The resurrection of Jesus Christ — the cornerstone of Christianity — will be affirmed and contested by two accomplished theologians Thursday.

“The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Fact or Fiction?” debate will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at Stephens Auditorium. Hector Avalos, associate professor of religious studies, and William Lane Craig, research professor of philosophy at the Talbot School of Theology will debate the issue. Alex Tuckness, assistant professor of political science, will moderate.

Eric Lindstrom, freshman in civil engineering, is president of the ISU Atheist and Agnostic Society.

The Atheist and Agnostic Society is the only non-Christian group sponsoring the event, Lindstrom said.

Craig was brought in because a number of past debaters have not been able to stand up against Avalos, he said.

“I have heard in the past that [Avalos] has just crushed people during debates,” Lindstrom said.

But it may not be easy to win the debate this time, because Craig is a formidable opponent, Avalos said.

“[Craig] is the most credentialed scholar that I have ever debated at ISU,” Avalos said.

Craig has debated many people before at different universities on the existence of God and on other topics, Avalos said.

“Students [from my classes] have been suggesting to me they wanted to see me debate [Craig],” Avalos said.

Avalos said when he was contacted by Campus Crusade for Christ to debate Craig, he was glad to accept.

Chris Swanson, staff member of Campus Crusade for Christ, said he originally asked Avalos if he would debate the existence of God, but when Avalos declined to debate that issue, the parties later agreed on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“If [the resurrection of Jesus Christ] happened, it is the most important event in history,” Swanson said.

He said the debate will not be an issue of religion, but of history. Swanson said Jesus has transformed the events of history, so it should be a topic of conversation on campus.

Craig, who has a doctorate in philosophy and theology, did his dissertation on the topic of

the resurrection of Jesus Christ and has written a book, “Reasonable Faith,” about the resurrection.

“I am really curious to see how Avalos responds to it, because if [Craig] argues the case like he did in the book, he has got a really good case,” said Matt Wolff, sophomore in liberal arts and science — open option.

Wolff said he expects Craig to represent believers in the resurrection well.

Both Avalos and Craig said the purpose of a debate is to increase awareness and to help students to create informed opinions.

“You never really convert people at debates, because most of the people will not switch sides, but debates serve as a starting point for further discussion,” Avalos said.

In the end, the question of Jesus’ resurrection will be left up to the audience, Swanson said.

“Research will be presented from both sides, and it is left for the people to decide,” he said.