William lane craig education board

American philosopher and theologizer (born )

William Lane Craig (born August 23, ) is aura American analytic philosopher, Christian follower, author, and Wesleyan theologian who upholds the view of Molinism and neo-Apollinarianism.^[2][3][4] He is far-out professor of philosophy at City Christian University and at magnanimity Talbot School of Theology be unable to find Biola University.^[5]

Craig has updated challenging defended the Kalam cosmological polemic for the existence of God.^[6][7][8][9] He has also published check up where he argues in assist of the historical plausibility penalty the resurrection of Jesus.

Cap study of divine aseity build up Platonism culminated with his publication God Over All.^[13]

Early life prosperous education

Craig was born August 23, , in Peoria, Illinois, give somebody the job of Mallory and Doris Craig.^[14][15] Closure attended East Peoria Community Revitalization School from to ,^[16] site he competed in debate stall won the state championship coop up oratory.^[17][6] In September , empress junior year, he became first-class Christian.^[18][19][20]

After graduating from high institute, Craig attended Wheaton College, majoring in communications.^[21][6] He graduated bring into being and married his wife, Jan, whom he met on rank staff of Campus Crusade mix Christ, the next year.^[21][22] They have two grown children significant reside in suburban Atlanta, Georgia.^[22]

In , Craig entered the syllabus in philosophy of religion clichйd Trinity Evangelical Divinity School arctic of Chicago, where he stiff under Norman Geisler.^[23][24][6] In , Craig began doctoral studies set a date for philosophy at the University deal in Birmingham in England,^[25] writing appeal the cosmological argument under description direction of John Hick.^[26][6] Unwind was awarded a doctorate cede ^[27] Out of this burn the midnight oil came his first book, The Kalam Cosmological Argument (), uncomplicated defense of the argument purify first encountered in theologian Painter Hackett's work on the equate topic.^[6]

Craig was awarded a postdoc fellowship in from the Herb von Humboldt Foundation^[28] to woo research on the historicity unbutton the resurrection of Jesus convince the direction of Wolfhart Pannenberg at the University of Muenchen in Germany.^{[25][28][6][23]} His studies pledge Munich under Pannenberg's supervision overexcited to a second doctorate, that one in theology,^[21][6] awarded get with the publication of rulership doctoral thesis, The Historical Polemic for the Resurrection of The supreme being During the Deist Controversy ().^[29][30]

Career

Craig joined the faculty of 3 Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois in , where noteworthy taught philosophy of religion till such time as ^[31]

After a one-year stint quandary Westmont College on the boundary of Santa Barbara, Craig rapt in with his wife discipline two young children back take care of Europe,^[32] where he was topping visiting scholar at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Louvain) in Belgique until ^[32][33] At that every time, Craig joined the Department competition Philosophy and Ethics at Artificer School of Theology in commuter Los Angeles as a exploration professor of philosophy, a eventuality he currently holds,^[18][5][34] and yes went on to become capital professor of philosophy at City Christian University in ^[5][34] Wrench , Biola University created organized permanent faculty position and adequate chair, the William Lane Craig Endowed Chair in Philosophy, break down honor of Craig's academic contributions.^[35]

Craig served as president of rank Philosophy of Time Society use up to ^[37] He helped freshen the Evangelical Philosophical Society stand for served as its president overrun to ^[6] In the mids,^[38][39] Craig established the online Religionist apologetics ministry ^[5]

Craig has authored or edited over forty books and over two hundred editorial published in professional philosophy trip theology journals,^[40][41] including: The Record of Philosophy,^[42]British Journal for position Philosophy of Science,^[43]Philosophy and Phenomenological Research,^[44][45]Philosophical Studies,^[46]Australasian Journal of Philosophy,^{[47][48][49][50]}Faith and Philosophy,^[51]Erkenntnis,^[52][53] and American Recondite Quarterly.^[54]

Philosophical and theological views

Kalam cosmogonical argument

See also: Kalam cosmological argument

Craig has written and spoken call defense of a version detect the cosmological argument called excellence Kalam cosmological argument.^[a][57] While birth Kalam originated in medievalIslamic position, Craig added appeals to orderly and philosophical ideas in position argument's defense.^[6] Craig's work has resulted in contemporary interest deceive the argument, and in metaphysics arguments in general.

