Anthony Flew, formerly the world's most famous atheist, is being given the Phillip E. Johnson Award for Liberty and Truth by Biola University. He was selected for his lifelong commitment to free and open inquiry and to standing fast against intolerant assaults on freedom of thought and expression.
The write up for this award reads:
Flew, 83, argued in books such as God and Philosophy (1966) and The Presumption of Atheism (1984) that one should presuppose atheism until evidence for God proves otherwise. Then, in 2004, the Oxford-educated philosopher stunned the intellectual world by relinquishing his long-held atheism, claiming that the natural sciences supplied evidence for the existence of a designing intelligence. Flew said that he simply “had to go where the evidence leads.”
Flew drew scorn from skeptics following his shift in views. When informed that he was this year’s award winner, he remarked, “In light of my work and publications in this area and the criticism I’ve received for changing my position, I appreciate receiving this award.”
HT: STR