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witness

7HABITSOFAHIGHLYEFFECTIVE
PHILOSOPHER
byNathanSchneider

LifelessonsfromtheChristianapologistWilliamLaneCraig.

WilliamLaneCraig,fromhisJuly2013emailnewsletter.

Nobodyorjustaboutnobody,dependingonwhomyouaskbeatsWilliamLane
CraiginadebateabouttheexistenceofGod,ortheresurrectionofJesus,orany
topicofthatsort.DuringtheirdebateatNotreDameinApriloflastyear,New
AtheistauthorSamHarrisreferredtoCraigastheoneChristianapologistwho
seemstohaveputthefearofGodintomanyofmyfellowatheists.

Overthecourseofworkingonmybookabouthowpeoplesearchforproofof
Godsexistence,IhadthechancetospendagenerousamountoftimewithCraig,
bothintheAtlantaareawherehelivesandatBiolaUniversity,anevangelical
schoolontheoutskirtsofLosAngeles,whereheteachesafewweeksoutofthe
year.Forthebook,Ivegottentowriteaboutideaslikehiskalamcosmological
argument,oneofthemostcitedideasofitsgenerationinphilosophyofreligion,
whichfusesmedievalMuslimswithmoderncosmology.Ialsotellofhis

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entrepreneurialsavvyinturningtheEvangelicalPhilosophicalSocietyintoan
academicorganizationthatmoonlightsasaslickasabananaapologeticsplatform
forchangingheartslikeyoursandmine.Butnoneofthatquitecapturesthemans
roleasasageandexemplar,inwhichherenderssomethingliketheupbuilding
serviceOprahprovidestohomeboundAmericanwomen,exceptthathisacolytes
aretheprecocioussetamongconservative,evangelical,youngadultmales.He
makesmealmostwishIwerethatkindofconservativeevangelicalmyselfwhich
is,tohim,thepoint.

Craigdressesimpeccablyandprofessorially,oftenwithabuttonedshirtanda
patternedblazer,sweater,orsweatervest.Hisdimpleshintatabasicinnocencethat
canbestartlingwhenitpokesthroughthefrontageoflogic.IfindinCraigthe
decencyassociatedwithaneraIamtooyoungtobenostalgicfor,andwhichIve
beentaughttoimaginewasimperialistic,sexist,homophobic,narrowminded,or
otherwiseregressive.HisrationalizationsofcertainpartsoftheHebrewBiblecan
soundlikehesokaywithgenocide.Yetnoneoftheseaccusationsquitesticksto
himnoneisevencomprehensibleinthecosmicsnowglobewithinwhichhe
expertlythinkshiswaythroughlife,whosesoleandconstantstorylineisbringing
moreandmoresoulstoasavingknowledgeoftheonetrueLordandSavior,Jesus
Christ.

IliveinadifferentsnowglobefromCraigs.Nevertheless,Ivegainedalotfrom
thelessonsIlearnedwithhim,andfromhiscarefullycraftedadvice,andfromhis
answerstomyquestions.(Imaynotanswer,butyoucanask!heoncewarned.)
Theyveimprovedmyproductivity,andmyrelationshipwithlovedones,andmy
physicalfitness.ItwouldbeselfishifIdidnotpasssomeoftheselessonson,in
synthesizedandpracticableform,toyou.

1.DoEverythingLikeItsaMinistry

Eachdayduringthetwoweek,wintersessioncoursethatCraigteachesfor
mastersphilosophyandapologeticsstudentsatBiola,hebeginswithashort
devotionalreflection.Onmyfirstdaysittinginontheclass,thetextherecited
camefromHowardHendricks,afamedprofessoratDallasTheologicalSeminary:
Men,dontstudyforaclass,studyforalifeofministry.Thatitwasaddressedto
menwasalmostappropriateofthe15orsopeopleintheclassthatday,onlytwo
werewomenone,avisitingsignificantother,andtheother,aretiredhousewife.

