How would you respond to the claim “God exists”? What do you think of Craig’s premises and Carroll’s criticism? Be sure to also reply to another student, particularly if you disagree, and say why.

This is discussion #5 of 8 is worth 7 points

Since the two chapters on formal deductive methods don’t really lend themselves to a discussion, we will instead work with a debate in which a fairly simple deductive argument is defended and criticized. First, view the video highlights of the famous debate (linked below) regarding the existence of God between William Lane Craig (proponent) and Sean Carroll (opponent). You will notice that the presentation contains some scientific details that you might not be able to follow, but don’t worry about that. Just listen carefully to the two speakers and then comment on the argument in question, called the “Kalam Cosmological Argument.”

How would you respond to the claim “God exists”? What do you think of Craig’s premises and Carroll’s criticism? Be sure to also reply to another student, particularly if you disagree, and say why.

Notice that both debaters maintain courtesy and politeness. We ,too, should practice good “netiquette” when we post online).

Here is the debate video:

Kalam Cosmological Argument – Dr. William Lane Craig vs Dr. Sean Carroll (Greer Heard Forum 2014)

Here is Craig’s “Kalam” argument in Standard Form:

1. If the universe began to exist, then there is transcendent cause which brought the universe into existence

2. The universe began to exist.

3. So, there is a transcendent cause which brought the universe into existence.

[The argument can also be stated as a Categorical Argument with the Quasi-syllogism form, and indeed Craig has elsewhere done so as: “Anything that begins to exist has a cause; the universe began to exist; so, the universe has a cause”]

Please be aware that this discussion will “close for comments” when we start the next module.