2).” 9 Sept. 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDroXpcGE-0. Accessed 19 Jun. 2016. Web.

Debate #37: Zachary Moore v. Justin Bass

Moore, Zachary and Justin Bass. “Why I Am a Christian vs. Why I Am an Atheist.” The Bible & Beer Consortium. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDakt13UCqU. Accessed 30 May 2016. Web.

Debate #38: Alex Rosenberg v. William Lane Craig

Rosenberg, Alex and William Lane Craig. “Is Faith in God Reasonable? Full Debate with William Lane Craig and Alex Rosenberg.” Purdue University. Posted by Biola University. Feb. 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhfkhq-CM84. Accessed 1 Jun. 2016. Web.

Debate #39: Kevin Scharp v. William Lane Craig

Scharp, Kevin and William Lane Craig. “Is There Evidence for God? William Lane Craig and Kevin Scharp.” The Veritas Forum. 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KMd_eS2J7o. Accessed 31 Mar. 2016. Web.

Debate #40: Michael Scriven v. Norman Geisler

Geisler, Norman and Michael Scriven. “Is Christianity Credible?” http://normangeisler.com/listen/mp3s/debates/Geisler-Scriven%20Is%20Christianity%20Credible%20unedited%202nd%20recording.mp3. Accessed 11 Dec. 2016. Web.

Debate #41: Michael Shermer v. John Lennox

Shermer, Michael and John Lennox. “#15 Debate – Michael Shermer vs John Lennox – Does God Exist – 2008.” 2008. Posted by DarkViper8888 in Atheist vs Theist Debates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=favUI7ouAp0. Accessed 2 Apr. 2016. Web.

Debate #42: Gordon Stein v. Greg Bahnsen

Stein, Gordon and Greg Bahnsen. “Dr. Gordon Stein (Atheist) vs Dr. Greg Bahnsen (Jesus follower).” University of California at Irvine, 1985. Posted by Moe Doe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anGAazNCfdY. Accessed 22 Apr. 2016. Web.

Debate #43: The Hard Science Cal-Tech God Debate

Stenger, Victor J. and Hugh Ross. “Scientific Arguments for a Creator? Hugh Ross vs. Victor J. Stenger.” California Institute of Technology (Cal-Tech). Oct. 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3j7vYfegaQ. Accessed 11 Sept. 2016. Web.

Debate #44: Victor J. Stenger v. William Lane Craig

Stenger, Victor J. and William Lane Craig. “The Existence of God.” http://www.machinephilosophy.com/philox/debates/. Accessed 19 Jan. 2016. Web.

Debate #45: Richard Swinburne v. Herman Philipse

Swinburne, Richard and Herman Philipse. “Is There a God? Religious Beliefs in an Age of Science.” Veritas Forum. Posted by ThomisticTheist. Amsterdam, the Netherlands. 21 May 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l-zO_O1Ers. Accessed 9 Dec. 2015. Web.

Debate #46: Eddie Tabash v. Randy Martin

Tabash, Eddie; Randy Martin; and Mark Regier. “Does God Exist? Debate.” Bakersfield Christian High School. 11 Feb. 2010. Posted by Covenant Presbyterian. https://vimeo.com/10102561. Accessed 14 Nov. 2016. Web.

Debate #47: Sean Carroll v. William Lane Craig

Tactical Faith. “God & Cosmology 2014 Greer-Heard Forum.” 27 Feb. 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07QUPuZg05I. Accessed 2014. Web.

I was one of only a few thousand people who watched this debate live. Since then, it was put on YouTube, and many thousands more have seen it.

Debate #48: The Great Bales-Teller Debate

Teller, Woolsey and James D. Bales. Bales-Teller Debate: The Existence of God. Old Paths Book Club, 1947.

Debate #49: Michael Tooley v. William Lane Craig

Tooley, Michael. “A Classic Debate on the Existence of God: Dr. Tooley’s Opening Statement.” Nov. 1994. University of Colorado at Boulder. http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/craig-tooley2.html. Accessed 20 Jun. 2016. Web.

This debate is separated into several articles and was hosted on Leader University's server.

Debate #50: Kirk Durston v. P. Z. Myers

University of Alberta. “Debate: Does God Exist? Dr. Kirk Durston Theist Vs Dr. PZ Myers Atheist.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiPX5DXYYhs. Accessed 8 Oct. 2016. Web.

Debate #51: Sam Harris v. William Lane Craig

University of Notre Dame. “The God Debate II: Harris vs. Craig.” 12 Apr. 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqaHXKLRKzg. Accessed 12 Nov. 2015. Web.

Debate #52: Keith Ward v. Arif Ahmed

Ward, Keith and Arif Ahmed. “The Christian & Atheist Philosophers’ Worldview.” Veritas Forum. 24 Jan. 2013. Posted by Thomistic Theist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JW50dc_khs. Accessed 26 Mar. 2016. Web.