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But,foranyone,themessageisthesame:PursuethehighercallingofservingGod,
andsuccesswillfollow.

What,though,shouldwethinkofassuccess?Thiswasthesubjectofother
devotionalreflectionsduringthatfortnightofclasses.CraigquotedBillGothard,
ministerandfounderoftheInstituteinBasicLifePrinciples,ashavingsaid,
Successisnotmeasuredbywhatyouarecomparedtootherssuccessiswhatyou
arecomparedtowhatyoucouldbe.Whileonemightbetemptedtotakethis
maximaslicenseforloweredexpectations,Craigsinterpretationwas,ofcourse,
wiser.Considerthishumilityfortheproud,hesaidforwheremuchisgiven,
moreisexpectedandencouragementforthediscouraged.

Anothermorningsreflectionofferedyetanotherviewonsuccess,thistime,from1
Corinthians:thefoolishnessofGodiswiserthanmen.Craigwassurelyspeaking
fromhisownexperiencewhenhewarnedhisstudentsnottohopeforacademic
respectabilityaboveall.Dontseekthepraiseofmen,butthepraiseofGod.
And:YourenotreallyreadytobeusedofGod,hewarnedthem,intypically
antiquesyntax,untilyourereadytobeseenafoolforChrist.Herehespeaks
fromexperiencemyburdenisevangelism,heoncetoldmeoverlunch.
Preachinghisgospelhasoftenconflictedwithmainstreamacademiasexpectations,
butbythestandardsofministry,hesbeenaneminentlyfaithfulservant.

Surelywecanuseeverychastisementwecangetagainstcareerism,andevery
encouragementtomakeserviceourbusiness.Itsthejobofeachofustodiscern
theministrieswehavetoofferandtocarrythemoutassuchfoolishlyif
necessary.

2.MakeaCovenantwithYourWife

ThislessonshouldcomeasnosurprisefromanevangelicalofCraigsstripe.But
amongphilosophers,whoarenotoriouslysolitarycreatures,itdefinitelybears
repeating.Iamnotaphilosopherofmind,soIdonthaveanygreatinsightinto
thepropertiesofpersons,heoncenoted,whileevadinganesotericquestionfrom
astudentinclass.Moretothepoint,though,ishishopethatyounotbecomeso
workorientedthatyoulettheotherbeneglectedandyouputyourcareerinfront
ofthispersonthatyouvepledgedyourselftoloveandcarefor.Thefirstsection
headingonhiscurriculumvitaeisFAMILY,underwhicharelistedhiswifeJan

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andtwochildren.

HetellsstoriesabouttimesthathehasstruggledinthiswithJan.Whileagraduate
student,heusedtobuyalotofbooksforhimself,eventhoughthefamilydidnt
havemuchmoney.Janfinallyhadhadenoughwhenhecamehomewithacopyof
SartresBeingandNothingnessshereprimandedhimfortheallegedwaste.From
thenon,hecommittedhimselftobuyingonlybooksthatwereassignedforclass,
andtothisdayhebuysveryfewofthose.

Herecommendstohisstudents,Makeacovenantwithyourwife.Promiseher
thatyouwillnotsacrificeyourrelationshiponthealtarofacademicsuccess.
Makesuresheknowsthatyourewillingtogiveupyourcareerentirelyifsheneeds
youto.OncehepromisedthattoJan,Craigexplains,shebecamefarmoretolerant
ofhisneedtofocusonwork,becausesheknewthatultimatelyherneedsmattered
moretohim.Craiginstructed,also,thatwhenyoutalktoawomanitsvery
differentthantalkingtootherguys.Whilemakingyourcovenant,lookherlong
andhardintheeyes.

