General Theology
The Great God Debate
by Clay Staggs
Hugh Hewitt, whose blog I have plugged several times before, has a fantastic exchange on his site this morning. He hosts a radio show (which, unfortunately is not carried by any local station) and on yesterday’s program he hosted a debate which he called “The Great God Debate.”
On the non-believer side was Christopher Hitchens. Hitchens is an atheist liberal (his latest book is an argument for atheism entitled God is not Great). However, his liberalism is not of the anti-war peacenik kook variety. He is very pro-US in the war and is quite eloquent in his defense of Western Civilization, especially against the threat of Islamofascism. So, even though I don’t agree with him on religion, he’s not, to use Jean Kirpatrick’s formulation, a “blame America first” type.
On the believer side is Mark D. Roberts, whose blog I read occasionally as well. Roberts is the senior pastor of First Pres. in Irvine, CA (Kimberly’s hometown). Despite being PCUSA, he’s very conservative in his theological views, and I would describe him, from what I’ve read, as pretty solidly reformed. He’s got a new book out, which is a defense of the reliability of the Gospels historically, called Can We Trust the Gospels?
Both men debating are extremely bright and articulate, despite how I may disagree with Hitchens. I’ve only made it through the first exchange (the entire transcript covers the three-hour radio show), but it looks like great reading. I recommend it highly. Go here and enjoy!
Posted by Clay Staggs at June 7, 2007 09:20 AM
There is also an interesting five-segment exchange or written debate between Doug Wilson and Christopher Hitchens sponsored by Christianity Today which you can access from Christianity Today’s home page or just google Doug Wilson/Christopher Hitchens debate. I really enjoyed reading those and look forward to reading this one as well.
Clay, I finished reading Roberts’ and also the Hitchens v. Wilson debate on the CT website. The CT debate is excellent and easy reading…I think Roberts might be a little out of his area of expertise, but he does an adequate job. Three things came immediately to mind: 1) Granted I have a “believing bias,” but Wilson seemed to be much more “logical, reasoned, and structured” than Mr. Hitchens, and 2) it’s a good reminder that no amount of apologetics will “convince” the unbelieving heart, BUT 3) that never lets us off the hook when it comes to being academically excellent and good “defenders of our faith”— faith that is grounded in historical events, people, and forensic validity.