William Lane Craig is debating the evolutionary biologist Francisco Ayala in the November 5th, 2009, at Indiana University.
Here’s the skinny:
…the faculty ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, is organizing a debate in early November on the topic of “The Viability of Intelligent Design.” It will be an evaluation, so to speak, regarding the criticisms against ID brought forth by the scientific community. This is a cutting edge discussion. The participants are evolutionary biologist, Dr. F.J. Ayala and Christian philosopher, Dr. William Lane Craig.
My thinking is that this is going to be a debate about philosophy of science. But wouldn’t it be amazing if Bill came out swinging on William Dembski’s explanatory filter, the origin of biological information, the Cambrian explosion, the fine-tuning and other evidential concerns? Wow!
Here’s a bit more about his opponent, Francisco Ayala:
His research focusses on population and evolutionary genetics, including the origin of species, genetic diversity of populations, the origin of malaria, the population structure of parasitic protozoa, and the molecular clock of evolution. He also writes about the interface between religion and science, and on philosophical issues concerning epistemology, ethics, and the philosophy of biology.
He’s written 650 papers and 12 books. I think this is going to be a tough debate for Bill!
WINTERY KNIGHT 
Ayala taught at U.C. Davis, where I met him briefly at a lecture by Vance Packard on Packard’s book “The People Shapers.” My understanding was that he was a Catholic priest, but his Wiki bio says that he is a former priest. I wonder where he is with respect to believing in God?
LikeLike
Ayala is a theistic evolutionist. So, he’ll claim that Darwinian theory is 100% correct as it stands — I think going so far as accepting molecules-to-man evolution. But he’ll claim also that God was involved somehow. Like most theistic-evolutionists, he doesn’t like talking about God’s action in the world, since that is dismissed almost totally. He will argue in a way that is indistinguishable from an atheist most of the time — with all the focus on how powerful evolution is, and how true the theory is, ect. But then he contradicts himself when talking about God’s existence and power. Ayala is a big enemy of Intelligent Design. This is a very good article from William Dembski which explains Ayala’s views:
Click to access 2007.09.Ayala_Potemkin_Village.pdf
LikeLike
Thank you so much for this comment! I appreciate it!
LikeLike
Thanks. I’ll take a look at the article.
LikeLike