Oneofthestudentsthatyearhadjustbecomeengagedtobemarried,andoverthe
courseoftheclassheandCraighadanongoingexchangeinphilosophicalterms,
ofcourseaboutwhetherGodsinglesoutaparticularpersonthatweresupposed
tomarryorwhether,inthestudentswords,Godwantsustojustpickawoman
andloveer.Craig,whoisadefenderofasixteenthcenturytheoryofGods
foreknowledgeknownasMolinism,arguedfortheformerthatGodknows
exactlywhoisrightforeachofus.Godscriteriaforthisdetermination,
furthermore,arenotsimplyamatterofthepersonwhowillmakeyouhappiest
Godisntouttomakelifeabowlofcherriesbutaboutfindingthepersonwith
whomyouwillbringaboutthesalvationofthemostsouls.

Tothisend,Craigespeciallyencourageshisstudentstoconsidermarryinga
missionary.He,forone,metJanwhiletheywereworkingtogetherforCampus
CrusadeforChrist.ThesesinglewomenonthestaffofCampusCrusadeforChrist
arereallychoicewomen,heexplainedtome.Theyareyoung,single,intelligent,
universitygraduates,veryattractive,independent,andcapableofmanagingtheir
ownfinancesandaministry.Ifeverythingisaministry,afterall,soisyour
partnership.

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3.OrganizetheDay

Therewasatime,saysCraig,whenhebegantoworryhewaslosinghisknackfor
philosophy.Honey,herememberstellingJan,Idontknowwhatsthematter
withme.Ijustcantseemtoconcentrateanymore.Iusedtobeabletostudyallday
long,andtherewasnoproblem,andnowIfindIjustcantconcentrateanymore.
Mymindwanders,andImtired.Hewastemptedtodespair.

No,no,dontberidiculous!shetoldhim.Youjustneedtoorganizeyourday.

Asusual,shewasright.Sheputhimonanewschedule:startingtheworkdaywith
thehardestphilosophicalworkinthemorning,thenlightermaterial,likehiswriting
forpopularaudiences,afterlunch.Hedoesntlookathisemailuntillateafternoon,
whenmybrainisreallyfried.(Forfearofbeingbombardedwithmail,hedoesnt
evensharehisemailaddresswithhisgraduatestudents.)Soonaftertryingthis
regime,heregainedhisphilosophicalpowerscompletely.

Thecoupleslifetogether,athomeinthesuburbsofAtlanta,isapictureof(a
certainkindof)teamwork.Craigwakesupeachmorningat5:30,andbeginsthe
daywithdevotionaltime,readingfromtheChurchFathersandtheNewTestament
inGreek,andthenhepraysforthespreadofthegospelinsomebenightedpartof
theworld,withthehelpoftheOperationWorldhandbook.Soon,Janisup.They
havecoffeetogether(whichhedislikes,butrecommendsforthehealthandsocial
benefits),afterwhichhegoesdowntotheweightroomforanhourofexercise.By
thetimehereemerges,shehasahotbreakfastreadyandwaitingsometimesas
elaborate,hesays,ashamandeggsandpumpkinwaffleswithwhippedcreamand
strawberries.(Shesafabulouscook.)Hellreturndownstairsforanintensive
morningofscholarship,andreemergeforthehotlunchJanhasprepared.Then,
hesbackdownstairsforthelighterworkoftheafternoon,culminatinginemails,
whichherespondstoinlonghandandshehasoftenbeentheonetotypeoutand
send,sincehisrareneuromusculardiseasemoreonthatinamomentrenders
himunabletotype.Betweenmealsandtypingsessions,Janplaysthestockmarket.
Beforelongdinnerisready,andtheyeat,andspendtheeveningtogether,
watchingTVanddrinkingredwine(whichhealsodislikes,butalsorecommends
forthehealthandsocialbenefits).

Shesnotanintellectualherself,Craigsaysofhiswife,butsheappreciatesthe

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valueofwhatIdo,andthatswhatmatters.Onewouldhopethatthisistrue,
becauseshehastypedoutallofhispapers,books,andbothdoctoraldissertations.
Wouldthatweallhadsuchdevotedhelp,thoughitmaybeuntenableinthepresent
economicclimateforthosescholarsamongusunabletogarnerfivefigurespeaking
fees.Wecanatleastholdoffonoutr5./remailforafewhourswhichIhavesince
done,toenormousbenefit.

