Antony Flew - A Theist or Deist?

Antony Flew

There Is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind

(Antony Flew’s First Book Since Becoming a Theist)

A far cry from these days:

One of the most ardent atheists explains why he has become a theist, not a Christian, but an Aristotelian theist. The book is due out on October 23^rd, and should be a must read for all Christians. I will include at the bottom of this blog a debate Dr. Antony Flew had with Dr. Gary Habermas on the issue of the resurrection, that likewise is a must watch for both the Christian and the skeptic. I am looking forward to reading this book soon!

From the Book Description

In one of the biggest religion news stories of the new millennium, the Associated Press announced that Professor Antony Flew, the world's leading atheist, now believes in God.

Flew is a pioneer for modern atheism. His famous paper, Theology and Falsification, was first presented at a meeting of the Oxford Socratic Club chaired by C. S. Lewis and went on to become the most widely reprinted philosophical publication of the last five decades. Flew earned his fame by arguing that one should presuppose atheism until evidence of a God surfaces. He now believes that such evidence exists, and There Is a God chronicles his journey from staunch atheism to believer.

For the first time, this book will present a detailed and fascinating account of Flew's riveting decision to revoke his previous beliefs and argue for the existence of God. Ever since Flew's announcement, there has been great debate among atheists and believers alike about what exactly this "conversion" means. There Is a God will finally put this debate to rest.

This is a story of a brilliant mind and reasoned thinker, and where his lifelong intellectual pursuit eventually led him: belief in God as designer.

A great article is one where Gary Habermas interviews of Antony Flew in Philosophia Christi (PDF). This also is a must read for the person trying to find out more on why Antony Flew came to the logical conclusion he did based on evidence alone.

This is taken from that PDF document:

HABERMAS: You very kindly noted that our debates and discussions had influenced your move in the direction of theism.11 You mentioned that this initial influence contributed in part to your comment that naturalistic efforts have never succeeded in producing “a plausible conjecture as to how any of these complex molecules might have evolved from simple entities.”12 Then in your recently rewritten introduction to the forthcoming edition of your classic volume God and Philosophy, you say that the original version of that book is now obsolete. You mention a number of trends in theistic argumentation that you find convincing, like big bang cosmology, fine tuning and Intelligent Design arguments. Which arguments for God’s existence did you find most persuasive?

FLEW: I think that the most impressive arguments for God’s existence are those that are supported by recent scientific discoveries. I’ve never been much impressed by the kalam cosmological argument, and I don’t think it has gotten any stronger recently. However, I think the argument to Intelligent Design is enormously stronger than it was when I first met it.

HABERMAS: So you like arguments such as those that proceed from big bang cosmology and fine tuning arguments?

FLEW: Yes.

Another interview that is worth watching and making notes of is the following one by Lee Stroebel. A philosophy 101 student can get a lot out of this interview. Deism just doesn’t fit what Flew describes. In fact, most deists do not realize what they are saying when they say “God created the first “bang” and “set up natural laws” that have resulted in our known universe with conscious beings as “creations” pinnacle.

Lee Stroebel Interview with Antony Flew

I blogged on this previously, but it was a small note on a larger issue that is very important, which is – that there exists enough evidence for even the most ardent skeptic to accept the logical/rational belief that God does truly exist! Below is a photo of Antony Flew shaking hands with the father of the modern Intelligent Design movement, Dr. Phillip Johnson. Philip Johnson has authored or edited the following books:

1. Darwin on Trial
2. Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity (Study Guide Edition)
3. Defeating Darwinism by Opening Minds
4. Reason in the Balance: The Case Against Naturalism in Science, Law & Education
   
5. The Wedge of Truth: Splitting the Foundations of Naturalism
6. The Right Questions: Truth, Meaning & Public Debate
7. Objections Sustained: Subversive Essays on Evolution, Law & Culture
8. Darwinism Defeated?

A-Team props

To the other side of Antony Flew in the above photo is Stephen Meyer, he has authored or edited the following books:

1. Science and Evidence for Design in the Universe (Proceedings of the Wethersfield Institute)
2. Darwinism, Design, and Public Education (Rhetoric and Public Affairs Series)

Dr. Gary Habermas authored the following books:

1. Beyond Death: Exploring the Evidence for Immortality
2. Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?: The Resurrection Debate
3. The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ
4. Case for the Resurrection of Jesus
5. In Defense of Miracles: A Comprehensive Case for God's Actions in History
6. Why Believe? God Exists: Rethinking the Case for God and Christianity
7. The Thomas Factor: Using Your Doubts to Draw Closer to God
8. The Risen Jesus and Future Hope

So you can see the type of people that have influenced Dr. Flew over the years via debates, becoming friends with Dr. Habermas, and the like. In fact, let me post the entire debate between Habermas and Flew on the Resurrection of Jesus.

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

PART 4

PART5