Here (06/09/2011), Wintery Knight pursues the question of why AC Grayling, as well as Richard Dawkins won’t debate William Lane Craig, complete with clips. Grayling gives as his reasons:
Having been invited to debate Craig, Professor Grayling replied:
I am not interested in debating Professor Craig, though if he would like to co-opt me for the publicity for his tour – I would be happy to debate him on the question of the existence of fairies and water-nymphs. But as for the very uninteresting matter of whether there is just one god or goddess and that it can be debated despite the claim that it is transcendently ineffable and unknowable – that is an empty prospect, hence my declining the invitation. –
Which prompted this response from a popular British TV presenter:
Justin Brierley, who presents Premier Radio’s highly-rated discussion programme, Unbelievable?, comments:
“It looks insulting and worryingly narrow minded when an invitation to defend such views against a top-flight Christian academic such as Dr. Craig is dismissed in these terms. Grayling is seen as a key proponent of rationalism and atheism in the UK. It will therefore come as a surprise to many that he is so unwilling to defend the rational grounds for atheism against a major opponent.”
Dawkins, meanwhile, must also defend himself against accusations of cowardice by a fellow atheist here. Vid.
Many ask whether Grayling and Dawkins can continue to take refuge in self-evident superiority, given that Craig has debated other well-known new atheists such as Harris and Krauss. It’s significant that a TV presenter is now weighing in.