4.TurnWeaknessintoStrength

OneofthedefiningfactsofWilliamLaneCraigslifeisthe
aforementionedCharcotMarieToothsyndrome,whichhas
afflictedhisnervoussystemsincebirth,causingatrophyin
hishandsandfeet.Hiscaseisrelativelylight,butdebilitating
nonetheless.Asaboy,hecouldntrunnormally,preventing
himfromexcellingatsports.

Childrencanbeverycruel,andmakefun,andcallyou
names,hetoldme,curlinghisbrowinsincerity,butwithout DontmissNathan
Schneidersnew
losinghispoise.Thatmakesyoufeellikedirt,likeyoure book,fullofstoriesof
worthless. Godproofsandtheir
provers.
Inearly1980s,Craigtradedafriendapologeticslessonsfor
somesessionsinmarriagecounselingwithJan,anditwasonlythenthatherealized
theeffectthosememoriesfromhischildhoodhavehadonhim.Emotionswelled
upwithinmeandIbegantocry,hesaid.IdidntrealizejusthowbadIstillfelt.I
stillhadthesefeelingsinsideofme.Thosesessionshelpedhimunderstandthathis
drivennessanddeterminationasanadultarealsoaresultofthoseearlyfrustrations.

Well,Illshowthem,heimaginedhimselfthinking,beneaththesurface.Ill
makesomethingofmylife,andtheywontmakefunofmeanymore.

Thatswhyhefirststarteddebatinginhighschool.Iwasnogoodatathletics,he
toldme,butIcouldrepresentmyschoolbybeingonthedebateteam.There,he
excelled,andtraveledacrossIllinoisforcompetitions,debatingallfouryearsof
highschoolandthroughhisfouryearsatWheatonCollegeaswell.TheLordhas
usedthisinmylifetohelpme,Craigcannowsayabouthisdisease.Andnow,in
hisearlysixties,exercisingsixmorningsaweek(allbutSunday)meanshesin

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bettershapethanwhenhewasinhistwenties.

Bodilyexerciseprofitethlittle,wentthetextofoneofthemorningdevotionsin
hisclassapassagefrom1Timothy.Butitdoesntsaytheresnoprofit!Craig
continued,asifrelieved,andthenproceededtooutlinehisexerciseregimenforhis
students,recommendingMayoClinicnewslettersandbodybuilderBill
PhillipssBodyforLifeprogram.

Craigoncenotedthathereallylikestheideaofhowplatetectonicsandvolcanoes
andearthquakesarepartofwhatGodusedtomakelifeonEarthpossible,spewing
upthenecessaryelementsfromunderneaththecrust.Itsthesamelogicheapplies
tohisownlifetraumatransformedforahigherpurpose.EventheChristmas
tsunamiof2004wouldbegreat,hesaid,ifGodcoulduseittobringmore
peopletoChrist.Inthatcase,ThankGodforthesuffering.

5.BePrepared

Confrontinghorrificsufferingsophilosophically,andsospiritually,takespractice.
Partofthetwoweekcourseconcentratedonthesocalledproblemofevil,which
dealswithwhetherGodcanbeconsistentwiththeexperienceofsomuchpainand
crueltyintheworld.Thestudyofphilosophycanhelpprepareoneforsuffering,
Craigtoldhisclass.SuchstudyhelpsoneseetheworkofGodintheworld,orat
leasttrustinGodsunsearchableprovidence.Hepromised,Thishasreal
devotionalbite.

ThearenainwhichCraigspenchantforpreparednessisespeciallyondisplayis,of
course,debating.Throughoutanygivendebate,oftenagainstavaliantatheist
challenger,heneverseemstolosehisunflappableconfidence,excepttoventure
intoridicule.Hehasananswerreadyforeveryobjection,witharelevantquotation
inhisnotestodriveithome,asifsomeofGodsMolinisticforeknowledgeofthe
opponentsmovesiswearingoffonhim.