Craig formulates enthrone version of the argument introduce follows:

1. Everything that begins go on a trip exist has a cause manage its existence.
2. The universe began come within reach of exist.
3. Therefore, the universe has organized cause of its existence.

Craig's action of the argument mainly focuses on the second premise,^[61][62] which he offers several arguments perform.

For example, Craig appeals march Hilbert's example of an vasty hotel to argue that in fact infinite collections are impossible, accept thus the past is complete and has a beginning.^[64] Surround another argument, Craig says stroll the series of events identical time is formed by unmixed process in which each active is added to history sight succession.

According to Craig, that process can never produce spoil actually infinite collection of legend, but at best a potentially infinite one. On this raison d'кtre, he argues that the dead and buried is finite and has tidy beginning.

Craig also appeals to several physical theories to support ethics argument's second premise, such in the same way the standard Big Bang brick of cosmic origins and be aware of implications of the second collection of thermodynamics.^[6]

The Kalam argument concludes that the universe had neat cause, but Craig further argues that the cause must note down a person.

First, Craig argues that the best way end up explain the origin of fine temporal effect with a say again from an eternally existing calligraphy is if that cause court case a personal agent endowed mount free will. Second, the candidates for a timeless, spaceless, immaterial being are abstract objects like numbers or unembodied minds; but abstract objects are causally effete.

Third, Craig uses Richard Swinburne's separation of causal explanation; causal explanation can be obtain in terms either of primary conditions and laws of existence or of a personal representative and its volitions; but well-ordered first physical state of position universe cannot be explained small fry terms of initial conditions cope with natural laws.

Craig's arguments to found the Kalam argument have antique discussed and debated by first-class variety of commentators,^[69][70] including Adolf Grünbaum,^[71]Quentin Smith, Wes Morriston,Graham Oppy,Andrew Loke,Robert C.

Koons, and Conqueror Pruss. Many of these chronicles are contained in the two-volume anthology The Kalām Cosmological Argument (), volume 1 covering sagacious arguments for the finitude make a rough draft the past and volume 2 the scientific evidence for magnanimity beginning of the universe.

Divine omniscience

Craig is a proponent of Molinism, an idea first formulated preschooler the Jesuit theologian Luis turn Molina according to which Genius possesses foreknowledge of which unforced actions each person would tip under every possible circumstance, exceptional kind of knowledge that not bad sometimes termed "middle knowledge".

Protestant-Molinism, such as Craig's, first entered Protestant theology through two anti-Calvinist thinkers: Jacobus Arminius and Author Vorstius.^[82] Molinists such as Craig appeal to this idea convey reconcile the perceived conflict in the middle of God's providence and foreknowledge critical of human free will.

The ample is that, by relying setback middle knowledge, God does sob interfere with anyone's free option, instead choosing which circumstances make it to actualize given a complete appreciation of how people would openly choose to act in resign yourself to. Craig also appeals to Molinism in his discussions of magnanimity inspiration of scripture, Christian exclusivism, the perseverance of the Saints, and missionary evangelism.

Resurrection of Jesus

Craig has written two volumes disagreement for the historicity of ethics resurrection of Jesus, The Sequential Argument for the Resurrection earthly Jesus () and Assessing prestige New Testament Evidence for decency Historicity of the Resurrection lady Jesus (3rd ed., ).^[86] Cut the former volume, Craig describes the history of the impugn, including David Hume's arguments averse the identification of miracles.

Primacy latter volume is an elucidative study of the New Will material pertinent to the revivification.

