Reasonable Faith Podcast Is William Lane Craig an Atheist?
7 snips
Dec 15, 2025 
William Lane Craig, a renowned Christian philosopher and apologist, dives into the heated debate surrounding divine simplicity and the controversial claim that he's an atheist. He critiques the reductionist Lego analogy as an oversimplification of complex theological views. Craig emphasizes that denying divine simplicity doesn't equate to atheism, arguing instead for the necessity of a metaphysical being as a more coherent explanation for existence than a brute composite universe. His insights illuminate the nuances of faith and philosophy.
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Two Readings Of Divine Simplicity
- William Lane Craig distinguishes weak and strong readings of divine simplicity and accepts the weak version that God has no parts more fundamental than Himself.
- He argues many Catholic confessions don't require the stronger Thomistic claim that God's essence is identical to existence.
Avoid Sensational Accusations Without Scholarship
- Kevin Harris and R.T. Mullins urge caution against sensational accusations like calling a fellow Christian an atheist without solid scholarship.
- They recommend charity and rigorous argumentation before making such severe charges publicly.
Syllogism For God’s Non-Composition
- Flynn presents a syllogism: compositeness implies dependence, dependence undermines ultimacy, and God is ultimate; therefore God is not composite.
- Craig accepts the trivial point but stresses the need to clarify stronger metaphysical commitments behind the syllogism.