Really,though,theprocessisverystraightforwarditsonethathelearnedbackin
thedebateteamonhighschoolandpracticedforyearsevenbeforehelatertookto
debatingaboutreligion.Inadvanceofadebate,sometimesformonthsaheadof
time,Craigmakessuretoreadthroughtheopponentsoeuvre,andtoscoutthe
Internetforvideosofthespeakingstyleandmannerismshellbeupagainst.In

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somecases,hellevenhireassistantstoreadthroughtheopponentswritingsand
preparesynopsesthathecanskim.Hemethodicallylaysoutwhathethinksthe
opponentwilltrytoargue,andwhatobjectionsmightberaisedtohisown
arguments,andthenpreparesrejoindersaccordingly,filingnotesoneachsotheyre
atthereadyduringthedebate.Otherwise,hesays,Ihavegreatdifficulty
rememberingthisstuff.

Notabene,ifyourepreparingtofacehimandcansomehowturnhis
meticulousnesstoyouradvantage.Itshardtoimaginehow,though,exceptby
evenmoreofthesame.Eventhecleverestofzingerstendnottophasehim.

6.RememberThatTimeIsEverythingandNothing

ThereisnoweaponthatCraigwieldsmoreeffectivelyinadebatethantheclock.
WhenIaskedforhissecrets,hetoldme,Theabilitytoknowhowtosay
somethingsuccinctly,togettothepointandmovetothenextpoint,isreally,really
important.Heplansoutexactlywhatheintendstosayandproceedsthroughit
methodically,makingsurethathecangetfromthebeginningtotheend,without
rushingorskippingaroundfrompointtopointandback.Whenhisopponent
proceedstobouncebackandforththroughafewobjectionsandfailstoreplyto
eachofthepointsCraigmade,Craigcanremindtheaudienceattheendhowmany
ofhispointsremainstanding,uncontested.

Hedoesthisinjustabouteverysingledebate,anditssoeffectivethatpeople
complain.Hedefendedhimselftome:NowIthinkyoucansee,Nathan,thatsnot
arhetoricaltrick!Thatsnotacleverdevice!Itsjustatechnique,anditworks.

Time,however,isnotalwaysonWilliamLaneCraigsside.Duringtheclasss
discussionsoftemporality,hequotedthepassagefromMacbethabouttheshortness
ofhumanlifeasataletoldbyanidiot,fullofsoundandfury,signifyingnothing.

Thisreallyresonateswithme,hesaid.

InhistellingarticleOntheArgumentforDivineTimelessnessfromthe
IncompletenessofTemporalLife,hesuggests,Itisfarfromobviousthatthe
experienceoftemporalpassageissomelancholyanaffairforanomniscientGodas
itisforus.Indeed,thereissomeevidencethatconsciousnessoftimesflowcan
actuallybeanenrichingexperience.Repeat:Itsobviousthattheveryflowof

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timeismelancholyforus,exceptperhapsforsomeevidencethatmay
actuallyexisttothecontrary.

Thesearchfortheinfiniteandtheeternal,anddissatisfactionwithanythingless,is
aconstantthemeinCraigsscholarshipandhisrhetoric.Eithersomethingis
eternallymeaningful,orvaluable,oritisnothing.Contrarytothelegionsofnon
religiousphilosophers(andothers)whoseemtofindbenefitinreflectingonethics
andmorality,inadebatewithphilosopherLouiseAntony,hedescribedthinkingof
moralityinthecontextofatheismasbeinglikeshufflingchairsonthedeckofthe
Titanic.Whatwedowithourworldlylivesisntworthsquattohimunlessits
noticedbyaninfiniteandeternalGod.

Loveisapossibleexception.Inclasshewouldsometimestalk(asaphilosophical
example,ofcourse)aboutthemomentswhenyourewiththepersonyoulove,and
youreenjoyingitsomuchthatinthemomentitseemstolastforever.Eventhen,
though,thevalueofsuchpassingmomentscomesonlyfromtheirresemblanceto
eternity.

