The Convincing Case of William Lane Craig: Why Philosophy is Nothing to Fear

What would you think of a war general who told his enemies precisely when, where, and how he was going to strike? How about a quarterback who posted his playbook online? You would likely think such people were not only out of their minds, but also destined to lose. But what if I told you there is a Christian apologist who is so skilled at defending the faith that it makes no difference if his opponents know his every move because he is going to win anyway? If this sounds too good to be true, then it’s time for you to meet William Lane Craig.

With a Ph.D. in philosophy, another doctorate in theology, and over 250 publications under his belt, Craig is well equipped to handle virtually any objection to the Christian faith. His specialty, however, is defeating atheists in formal debates. Time after time, Craig takes on the world’s top unbelievers and emerges victorious. That is not to say he wins every point, but when the dust settles and the debate is over, there is little doubt that Craig has presented a more convincing and logical case than his challenger. And this is precisely why atheists keep lining up to take their shot—they want to be known as the one who finally takes down Craig. But as some extended YouTube viewing should make clear, the odds of that happening anytime soon are slim indeed. (Perhaps this is why some refuse to debate him. The famous atheist Richard Dawkins, for example, makes drive-by insults instead of engaging Craig directly.)

Since Craig’s expertise revolves around refuting those who deny the supernatural, he regularly squares off against philosophers—that group of intellectuals who, as the recent movie “God’s Not Dead” implies, can seem especially eager to dismantle people’s Christian faith. But of course, Craig is a philosopher himself, as are countless other believers. And it just so happens that his convincing case directly deals with two philosophical issues: God’s existence and miracles.

A Little Logic Can Go a Long Way

The classical proof for God’s existence that Craig uses most efficiently is the Cosmological Argument. This line of reasoning seeks to demonstrate the existence of a “First Cause” of the universe: that there is Something behind the cosmos that brought space, time, and matter into existence. The argument only works, however, if the universe itself is not eternal but had a beginning. For years, many atheists denied that the origin of the universe required any explanation. They simply asserted that it had always been here. But the overwhelming evidence acquired over the past century in the field of astrophysics has helped put a stop to that. For example, it has been proven that the cosmos is expanding at a constant rate, which means it cannot have existed eternally in the past. Thus, it is now widely accepted by scientists that the cosmos began to exist, with its beginning commonly referred to as the “Big Bang.”

Craig builds on this scientific information with a logical precision that appears insurmountable. His argument follows the standard form of a syllogism—a point-by-point argument in which conclusions must follow from the given premises (or statements). The classic example of a syllogism is as follows:

1. All men are mortal.

2. Socrates is a man.

3. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

Based on points 1 and 2, Socrates cannot be immortal—the third point is certain.

Now consider Craig’s version:

1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause.

2. The universe began to exist.

3. Therefore, the universe has a cause.

Point 1 essentially says every effect has a cause, which is true by definition. In fact, to deny point 1 results in a logical absurdity, for the alternative is that something came from nothing— that out of nothingness something created itself. It is also entirely beyond human experience, for an event occurring without a cause has never been observed. So point 1 is undeniably correct, and point 2, as stated above, is firmly established by astrophysics. Based on the laws of logic, then, the conclusion in point 3 is unavoidable. The universe must have been created by a “First Cause”—that is, by Something outside of it and prior to it—which is otherwise known as God.

Skeptics and the Supernatural

Apologetic literature often skips over the issue of miracles because once God’s existence is established it seems redundant to say God can do whatever He wants whenever He wants. But Craig knows that many who say, “There is a God,” are also skeptical of miraculous events. They may not be full-blown atheists, but their suspicion of supernatural claims makes them doubt much of what Jesus did. And belief in “God” without belief in the crucified and risen Christ saves no one. It is therefore important to consider Craig’s defense against two popular objections against miracles.

First, there is the so-called “Yeah, right” argument. In this view, it is always more reasonable to assume a naturalistic explanation than to think something supernatural really occurred. And this does make a certain amount of sense. After all, do you believe every claim you hear of the Virgin Mary appearing in the clouds or on someone’s tortilla? No, you likely assume it is more reasonable to think people are mistaken or are lying. Add to this the belief that science is the great myth buster which allows us to understand how the world works without superstitious explanations, and the response of “Yeah, right” sounds like a dose of healthy skepticism.

The problem, however, is that a blatant refusal to believe in miracles actually amounts to an unhealthy and unscientific approach to the truth. Claims of what did and did not happen need to be investigated on their own merits, not decided before examining the evidence. Otherwise, a dogmatic commitment against the supernatural will prevent one from knowing if a miracle ever occurred, even if one actually did. For example, if Jesus walking on water is automatically dismissed as a lie from the disciples, or immediately explained as Jesus having hitched a ride on a floating piece of ice, then if He really did defy gravity you would never know it. To say, “I don’t care how many facts you provide, or how many credible witnesses there are, I simply refuse to accept the claim,” is clearly a shortsighted prejudice, especially since our understanding of science is constantly changing.

Second, it is often claimed that there is uniform experience against miracles—that nobody has ever really witnessed one—and so we know miracles don’t occur. But this is a textbook case of circular reasoning. Certainly if miracles have never happened then they never have, but we can only know there is absolute uniform experience against them if we know that all reports of miracles are false. And we can only know that all such reports are false if we already know that miracles do not occur. Thus, we are arguing in a circle.

Proceed with Caution, yet also with Confidence

Chances are you won’t debate philosophy professors or loudmouth atheists in front of thousands. You likely will, however, have numerous opportunities to share your faith. When it comes to defending the existence of God and the miraculous, Craig has spent decades studying, lecturing, and writing on these topics, making him a thoughtful, articulate, and logical apologist from whom we can and should learn. Keep in mind, though, that if skeptics are not willing to listen to reason, or have poor critical thinking skills and no attention span, Craig’s arguments might be wasted on them. Also be mindful of the fact that philosophical issues are necessarily deep issues, requiring careful navigation and more “homework” than merely watching videos online.

While philosophy remains the handmaiden of theology, and is especially useful for apologetics, there is no substitute for proclaiming and hearing the truth about God in Christ. For as the Logos, Christ reveals the astonishing logic and wisdom of His Father—that He is merciful to sinners!—which is far more significant than simply knowing God exists.

Rev. Mark A. Pierson is assistant pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Long Beach, California, and has a passion for evangelism and apologetics. You can email him at markapierson@gmail.com