Debate #53: Frank Zindler v. Lee Strobel & William Lane Craig

Zindler, Frank; Lee Strobel; and William Lane Craig. “Atheism vs. Christianity: The Great Debate.” Moody Bible Institute, etc. Chicago, Illinois. www.biblicalcatholic.com/CraigZindlerDebate.mp3. Accessed 7 Mar. 2016. Web.

Debate #54: Raphael C. Lataster v. Trent Horn

Lataster, Raphael C. and Trent Horn. “Raphael Lataster debates Trent Horn – Does God Exist?” Catholic Answers and Parousia Media. May 2016. Posted by Raphael Lataster. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVWqNgtbBtA. Accessed 4 Dec. 2016. Web.

Debate #55: Sye Ten Bruggencate, Jeff Durbin, & Paul Viggiano v. Bruce Gleason, Andrew Breeding, & Sean Taylor

Bruggencate, Sye Ten; Jeff Durbin; Paul Viggiano; Bruce Gleason; Andrew Breeding; and Sean Taylor. "Epic Debate Over God's Existence." 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUKIVV48LOk. Accessed 15 Dec. 2016. Web.

The 10 Jesus Resurrection Debates

There are also debates on the resurrection of Jesus that are generally termed as "God debates." A few of these I have also included below, as an added bonus for reading this article:

Debate #1: Shabir Ally v. William Lane Craig

Ally, Shabir and William Lane Craig. “Hoax or History: A Formal Debate on the Topic of the Physical Resurrection of Jesus Christ.” [“Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? Christian vs Muslim (William Lane Craig vs Shabir Ally)”]. 2009. Posted by Reasonable Faith. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-9-vWtTcU8. Accessed 21 Jan. 2016. Web.

Debate #2: Hector Avalos v. William Lane Craig

Avalos, Hector and William Lane Craig. “The Resurrection of Jesus: Fact of Fiction?” Iowa State University. 2004. Posted by Thomistic Theist. 20 Jul. 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8jCFCvrjd0. Accessed 15 Apr. 2016. Web.

Debate #3: Robert Greg Cavin v. William Lane Craig

Cavin, Robert Greg and William Lane Craig. “Dead or Alive? William Lane Craig vs. Robert Greg Cavin.” 1995. University of California at Irvine. Posted by Thomistic Theist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmxi9o_xqkc. Accessed 1 Jun. 2016. Web.

Debate #4: James G. Crossley v. William Lane Craig

Crossley, James G. and William Lane Craig. “William Lane Craig vs. James Crossley | ‘Was Jesus Raised from the Dead?’ | University of Sheffield.” 2007. Posted by Reasonable Faith. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tDZQagV0MY. Accessed 21 Jan. 2016. Web.

Debate #5: Blake Giunta v. Matt Dillahunty

Giunta, Blake and Matt Dillahunty. “Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?” The Bible & Beer Consortium. 6 Aug. 2016. http://livestream.com/accounts/12497542/events/6071916. Accessed 6 Aug. 2016. Livestreamed Debate.

Debate #6: Mike Licona & Gary Habermas v. Robert M. Price & Richard Spencer

Infidel Radio. “The Resurrection of Jesus – Michael Licona & Gary Habermas vs. Robert M. Price & Richard Spencer.” 17 Jan. 2007. Posted by Thomistic Theist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnEa40t06Ns. Accessed 1 May 2016. Web.

Debate #7: Shabir Ally v. Mike Licona

Licona, Michael and Shabir Ally. “Jesus: Resurrected or Rescued.” Interfaith Debate by University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. http://livestream.com/utc/events/5096707. 1 Apr. 2016. Livestream.

Debate #8: Gerd Lüdemann v. William Lane Craig

Lüdemann, Gerd and William Lane Craig. “#154 Debate - Gerd Lüdemann vs William Lane Craig – Possibility of The Resurrection – 2002.” Posted by DarkViper8888 under Atheist vs Theist Debates. Veritas Forum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ4uLmaaLjs. Accessed 13 Apr. 2016. Web.

Debate #9: Ken Humphreys v. Gary Habermas (rather entertaining)

University of Edinburgh. “The Resurrection of Jesus: Religious Invention or Historical Fact? Gary Habermas vs. Ken Humphreys.” 10 Mar. 2008. Posted by Thomistic Theist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93UyXGfYDG4. Accessed 1 May 2016. Web.

Debate #10: Geoffrey Berg v. Tom Peeler

Berg, Geoffrey and Tom Peeler. "Jesus Did Not Rise from the Dead: A Resurrection Debate." Posted by First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Houston, Texas. 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU4dengjnhE. Accessed 15 Dec. 2016. Web.

There are several other debates on the resurrection of Jesus that are available online. The above is only a short selection of some of them. However, you might benefit from watching them anyway.