A debate between atheist philosopher Dr Raymond Bradley and Christian theologian, Thinking Matters’ Dr Matthew Flannagan, will be held to mark Jesus Week.
The debate will be at the University of Auckland on Monday August 2 from 7 to 9 pm. Jesus Week runs at the same time as Atheist week.
The event is being organised by student groups, Evangelical Union and the Reason and Science Society, in association with Thinking Matters,
Dr Bradley and Dr Flannagan will debate the topic “Is God the Source of Morality?”
Essentially they will explore whether it is rational to ground right and wrong in commands issued by God.
According to Madeleine Flannagan, if you enjoyed the 2008 debate at Auckland University between Dr William Lane Craig and Dr Bill Cooke you should enjoy this debate.
“Both Dr Bradley and Dr Flannagan have previously debated Dr Craig and Dr Cooke respectively and are experienced and engaging public speakers who are practiced at pitching their topics to suit their audiences,” says Mrs Flannagan.
Dr Bradley, an Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, is a self-described “older generation new-atheist,” and his online papers have a strong internet following within the atheist web community.
Auckland-based Dr Flannagan, whose specialty is Philosophy of Religion, Ethics and Theology — particularly Old Testament Ethics, has previously de-bated Bill Cooke and Zoe During and writes the popular Contra Mundum column in Investigate Magazine.
