I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to this. It will be my first “Atheist Event” ever. Before this, all I had to satisfy my rabid fascination with the debate on religion was books, the internet and sporadic mini-debates with a xian friend of mine. I am currently trying to get some of the people from my Tulare County Atheists page to go with me and carpool. This looks to be good fun and an opportunity to meet like minded people in the area. After the event I plan to write up my opinion of how it went. So keep an eye on this blog. The details can be found here, although I believe the date has been changed to the 19th.
Starbix
“Don’t Panic.”
- Douglas Adams
Tags: Atheism, California State University Fresno, debate, Dinesh D'Souza, Fresno, Michael Shermer
April 3, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Hi Starbix,
Saw your post on the Pharyngula blog pertaining to this debate.
I’d advise asking the “Why doesn’t god heal amputee’s” question. I saw a debate with Shermer/Dinesh a few months ago and he handled this question so badly, (its the first question, about 15 minutes in)
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=3720939638863558052&q=shermer+dinesh&total=8&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
You can see how he evades the question
D’Souza: Stutter…..*evasion starts* Stephen J Gould, Miracle should be judged my the standards of science (yes D’souza, why doesnt it happen?)…starts talking about afterlife…no evidence of afterlife (not sure how this is relevent)…afterlife is based on faith, (wtf?!), atheist is taking a step in dark
Moderation: “but can you answer the question”
D’Souza: Ok sure, I’ll come down to the level of the question, (LOL). God can make miracles can happen in 2 ways, non natural source, or natural source, (ok sure, why doesnt he use either of them?), god used a storm to kill some Egyptians, Atheists have faith.
Audience: What are you talking about?!? Answer the question..
D’Souza: I think I did.
I was really dissapointed the moderator didnt call bullshit (though If out afterwards he was a christian minister I believe so make of that what you will). But yeah, you can see how badly he deals with it, unfortunately his sophistry still managed to get him a round of applause from the audience, (im not sure how). I’d advise being aggressive when asking the question, dont let him get off track and evade the topic (hes very good at it).
Hope this helps,
,
Chris,
sma06ms@sheffield.ac.uk
April 3, 2008 at 7:14 pm
urgh, spelling errors,
*I was really dissapointed the moderator didnt call bullshit (though If found out afterwards he was a christian minister, so make of that what you will). But yeah, you can see how badly he deals with it, unfortunately his sophistry still managed to get him a round of applause from the audience, (im not sure how). I’d advise being aggressive when asking the question, dont let him get off track and evade the topic (hes very good at it).
April 3, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Thanks! That sounds like an excellent question. I wanted something that’ll really stop him in his tracks. That’ll do. >:)
April 4, 2008 at 4:54 pm
No problem, don’t let him use his sophistry on you, I’ll look out for the audio after the debate, good luck,
June 28, 2008 at 10:05 pm
all so Watch Dinesh D’Souza Debate Christopher Hitchens on: Is Christianity the Problem? check this debate out both good for christians and atheist http://www.isi.org/lectures/flvplayer/lectureplayer.aspx?file=v000187_cicero_102207.flv