Posted: Dec 11, 2011 12:54 pm
This post is inspired by this thread as well as several other mentions here and in other media accusing Richard Dawkins of cowardice for refusing invitations from Christian aplologist William Lane Craig's invitation to a public debate. While to my knowledge Craig himself has not gone so far as to so accuse Dawkins himself, he has continued to attempt to pressure Dawkins to reverse his decision and implied that Dawkins is somehow obliged to agree to a debate in statements such as the one included in this video. Craig has even taken to putting an empty chair on stage at at least one of his appearances to represent Dawkins' absence.
Well, it should be mentioned that Dawkins is not the only one to refuse a invitation to a debate. When the previous Richard Dawkins Foundation forum was still active, I invited Dr. Craig via email to join the board to respond to the many criticisms of his argument that were made there. I received a prompt and polite reply from a spokesman explaining that Dr. Craig does not debate on internet groups. Which seemed fair enough, and I let the matter drop at that.
However, it seems that by Craig's own example that was not the correct response on my part. Rather, Craig seems to see such a refusal as an act of cowardice, and that anyone who refuses an invitation to a debate should be publicly hounded and shamed, even for years, until they relent and agree to the debate.
So, following Craig's own example, I want this thread to act as an open invitation to William Lane Craig to reverse his previous position and agree to debate the members of this board about his views on God and religion. This thread will remain as a reminder of his refusal to defend his views in an open forum. And the above image will stand as a visual symbol of his refusal.
I will retract this post if Craig either accepts my invitation, or alternatively publicly announces that he accepts Dawkins' declining his invitation to debate and will not pursue the matter any further.