''See also:'' [[Stagnation of atheist apologetics]]
''See also:'' [[Stagnation of atheist apologetics]]
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The majority of philosophers of religion, or those who have extensively studied the issue of the [[Arguments for the existence of God|existence of God]], are [[theism|theists]] (72 percent).<ref>[http://www.strangenotions.com/atheist-scientists/ Does it matter that many scientists are atheists?]</ref>
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There is a considerable body of evidence and argumentation for the existence of God (see: [[Arguments for the existence of God]] and [[Christian apologetics websites|Evidence for Christianity]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]).
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=== Atheist Michael Martin on atheistic responses to theistic arguments ===
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In 1990, the [[atheism|atheist]] philosopher [[Michael Martin]] indicated there was a general [[Atheism and apathy|absence of an atheistic response]] to contemporary work in the [[philosophy]] of religion and in jest he indicated that it was his "cross to bear" to respond to [[theism|theistic]] arguments.<ref>''Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith'' by Luís F. Rodrigues, page 201</ref> Yet, in 1994, Michael Martin was criticized for his eleventh hour cancellation of his debate with [[Greg Bahnsen]] (see: [[Greg Bahnsen and debate]] and [[Press release after Michael Martin pulled out of Martin-Bahnsen debate|Bahnson-Martin debate press release]]).<ref>[http://simpleapologetics.com/thegreatdebate.html The Great Debate: Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein]</ref><ref>[http://www.frame-poythress.org/frame_articles/Bahnsen.htm Bahsen at the Stein debate] by John Frame</ref>
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=== Theist surge in philosophy departments ===
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In 2001, the atheist and [[Philosophy|philosopher]] Quentin Smith declared:
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{{cquote|[[Naturalism|Naturalists]] [atheists] passively watched as realist versions of [[theism]] … began to sweep through the philosophical community, until today perhaps one-quarter or one-third of philosophy professors are theists, with most being orthodox Christians…. God is not 'dead' in academia; he returned to life in the 1960's and is now alive and well in his last academic stronghold, philosophy departments."<ref>Craig, William Lane (2012).[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/theistic-critiques-of-atheism "Theistic critiques of atheism"]. Reasonable Faith. Retrieved on July 26, 2014. Unabridged version of article published 2007. See [[William Lane Craig]].</ref>}}