Church Life

Wanted: Church Atheist

Sydney’s St. Barnabas looks for a worthy debate opponent

Here’s a church ad you won’t see in Christianity Today’s Marketplace section: “Position Vacant: Intelligent Atheist to disprove Christianity.” But the evangelical Anglican parish of St. Barnabas in Sydney, which posted the ad on its church sign, is getting both publicity and an opponent for its August 27 debate with Atlanta-based apologist William Lane Craig. “We don’t want a Tyson vs. Mundine fight,” pastor Ian Powell told The Sydney Morning Herald. “If it’s a choice between your standard village atheist and a rigorous agnostic, we’ll take the agnostic. We don’t want to end up with a patsy.”

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

Articles referenced above include:

Please God, deliver us a clever atheistSydney Morning Herald (June 17, 2002)

Transcripts of several of Dr. William Lane Craig’s debates on university campuses with leading non-Christian scholars are available online.

Also in this issue

The Third Coming of George Barna: Evangelicalism's most quoted pollster is more fed up with the church than ever—so what's next?

Our Latest

The Russell Moore Show

My Favorite Books of 2024

Ashley Hales, CT’s editorial director for print, and Russell discuss this year’s reads.

News

The Door Is Now Open to Churches in Nepal

Seventeen years after the former Hindu kingdom became a secular state, Christians have a pathway to legal recognition.

Why Christians Oppose Euthanasia

The immorality of killing the old and ill has never been in question for Christians. Nor is our duty to care for those the world devalues.

The Holy Family and Mine

Nativity scenes show us the loving parents we all need—and remind me that my own parents estranged me over my faith.

China’s Churches Go Deep Rather than Wide at Christmas

In place of large evangelism outreaches, churches try to be more intentional in the face of religious restrictions and theological changes.

Wire Story

Study: Evangelical Churches Aren’t Particularly Political

Even if members are politically active and many leaders are often outspoken about issues and candidates they support, most congregations make great efforts to keep politics out of the church when they gather.

News

Investigation to Look at 82 Years of Missionary School Abuse

Adult alumni “commanded a seat at the table” to negotiate for full inquiry.

Have Yourself an Enchanted Little Advent

Angels are everywhere in the Bible. The Christmas season reminds us to take them seriously.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube