Dan’s Debate Opponents

Dan Barker

Co-president, Freedom From Religion Foundation

Since 1985, Dan Barker has participated in more than 80 formal public debates on such topics as:

Does God exist? (See example)
Does ethics require God? (Can we be good without God?)  (Hear debate)
Should government and religion be strictly separate?
Is American law based on the Ten Commandments?
Did Jesus rise from the dead? (See example)
Jesus of Nazareth: Messiah or Myth?
Is Christianity true?
Is the bible an acceptable guide for morality?
Is America a Christian nation?

His opponents in formal public debates have included:

Dr. Norman Geisler, Christian apologist & author
Richard Swinburne, Christian philosopher, Oxford
Dinesh D'Souza, Christian author (seven times)
Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia
Dave Smith, Canadian senator
Dr. Paul Maier, historian, author, prof. at Western Michigan University
Dr. Walter Kaiser, President Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (see story)
Dr. Greg Boyd, professor of Theology at Bethel College, MN (Twice. Resurrection video available)
Hassanain Rajabali, Islamic Scholar, Tawheed Institute (Twice. See their 2003 debate)
Jonathan Vos Post, professor, astronomer, mathematician
Francis Manion, American Center for Law and Justice
Scott Moore, Baylor University& director of the Great Texts Program
Dr. Walter Lowe of Candler School of Theology, Emory University
John Franklin of Ontario Bible College, Toronto
Michael Horner, Society of Christian Philosophers (3 times--see 1996 debate)
Dr. Terry Morrison of Intervarsity Fellowship
John Morehead, American Center for Religious Inquiry & Watchman Fellowship (3 times)
Dr. Rubel Shelly, Church of Christ, Nashville (5 times)
Dr. Phil Fernandes, Institute for Biblical Defense (videotape available)
Dr. Douglas Geivett, Philosophy, Talbot Seminary
Dr. Francis Nigel Lee, Reformed Presbyterian minister, Australia
Bob Siegel, Sojourners Christian Fellowship, Mission to the Americas (twice)
Cliffe Knecthle, Intervarsity Fellowship
Gene Breitenbach, Assembly of God
Richard Howe, Southern Evangelical Seminary, SC
Tom Rode, President of Ohio Campus Crusade For Christ
Rev. Larry Siekawitch, Vineyard Fellowship, Colorado Springs
Douglas Wilson, editor Credenda Addenda (twice) (see writeup)
Michael Butler, a "presuppositionalist" theistic philosopher
Michael Licona of "Risen Jesus"
Michael Corey, author of The God Hypothesis
John C. Rankin, Theological Education Institute (7 times)
Janet Parshall, Christian radio talkshow host
Peter Payne, Christian Philosopher with Intervarsity
Robert Osburn, the McLaurin Institute
Professor Arthur Pontynen, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Peter Youngren, Niagara Celebration Church
James White, Alpha & Omega Ministries (three times)
Matt Slick of Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
Greg Clarke, Centre for Public Christianity, Australia
Chris Forbes, Ancient History, Macquarie University
Janet Parshall, conservative talkshow host
Mat Staver, Dean of Liberty University School of Law
Mark Chavalas, Ancient Languages, UW La Crosse
and numerous local ministers.

Audio and Video

Dan Speaks at RIT:

Minnesota Atheists podcast of booksigning talk at Borders last January (2009).

Can you be good without God ? Adam Deen vs. Dan Barker (USA's leading atheist)

Is God a delusion ? Adam Deen vs. Dan Barker (USA's leading atheist)