The Toughest Questions | Reasonable Faith http://www.reasonablefaith.

org/the-toughest-questions#ixzz4evGBn3e0

Home
Reasonable Faith Podcast
The Toughest Questions

with William Lane Craig

The Toughest Questions

What are the most fascinating questions Dr. Craig receives? He discusses his new book, A Reasonable
Response.

Play in iTunes Download

Time: 18:30
Date: 11-17-2013

Transcript The Toughest Questions

Kevin Harris: Dr. Craig, another good book from you called A Reasonable Response: Answers to Tough
Questions on God, Christianity and the Bible. Youve got a co-author this time as well.

Dr. Craig: Right, Joe Gorra, who is my teaching assistant at Talbot School of Theology. Joe had the idea of
taking some of the best questions of the week that are on the website at ReasonableFaith.org[1] and
assembling them thematically; that is to say, putting questions that are on similar topics together into a book
form. And so hes done that, and hes added a very lengthy introduction as well as some appendices and other

1 de 9 22/4/2017 07:32
The Toughest Questions | Reasonable Faith http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-toughest-questions#ixzz4evGBn3e0

notes to the book to help people to see that answering questions is in itself a real ministry, and to help people
in this ministry of answering questions effectively.

Kevin Harris: Lee Strobel of The Case for Christ says of this book,

No sincere question about God is out of bounds. Here, one of the worlds foremost apologists offers
insightful answers to challenging inquiries sent to him and models how to help people get past their
spiritual sticking points.

I like the way he put that because its more than just answering an intellectual objection or question but
sometimes theres a spiritual element involved.

Dr. Craig: Yes, thats definitely true. Youll sometimes sense a subtext or a deeper question behind what the
person is actually answering. And I think we should have a pastoral interest in the people that were dealing
with and not simply in the surface question.

Kevin Harris: Youve been answering questions, doing the question of the week, for several years now. Go
over again some of the criteria that you use, and that Joe uses as well, when determining some of the
questions to address.

Dr. Craig: Well when I look at questions to put on the website what Im looking for are questions that are
succinct, rather than rambling; which are on a topic that would be widely of interest, not esoteric or too
narrow; and then on a wide variety of important questions. Im especially interested in questions coming
from unbelievers, where they have a sticking point that bothers them and keeps them from becoming a
Christian. What Joe has done in putting this book together is to take topics like:

Believing and knowing whats the relationship between those two?

The existence of God his nature and attributes.

Jesus and being his disciple.

And hes collected together these diverse questions, which on the website are sometimes separated by scores
or even hundreds of other questions, and hes put them together into chapters in the book so that you build up
a perspective on that question from a variety of viewpoints using real questions that people have actually
asked.

Kevin Harris: A ministry of answering questions. A lot of people dont see it as a ministry, do they? They
think its just going to be a brief intellectual exercise and thats about it. But questions are often quite
important to the person who holds them; it keeps people up at night.

Dr. Craig: Oh yes, thats right. And I think Joe does a good job in giving suggestions to, for example, youth
pastors or people who are working with young people on how to address their questions in ways that respect
them and take them seriously and will provoke further discussion rather than just shut down the conversation.

Kevin Harris: Have you noticed any trends, just off the top of your head, common things that people tend to
ask you? Do you detect themes?

Dr. Craig: I cant say that I have, Kevin. Perhaps the only thing that Ive noticed is that we do seem to be
getting more questions all the time from unbelievers, which I find very interesting. Its not just Christians that

2 de 9 22/4/2017 07:32
The Toughest Questions | Reasonable Faith http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-toughest-questions#ixzz4evGBn3e0

are coming to Reasonable Faith, but agnostics and atheists and others, and I especially welcome those
questions.

Kevin Harris: I see a trend from time to time because Im privy to a lot of these questions that come in and
well address them on this podcast. Molinism seems to engender lots of questions, as well.

Dr. Craig: Yes, thats probably a reflection of my own theological bent. If it weren't for that Im sure people
wouldnt be asking questions about it, but given my belief that God has middle knowledge and that this
supplies a key for understanding divine providence and predestination and sheds remarkable light on so many
other theological issues, its not surprising that this would elicit questions concerning Molinism.

