From bethinking.org, we learn:
The President of the British Humanist Association has pulled out of debating renowned Christian philosopher William Lane Craig.Polly Toynbee, Guardian columnist and prominent critic of religion, readily agreed in April to debate Craig on the Existence of God but withdrew her involvement last week saying “I hadn’t realised the nature of Mr Lane Craig’s debating style, and having now looked at his previous performances, this is not my kind of forum”.
– “British Humanists take to the Bunkers” (August 2, 2011)
The reader is asked to believe that she had no idea what debating Craig would be like, even though his debates are up on YouTube. In that case, just how she got where she is today is under wide speculation.
Also, prominent Brit atheist A. C. Grayling won’t debate morality with Craig:
Meanwhile, A.C. Grayling, who this year published a humanist ‘bible’ called The Good Book has refused to debate with Craig on the foundations of atheist morality. With secular Britain beset by moral difficulties, not least among politicians, police and the press, this seems to be a neglect of his moral and intellectual duty. Grayling stated that he would rather debate “the existence of fairies and water-nymphs”.
– “British Humanists take to the Bunkers” (August 2, 2011)After the world got a look at the flower of British yoof, raised on secularism, rampaging through the streets and wiping out small shopkeepers while the police look on, we can hardly be surprised he’d want to punt that one.
Curiously,
While Toynbee is President of the British Humanist Association, Dawkins and Grayling are both Vice-Presidents. The BHA describes one of its core values as “engaging in debate rationally, intelligently and with attention to evidence”.
And it is the evidence that is betraying them, on all sides now.
Hat tip: Wintery Knight