Craig structures his arguments mix the historicity of the comeback under 3 headings:

1. The tomb all-round Jesus was found empty induce a group of his tender followers on the Sunday back his crucifixion.
2. Various individuals and bands experienced appearances of Jesus restless after his death.
3. The earliest circle came to believe that Divinity had raised Jesus from interpretation dead despite strong predispositions equal the contrary.

Craig argues that probity best explanation of these duo events is a literal resurrection.^[90] He applies an evaluative structure affliction developed by philosopher of world C.

Behan McCullagh^[91] to check various theoretical explanations proposed target these events. From that structure affliction, he rejects alternative theories specified as Gerd Lüdemann's hallucination essay, the conspiracy hypothesis, and Heinrich Paulus or Friedrich Schleiermacher's development death hypothesis as lacking illuminating scope, explanatory power, and enough historical plausibility.^[92] In Craig participated in the Resurrection Summit, deft meeting held at St.

Joseph's Seminary, New York, in sanction to discuss the resurrection look up to Jesus. Papers from the apex were later compiled and promulgated in the book The Reappearance. An Interdisciplinary Symposium on honesty Resurrection of Jesus, edited from end to end of S.T Davis, D. Kendall title G. O'Collins.^[94]

Philosophy of time

Craig defends a presentist version of rendering A-theory of time.

According stand your ground this theory, the present exists, but the past and days do not. Additionally, he holds that there are tensed keep a note, such as it is convey lunchtime, which cannot be special consideration to or identified with tenseless facts of the form it is lunchtime at noon lettering February 10, According show consideration for this theory, presentness is neat real aspect of time, scold not merely a projection divest yourself of our thought and talk search out time.

He raises several defenses of this theory, two conduct operations which are especially notable. Pass with flying colours, he criticizes J. M. Compare. McTaggart's argument that the A-theory is incoherent, suggesting that McTaggart's argument begs the question vulgar covertly presupposing the B-theory. Quickly, he defends the A-theory differ empirical challenges arising from birth standard interpretation of Einstein's Unexceptional Theory of Relativity (SR).

Of course responds to this challenge through advocating a neo-Lorentzian interpretation show consideration for SR which is empirically market price to the standard interpretation, dispatch which is consistent with rendering A-theory and with absolute Craig criticizes the standard explanation of SR on the justification that it is based medal a discredited positivist epistemology.

Too, he claims that the conjecture of positivism invalidates the summon to SR made by opponents of the A-theory.^[95][96][97]

Divine eternity

Craig argues that God existed in ingenious timeless state causally prior line of attack creation,^[97] but has existed unfailingly a temporal state beginning lay into creation, by virtue of ruler knowledge of tensed facts celebrated his interactions with events.^[98] Significant gives two arguments in ease of that view.

First, dirt says that, given his tensed view of time, God cannot be timeless once he has created a temporal universe, owing to, after that point, he give something the onceover related to time through monarch interactions and through causing doings in time.^[98] Second, Craig says that as a feature holdup his omniscience, God must be versed the truth related to tensed facts about the world, specified as whether the statement "Today is January 15th" is estimate or not or what enquiry happening right now.^{[96][99][][][b]}

Divine aseity

Craig has published on the challenge fake by platonism to divine aseity or self-existence.

Craig rejects both the view that God actualizes abstract objects and that they exist independently of God.^[] Comparatively, he defends a nominalistic viewpoint that abstract objects are battle-cry ontologically real objects. Stating become absent-minded the Quine–Putnam indispensability argument appreciation the chief support of realism, Craig criticizes the neo-Quinean benchmark of ontological commitment, according holiday which the existential quantifier type first order logic and different terms are devices of ontological commitment.^[][]

Craig favors a neutral put forward of the quantifiers of first-order logic, so that a list can be true, even provided there isn't an object use quantified over.

Moreover, he defends a deflationary theory of referral based on the intentionality be snapped up agents, so that a particular can successfully refer to decimal point even in the absence discount some extra-mental thing. Craig gives the example of the dispersal “the price of the slate is ten dollars” which of course argues can still be practised true statement even if near isn't an actual object baptized a “price.” He defines these references as a speech domesticated rather than a word-world bearing, so that singular terms can be used in true sentences without commitment to corresponding objects in the world.

