In October 2011, William Lane Craig, arguably the world's leading Christian academic apologist, will once again visit the UK for a series of lectures and debates. Following his highly successful Reasonable Faith Tour in 2007, Bill will again present the case for the truth of the Christian faith, responding both to Stephen Hawking's recent book The Grand Design as well as to Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion, which will then have just seen its 5 year publication anniversary.

Richard Dawkins has thus far declined a debate, but the door is open to him defending his book The God Delusion on 25th October 2011 at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford.

Source: http://www.premier.org.uk/craig

This is pretty mouthwatering!

So far Polly Toynbee has pulled out of a debate after agreeing to take part in it, and A C Grayling has declined to debate Dr Craig. Richard Dawkins has turned down numerous requests for a debate - which has earned him some criticism from his fellow atheists - so Dr Craig will leave an "open chair" at his Oxford debate (see link above) for Dawkins to fill if he wants it. Otherwise, Dr Craig will simply deliver a lecture on the deficiencies of Dawkins' book The God Delusion.

Here's a video in anticpation of this event (or not!): 

William Lane Craig Leaves a Chair Open for Richard Dawkins (Mirror: Birdieupon)

PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE
The details of the tour are still being arranged, and the schedule below will be updated as events are finalised.

17th October 2011 from 7:30pm - 10pm
Westminster Central Hall, Storeys Gate, London, SW1H 9NH
Premier Christian Radio Debate on the existence of God against atheist philosopher Stephen Law, who is alsoeditor of the magazine of the Royal Institute of Philosophy THINK.

19th October 2011 at 7:30pm
St. Andrew the Great, St. Andrew's Street, Cambridge, CB2 3AX
Public lecture on Stephen Hawking's The Grand Design
(Followed by panel response)

21st October 2011 from 7:30pm - 10pm
The Great Hall, Birmingham University, Edgebaston, B15 2TT
Debate "Does God Exist?" with Prof. Peter Millican

22nd October 2011 from 9:30am - 5:30pm
Westminster Chapel, Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6BS
Bethinking National Apologetics Day Conference
Opening and closing lectures from William Lane Craig. Further lectures from Gary Habermas, John Lennox and Peter J. Williams

24th October 2011 at 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Southampton Guildhall, West Marlands Road, Southampton, SO14 7LP
"The Historical Evidence for the Resurrection" - Lecture & Question Time with William Lane Craig

25th October 2011 at 7:30pm
Sheldonian Theatre, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3AZ
Lecture "Is God a Delusion?" A Critique of Dawkin's The God Delusion

26th October 2011 at 7:30pm
University Place Lecture Theatre, ManchesterUniversity, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 9PL
Debate "Does God Exist?" with Dr Peter Atkins

From Fox News:

Christian Philosopher William Lane Craig Is Ready to Debate, but Finds Few Challengers

By Lauren Green

Published August 19, 2011

American Evangelical theologian William Lane Craig is ready to debate the rationality of faith during his U.K tour this fall, but it appears that some atheist philosophers are running shy of the challenge.

This month president of the British Humanist Association, Polly Toynbee, pulled out of an agreed debate at London’s Westminster Central Hall in October, saying she “hadn’t realized the nature of Mr. Lane Craig’s debating style...”

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/19/christian-pastor-atheists-debates/

I find this fascinating.

I've seen the report elsewhere, but it appears to be a rehashing of something he said a while back. Dawkin's behaviour over all this has been very strange - he said he won't debate a "creationist" (Craig isn't) although he's been taking potshots at him on his own website. Dawkin's has replied neither in print nor verbally to the critique Bill Craig has made of his book.

Maybe he's concerned about debating Craig - who's already made Christopher Hitchen's look ordinary - and had a bruising couple of rounds with John Lennox.

There are a few videos making commentary on this whole episode - but first Lennox:

Richard Dawkins v John Lennox

British Humanists (Toynbee, Dawkins, Grayling) Run from William Lane Craig

And this corker!

Richard Dawkins Would Rather Debate Creationists Than William Lane Craig (Mirror: Birdieupon)

Find more at: http://www.youtube.com/user/drcraigvideos

I hope to get to the Oxford debate with (not) Dawkins on Tuesday, as I'll be nearby...