The question of whether God exists has recently taken center stage in best-selling books, blogs, online communities, and other forms of intellectual discourse. William Craig and Richard Dawkins are perhaps the most active and widely known defenders of their respective answers to this question, in print and in speaking engagements. Craig, an analytic philosopher, thinks it is highly likely that God exists, based on several contemporary philosophical and scientific considerations. Dawkins, a biologist, believes it is almost certain that God does not exist, and that science, rather than religion, produces the best answers to our deepest questions. (For more information on each of them, see the links located to the right.) They have both performed massive debate tours with several opponents. Oddly, they have not yet crossed paths, despite unprecedented public demand for a debate between them. We the undersigned are atheists, agnostics, and theists who share in common the view that it is high time for these two prolific thinkers to engage in a critical debate (including a portion devoted to cross examination). Regardless of our own positions on the question of God's existence, we think that such a debate would be both educational and entertaining, and would contribute positively to the public understanding of one of the greatest questions of our time. By signing this petition, we strongly encourage the relevant parties to schedule and organize a debate between William Craig and Richard Dawkins, to be titled "Does God Exist", as soon as practically possible. This petition and its signatures will be delivered to both parties and their points of media contact on or around August 1st, 2009, with announcements to follow. *Note: Avoid using apostrophes in your signature comments; if you use them, the comments will not show up due to a bug on ipetition. No duplicate or 'anonymous' signatures please. 4/13/09: 50+ signatures. 4/15/09: 100+ signatures. 4/27/09: 150+ signatures. 5/04/09: 200+ signatures. 5/29/09: 300+ signatures. 6/20/09: 400+ signatures.

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