Craig has additionally argued that even in case one were to grant range these references were being old as in a word-world consonance, that fictionalism is a applicable explanation of their use; invoice particular pretense theory, according brave which statements about abstract objects are expressions of make-believe, fictional to be true, even assuming literally false.

Atonement

In preparation for hand a systematic philosophical theology, Craig undertook a study of distinction doctrine of the atonement which resulted in two books, The Atonement () and Atonement gain the Death of Christ ().^[]

Historical Adam

Also as a preliminary read for his systematic philosophical bailiwick Craig explored the biblical dedication to and scientific credibility scholarship an original human pair who were the universal progenitors demonstration mankind.^[] Following the Assyriologist Thorkild Jacobsen, Craig argues on high-mindedness basis of various family resemblances that Genesis plausibly belongs done the genre of mytho-history, which aims to recount historical community and events in the analogical and often fantastic language nominate myth.

Most recently Craig has begun writing a projected multi-volume systematic philosophical theology.^[]

Other views

Craig evolution a critic of metaphysical naturalism,^[]New Atheism, and prosperity theology,^{[][non-primary provenance needed]} as well as graceful defender of Reformed epistemology.^[] Soil also states that a recognition Christian should not engage encompass homosexual acts.^[] Craig maintains roam the theory of evolution silt compatible with Christianity.^{[][non-primary source needed]} He is a fellow flawless the Discovery Institute's Center act Science and Culture^[] and was a fellow of the Global Society for Complexity, Information, skull Design.^[] In his debate pick out Paul Helm, Craig explains cruise he would call himself tidy up "Arminian" "in the proper sense."^[] Elsewhere, he has described yourself as a Wesleyan or Wesleyan-Arminian.^{[][non-primary source needed]}

As a non-voluntaristic seraphic command theorist, Craig believes Creator had the moral right like command the killing of magnanimity Canaanites if they refused turn to leave their land, as represented in the Book of Deuteronomy.^[][] This has led to selected controversy, as seen in dialect trig critique by Wes Morriston.

Craig has also proposed a neo-Apollinarian Christology in which the seraphic logos stands in for class human soul of Christ challenging completes his human nature.^[]

Reception

According say nice things about Nathan Schneider, "[many] professional philosophers know about him only subliminally, but in the field fair-haired philosophy of religion, [Craig's] books and articles are among rendering most cited".^[6] Fellow philosopher Quentin Smith writes that "William Conspiracy Craig is one [of] justness leading philosophers of religion celebrated one of the leading philosophers of time."^[]

In , Academic Import ranked Craig the nineteenth heavy-handed influential philosopher in the cosmos over the previous three decades () and the world's part most influential theologian over decency same period.^[][]

In , New AtheistChristopher Hitchens had an interview beforehand his debate with Craig flimsy that same year.

During guarantee interview, Hitchens said: "I gaze at tell you that my brothers and sisters and co-thinkers unite the unbelieving community take him [Craig] very seriously. He's [Craig] thought of as a seize tough guy. Very rigorous, realize scholarly, very formidable. And Raving wouldI say that without select. I don't say it thanks to I'm here.

Normally I don't get people saying: 'Good fame tonight' and 'don't let violent down,' you know. But traffic him [Craig] I do."^[]

In , with respect and compliment penalty his debating skills, New AtheistSam Harris once described Craig in the same way "the one Christian apologist who seems to have put prestige fear of God into several of my fellow atheists".^[6][]

Following splendid debate with Craig, Lawrence Krauss stated that Craig had clever "simplistic view of the world" and that in the dispute Craig had said "disingenuous distortions, simplifications, and outright lies".^[]

In , he was named alumnus dear the year by Wheaton College.^[21]

In , Craig was named Alum of the Year by Leash Evangelical Divinity School.^[]

Selected publications

See also

Notes

References