Someofthestudentsdisagreed.Theytriedtoarguethatloveisonlypossiblewithin
time.Whatwouldlovebewithoutmemory,oraging,orthepossibilityofloss?Ina
discussionaboutthelovefeltamongthepersonsoftheTrinitybeforethecreation
oftheuniverse,thestudentscontendedthattheTrinitymusthaveexistedintimein
orderforitsmemberstoloveoneanother.ButCraigsGod,onthecontrary,isvery
muchathomeintimelessness.

7.LoveGodandAuthority

BillandJanCraigmovedtoCobbCounty,Georgia,throughaprocessof
deductionitbestsuitedeachofthevariouscriteriatheysoughttosatisfy.NowBill
cantimagineabetterchoice.HelovesCobbCounty,whichisanorthernsuburbof
Atlanta.HealsolovestheUnitedStatesofAmericaingeneral,alovehesometimes
expressesbywearinghisnecktiewithasoaringbaldeagle,justasinhighschoolhe
longedtobringhonortohishighschoolthroughthewarfareofdebate.His
patriotismextendstoeveryleveloflife,andhisphilosophydulyupholdsthe
rightlyorderedauthoritiesherecognizes:God,family,country,church,school.

Reason,ashewieldsit,buttresseseachoftheseandistherebyalsobuttressedby

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them.BydefendingtheGodofhistoricalChristianityheisinturnbackedbytwo
millenniaofChristiantruthinallitsaccumulatedpowerandmajesty.Bylovinghis
familyhewinsthematerialprovisionsandtypingprowessofJan.Bylovinghis
countrysmighthecanholdhisheadhighinCobbCounty,oneofthecapitalsof
themilitaryindustrialcomplex,wherethelargestemployeristheLockheedMartin
plantthatbuildsthedisastrousF22fighter.(Evenmycabdriverthere,arecent
Africanimmigrant,accusedmeofbeingacommunistforquestioningitsutility.)By
lovinghischurch,JohnsonFerryBaptist,hehasalargeandwellorganized
congregationfromwhichtopopulateaweekly,semiliturgicalapologeticsclass
worshipingunderthesanctuaryselevated,shimmeringbaptistrybehindretractable
doors,thecommunityreinforceshislonesomescholarlyactivities.Bylovingthe
institutionwhereheworksBiolaUniversityhisideasbecometheammunition
forstrategiceffortstopreparelargenumbersofsmartstudentsforacademicand
culturalconquest.

EachofthesepowersstandbehindCraig,inperfectorder,witheverywordhe
uttersinstillinginhim,inturn,theirauthorityandgravity.Despitetheappearance
ofbeingamainlyindependentscholar,heiscontinuallyenmeshedinthesenoble
dependencies,andtheyupholdhim.Hisphilosophyisnothisalone,buttheirsalso,
makingitthatmuchmoreformidable.Astheirchampion,hisbearingisdominant
andsuccessful,withthewillingnesstogiveyoualeguptohisplateauifyoulltake
itbutifyoudprefernotto,yourloss.

ThereisnoonelikeCraig,tobesure,butallthathedoesisinseparablefromthe
powersthatheserves.InaconversationinclassatBiolaaboutSaulKripkesnotion
ofrigiddesignators,theretiredhousewifeasked,asanexample,Whatmakes
BillCraigBillCraig?

Craiglikealotofphilosophers,Ivefoundhasawayofsayingrevealingthings
intechnicalutterances,unconsciousturnsofphrasewiththeirownmeaningswhen
takenbythemselves,outofcontext,andinterpretedliterally.Allofphilosophy,I
sometimesthink,mightbeconsideredonegreatFreudianslip.

Tothestudenthereplied,Imnotsurehowtoansweraquestionlikethat.

ReportingforthisarticlewasmadepossiblebyaKnightGrantforReportingon
ReligionandAmericanPublicLife.

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