Kevin Harris: The second line of questioning that I often see is on your primary work, the kalam
cosmological argument. When we get questions on that what is the typical sticking point, you think?[2]

Dr. Craig: One question that comes up over and over again is a misunderstanding about creation out of
nothing. Many people think that in the statement of the premises of the argument, Whatever begins to exist
has a cause, the universe began to exist, that one is talking about a cause which produces things without any
sort of material cause, creation from nothing. But thats not the case. The argument as Ive framed it leaves it
entirely open as to whether the cause works with or without a material cause. I had efficient causes in mind
when I stated the argument, but whether that efficient cause uses a material cause is irrelevant. I would say,
for example, that if a chair begins to exist then that chair must have an efficient cause theres a carpenter
who has taken the wood and the nails and assembled the chair. And so the chair begins to exist because there
is a cause of the chair, namely the carpenter. He is the efficient cause of the chair. And whether the carpenter
used materials to construct the chair is just not germane to the question. So people seem to have a great deal
of confusion about that, with respect to the statement of the argument.

Kevin Harris: You get questions, as well, from our Muslim friends. Ive noticed that from time to time, not
only here in America but in other countries as well, that Muslims will ask questions. Anything in particular
that comes out on those?

Dr. Craig: No, I cant say that there is any particular question that Muslims tend to ask, but it is very
gratifying to see questions coming in from places like Iran and other Muslim nations. I am really thrilled that
folks there are reading this material. And speaking of Muslim countries, too, I have just been thrilled, Kevin,
to find how many Coptic Christians are benefiting from Reasonable Faith. I met Coptic Christians in
Australia who had come to the dialogues with Lawrence Krauss. One priest, with a long beard and a big cross
around his neck and wearing a robe, brought a whole group of people from his congregation and announced
that they were Coptic Christians and loved the material. Weve received correspondence from people in
Egypt, as well, and you know what duress those brethren are under in Egypt today. So to have input into their
lives in so hostile an environment is just a wonderful privilege.

Kevin Harris: Ill tell you what else I like about this book, Bill, and that is: sometimes, if a person will go to
some of your work or theyll go to the question of the week, and theyll see an outline or a syllogism (one . .
. number two . . . number three . . . therefore . . .) and theyll see things like If p then q and theyll go,
Oh, I cant fathom all that. I dont know what that formula is and give up maybe before taking a look.
There are some guidelines here on looking at logical arguments, and its really easier than people think.

Dr. Craig: Yes, the opening section on believing and knowing has a couple of questions that deal with logic
and argumentation. And Joe also adds his own footnotes and comments to my answers where he will point
out the moves that Im making in answering the question and what Im doing. And so the book is annotated

3 de 9 22/4/2017 07:32
The Toughest Questions | Reasonable Faith http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-toughest-questions#ixzz4evGBn3e0

with Joes comments on the answers saying, look at this point, watch what hes doing here, notice how Dr.
Craig is addressing this. And so hes alerting the reader, almost like someone looking over their shoulder,
explaining to them whats going on as I answer the questions. So in a sense this is really Joes book. I mean,
all I did was write the original questions for the website. Its Joe who has put these things together, written
the introduction, annotated the questions, included the appendices, and put it together in this very helpful sort
of manual for answering peoples questions.

Kevin Harris: And whats interesting is that often we dont think that there are so many aspects to answering
questions as Christians this, perhaps, ministry of answering questions. Joe outlined about four aspects of
how we view the ministry of answering peoples questions. In other words, we answer questions as Christ's
ambassadors. To be a good ambassador means what? to represent someone well. So, being a good
ambassador for Christ, and then answering questions as representatives of, perhaps, Christian traditions.

Dr. Craig: It certainly is important that we stand within the broad historic Christian tradition, and that
requires some knowledge of Christian doctrine, so that we stand on the shoulders of these giants who have
gone before. And we need to, I think, represent the Christian tradition as faithfully as we can.[3]

Kevin Harris: And a third aspect is answering questions as diagnostic soul-care work. When being
confronted by someones questions, first we should listen well and it may be the case that our initial answer is
in the form of a further question. We tend to do a couple of things. First of all, we go, I think I know where
youre going with this and then maybe jump to a conclusion. And number two, we might fail to notice some
underlying issue that is behind the question.

Dr. Craig: Yes.

Kevin Harris: Perhaps, Bill, it is a good practice, especially one-on-one with someone, to ask them what they
believe about a certain thing rather then tell them what they believe because weve studied this issue.

