Greg Bahnsen is a presuppositionalist apologist and a student of Cornelius Van Til. Before his death in 1995, Bahnsen debated an atheist named Gordon Stein. (Audio here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) This debate is at a higher level of thought than I have heard with people like Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. This was my favorite part, with the audio below, where Bahnsen is cross examining Stein:
Dr. Bahnsen: I heard you mention logical binds and logical self contradictions in your speech. You did say that?
Dr. Stein: used that phrase, yes.
Dr. Bahnsen: Do you believe there are laws of logic then?
Dr. Stein: Absolutely.
Dr. Bahnsen: Are they universal?
Dr. Stein: They are agreed upon by human beings. They aren’t laws that exist out in nature.
Dr. Bahnsen: Are they simply conventions then?
Dr. Stein: They are conventions, but they are conventions that are self verifying.
Dr. Bahnsen: Are they sociological laws, or laws of thought?
Dr. Stein: They are laws of thought which are interpreted by men; and promulgated by men.
Dr. Bahnsen: Are they material in nature?
Dr. Stein: How can a law be material?
Dr. Bahnsen: That’s a question I’m going to ask you!
Dr. Stein: I would say no.
Moderator: At this time you have an opportunity to cross examine Dr. Bahnsen.
Dr. Stein: Dr. Bahnsen, would you call God material or immaterial?
Dr. Bahnsen: Immaterial.
Dr. Stein: What is something that’s immaterial?
Dr. Bahnsen: Something not extended in space.
Dr. Stein: Can you give me an example of anything other than god that’s immaterial?
Dr. Bahnsen: Laws of logic.
(audience laughs)
1 comment:
I love Bahsen, I have some of his literature. Honestly if you ever want to tackle Van Til, it is good to read Bahnsen's critique and understanding of it.
That is a good debate.
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