Wednesday marked a somewhat historic moment in South African history with the first (that I know of) internation philosophical formal public debate between Christians and atheist/naturalists.

South Africans in general are lazy thinkers and also lazy communicators. Whe are not used to these types of debates, but they are quite popular internationally, and even part of election campaigns. You have to know your stuff or you will be humiliated. Of course, with african politics lying and shouting will always get you of the hook, nê Malema. That is, however, not the point.

The two sides in the debate were Dr William Lane Craig (www.reasonablefaith.org ) and Dr Michael Licona (ex TUKS www.risen-jesus.com) which went up against prof Sakkie Spannenberg (http://www.nuwe-hervorming.org.za/wiki/izak-jj-spangenberg) and Prof Hansie Wolmarans ((http://www.nuwe-hervorming.org.za/?q=wiki/hansie-wolmarans) of the new reformation movement.

The topic of the debate was:

A. Did the writers of the New Testament want their readers to understand with that Jesus rose physically from the dead?