Dr. Craig: Yes, I find this is especially important with the use of certain terms. What I find in talking to some
unbelievers is theyre talking their own idiolect; that is to say, they are using the words in a very different
way than these words are normally used. So, for example, words like belief. Ive heard nonbelievers or
non-Christians say they have no beliefs. And that seems absurd. Dont they believe that their name is John,
for example, or dont they believe that they have two parents, or something of that sort? Of course they have
beliefs. But then when you talk to them you find out that for them a belief means something that is held on no
evidence whatsoever and that therefore they dont have any beliefs in that sense. They are evidentialists, and
in that sense you could say, Well then I dont believe in God either. I have good reasons to think that God
exists, and in your funny sense of the word belief then I agree with you. Im not asking you to believe in
God. But Im asking you to follow the evidence where it leads. So it can be very, very important to find out
the way people are using these words that often are very idiosyncratic and unusual.

Kevin Harris: And as also kind of a practical tip, I have found that if I am having a conversation with,
perhaps, a Mormon we get into a conversation I have learned to ask, What do you believe? Because the
tendency is to go in and say, Well, you believe this and you believe this and you believe this. Often I have
found with them and other people of other sects that say, I dont believe that at all.

Dr. Craig: Addressing questions by asking questions is a good technique to promote understanding.

Kevin Harris: Joe says that the fifth method of answering questions is to answer questions as heralders, to
herald the Kingdom of God; and that is, not only do you want to help someone by answering their question

4 de 9 22/4/2017 07:32
The Toughest Questions | Reasonable Faith http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-toughest-questions#ixzz4evGBn3e0

and giving them some background but also show them how God perhaps is at work in their lives and how the
Kingdom of God is near them.

Dr. Craig: Yes, I have found occasion to do that where a person is an unbeliever in particular and one can
point out the very fact that hes coming to this website, that hes asking a question and seeking, is a good sign
that God is at work in his life, that God has drawn him thus far, and to encourage him to keep following that
lead and not to close his heart against it.

Kevin Harris: This book is very thorough and, you know, its a pretty good-sized book. Its over 400 pages.
So thorough. We get a lot of questions at ReasonableFaith.org.

Dr. Craig: Yes, and the funny thing is it would have been even larger. Joe wanted to pick the 100 questions
that would be the most interesting. Thats a nice round number, 100 Questions About God, or something. But
that book wouldve been 600 pages or so long. It would have been just unwieldy. So I think that he had to
whittle it down to around something like 60 questions that he took off of the website. Which means, I hope,
that maybe there will be scope for a future book incorporating some of the other questions as well, because it
is a real wonderful archive of interesting material in our questions of the week. And if any of our listeners
havent availed themselves of that yet I hope that theyll take the time to peruse that archive of weekly
questions that Ive been writing for the last seven years. Theres a lot of good material in there.

Kevin Harris: Oh, and everything from very difficult questions to ones that just need a little background.

Dr. Craig: Yes, and theres a final section in the book that Joe included just, I think, in a way for fun. Its
practical questions. Hes got questions in there on preparing for marriage, how to maintain physical stamina,
and some other personal questions that Ive taken. So theres quite a range in the book. It ranges from God to
the afterlife, the meaning of life, questions of origins, who was Jesus, and then, as I say, some of these
practical matters. Its a very wide-ranging collection.

Kevin Harris: It really is, I mean, you have material when you answered some of the questions.[4] And
people are interested, Bill, in your physical health, in your workout routine. You get a lot of questions on:
How do you study? How do you take notes? What is your schedule? They want to know everything that you
do. And youre glad to answer a lot of this, and Ill tell you a lot of it is a good pattern to follow.

Dr. Craig: Well, good, Im glad. Its fun. Its fun to share some of these personal tidbits of advice that have
been helpful to me, and Im glad to pass it on to others.

Kevin Harris: Some of it is very technical but you try to get to the lay level.

Dr. Craig: Yes, the book is not necessarily a simple book. No one should think, oh, these are the pad answers
that we can give to people who ask questions. Not at all. These are not only thoughtful questions but they are
thoughtful answers, and some of them are difficult.

Kevin Harris: Theres an educational opportunity. Theres a teaching moment.

Dr. Craig: Right, thats right. With many people there are. Especially when you are dealing with a sincere
questioner and those are the type that I try to take. These are not your abusive questions. These are from
people who are genuinely seeking answers.

Kevin Harris: I guarantee that people who think theyve thought of everything and have thought of every
question that there is out there will go through this book and find questions that, You know, I hadnt thought

5 de 9 22/4/2017 07:32
The Toughest Questions | Reasonable Faith http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-toughest-questions#ixzz4evGBn3e0

about that Theyve never thought about it.

Dr. Craig: Good.

Kevin Harris: Like, can people in heaven sin? Will we have free will in heaven? And sometimes things like
that dont occur to us, and you think about it, and you go, You know, that is a good question. I wonder, as
we conclude today, Bill, if off the top of your head you have some favorite questions that come out. I know
you get so many, in classrooms, in lectures, after some of your events.

Dr. Craig: Well, I dont have favorite questions, I suppose, per se, Kevin. But given that my current research
interest is on divine aseity and Gods relationship to abstract objects, I do find it almost irresistible when a
question comes in that deals with my current research because then I am able to answer out of material that is
really fresh, that Im very excited about, and eager to share. So I do enjoy these questions that come in asking
about Platonism and the reality of numbers and other abstract objects, and how God could have created these
or did he create them. Those I always find especially stimulating because it relates to my current work.

Kevin Harris: What if our brother-in-law or our college professor or someone asks us a question that we just
dont know the answer to?

Dr. Craig: Then I think its an opportunity to learn more and to say, Thats a great question. I dont know the
answer but let me look into it and get back to you. And then go to look at some of these resources and see
what you can find out, and then go back to the person. Never try to give a person a snow-job and pretend you
know the answer to something that you dont. He will respect you for confessing your ignorance and
recognizing your limitations. But then see that as an opportunity to go deeper yourself.

Kevin Harris: The book is A Reasonable Response: [William Lane Craig] Answers To Tough Questions on
God, Christianity and the Bible, co-written by Joseph Gorra. Pick up a copy. Go to ReasonableFaith.org.[5]

[1] The entire Q&A section of the website is found at http://www.reasonablefaith.org/question-answer

(accessed November 27, 2013)

[2] 5:00

[3] 9:58

[4] 15:00

[5] Total Running Time: 18:30 (Copyright 2013 William Lane Craig)

Receive our free Newsletter

Get Dr. Craig's newsletter and keep up with RF news and events.

Subscribe
Support Reasonable Faith

Reasonable Faith on Twitter

Reasonable Faith on Facebook

6 de 9 22/4/2017 07:32
The Toughest Questions | Reasonable Faith http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-toughest-questions#ixzz4evGBn3e0

Reasonable Faith on Google Plus

Reasonable Faith on YouTube
Reasonable Faith RSS Feeds

Translations
News
RF Chapters
Calendar
Store
Donate

Search

Writings

Scholarly Articles
Articles published in peer-reviewed journals

Popular Articles
Intended for a general audience

7 de 9 22/4/2017 07:32
The Toughest Questions | Reasonable Faith http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-toughest-questions#ixzz4evGBn3e0

Debates
Select transcriptions of Dr. Craig's debates

Q&A
Weekly question and answer

Media

Video / Audio
Debates, Talks, and Interviews

Reasonable Faith Podcast

Conversations with William Lane Craig

Defenders Podcast
Class on Christian doctrine and apologetics

Defenders Live
Livestream of Defenders Class

DrCraigVideos Channel
Short Video Clips of Dr Craig

ReasonableFaithOrg Channel
Full Length Video Clips of Dr Craig

DrCraigInternational Channel

8 de 9 22/4/2017 07:32
The Toughest Questions | Reasonable Faith http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-toughest-questions#ixzz4evGBn3e0

Translated Video Clips of Dr Craig

Forums
About RF
William Lane Craig
Mission
Statement of Faith
Testimonials
Press Kit
Newsletter
Links
RF Gear
Contact Us

Help
Support Reasonable Faith
Submit a Question for Dr. Craig
RF Mobile Application
for iOS: iPhone / iPad
for Android
RF Community
Forums
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
YouTube
Reasonable Faith
About RF
William Lane Craig
Testimonials
RF Chapters
Press
Privacy Policy
Contact us

Reasonable Faith Translations

Copyright Reasonable Faith. All rights reserved worldwide. Reasonable Faith is a registered 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization.

9 de 9 22/4/2017 07:32