Is God a Man-Made Invention?

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Is God a Man-Made Invention?

Posted Dec 2nd 2007 11:22PM by Dinesh D'Souza
Filed under: Science, Christianity, Controversy, Atheism

On Friday, November 30, I debated philosopher Daniel Dennett at Tufts University on the topic, "Is God a Man-Made Invention?" This was my third debate against a leading atheist, following my debate with Michael Shermer at Oregon State University and my debate with Christopher Hitchens at the Ethical Culture Society in New York. The auditorium at Tufts filled up so quickly prior to the Dennett debate that the organizers had to have a second overflow room where viewers could watch the fireworks on a big-screen TV. (You can watch the full debate here.)

Dennett surprised me a little by showing up with a power-point presentation. I hadn't agreed to this in advance, but I didn't object. I thought to myself, "I'm not sure what advantage slides are going to give him in a format like this one." Dennett spoke first for 25 minutes, and sure enough, he made full use of those slides. He had quotations from me up there, and he challenged me to defend them. I was impressed by Dennett's preparation, and also by his avulcular "grandpa" style, an effect enhanced by his white Santa beard. Atheism is a grim philosophy, but Dennett more than anyone else makes it seem harmless and even charming.

Normally I would use my opening statement entirely to make the case for God's existence. But I didn't want Dennett's allegations to go unrebutted for too long. So I devoted the first five minutes to puncturing some factual and historical holes in Dennett's argument. Then I proceeded to make my case. Of course I conceded that religion is a man-made invention, but I argued that modern science has over the past century produced remarkable discoveries that affirm and support the argument for God's existence. In doing so I recognized that I was challenging Dennett not only on his home campus, Tufts university, but also on his home turf, which is a philosophical atheism rooted in science.

We each had two five-minute rebuttals which produced lively exchanges about the Big Bang and about whether the universe is fine-tuned for life. Then there was a lengthy question-and-answer session. Given that the audience was mostly made up of Tufts students sympathetic to Dennett's atheism, a majority of the questions was directed at me. Most memorable for me was the philosophically-minded savant who pooh-poohed the possibility of God's existence on the basis of what he called the Principle of Parsimony. He argued that either propositions are true by definition, or they are true by empirical verification. If a proposition cannot satisfy either criteria, then it is meaningless. Since God does not exist by definition, the young man insisted, and since we cannot verify His presence empirically, clearly God has been refuted by the Principle of Parsimony.

I asked our undergraduate savant to apply his twofold test to the Principle of Parsimony itself. Is it true by definition? No. Well, can it be verified empirically? Again, no. Therefore by the student's own criteria the Principle of Parismony is worthless and can be cast aside. The student had no comeback to this and neither did Dennett.

So who won the debate? That's for you to decide. You can watch the whole thing here, and then you can cast your vote on the resolution and on who came out on top.

Watch the videos of the debate after the jump.Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 44)

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1. http://evolutionfacts.blogspot.com

prffsrx at 9:34AM on Dec 3rd 2007

2. ATHEISTS ARE IMAGINARY

Atheists and Skeptics invent unintelligent scenarios for the origins of the universe and manufacture make-believe "gods" (created in their own image) that submit to their own will and self-centered desires only to accuse their idol of great evil then have the nerve of accuse Christians of serving the very same "god" that atheists have imagined! (i.e. Their so-called "flying spaghetti monster")

All human misconceptions about God are based on: an attempt to approach Him on ones own terms, conform Him into a being filled with human vices; reduce Him into an impersonal force easily manipulated by human will; or elevating the created order equivocal with the transcendent creator as if all physical substance of the universe is eternal.

Instead of seeking to know the one and only God who created this Earth, only to discover that it (the Earth) has been affected by humanity’s own evil, atheists seek to condemn Him in order to justify their lifestyle of defiance. The atheists are only right in this sense: the god that atheists have invented in their own minds does not exist and is a mere reflection of their own evil heart. The Atheist’s god was manufactured to justify their personal rebellion against the Holy God, who will by nature hold them accountable for their crimes against Him. The Atheist’s god DOES NOT exist. The One and only Holy Creator subsist necessarily.

In reality, ATHEISTS DO NOT EXIST. They are just people who don't want to believe that which they know must exist despite the scientific evidence of a fine-tuned universe. They are the epitome of superstitious as they have great faith in chemical chance and mutational luck. The atheists' universe is ultimately an arguement for self-creation and therefore is illogical. By arrogantly rejecting and avoiding that uncaused transcendent intelligent God whom they already know subsists, they have unwittingly labeled themselves an ignoramus (agnostic).

http://atheistsareimaginary.blogspot.com/

prffsrx at 9:39AM on Dec 3rd 2007

3. prffsrx: Can you only cut and paste?

'Atheism is a grim philosophy' LOLOLOL

Not believing in any deities is not a 'philosophy'

And, it is life-affirming, not grim, to believe that this life is all we have, therefore we must make the most of it.

There's no phony pie-in-the-sky and no frightening hell-fire damnation place.

I think (just my opinion) that delusion is grim.

Linda at 9:55AM on Dec 3rd 2007

4. Calling Atheism a "philosophy" shows just how little the blogger knows about the subject. Ridiculous.

Ken at 10:05AM on Dec 3rd 2007

5. "If you study science deep enough and long enough it will force you to believe in God." British scientist Lord Kelvin

Greg at 10:05AM on Dec 3rd 2007

6. There is a God. Wat is man made is the institutions, like the Catholic Church, which is a multi-billion corp. My God ain't short of cash, mister...

Thumper101st at 10:12AM on Dec 3rd 2007

7. "modern science has over the past century produced remarkable discoveries that affirm and support the argument for God's existence."
You don't have a rational mind, therefore you only can support what religeous writing have been [brain washed] instilled in your brain. you could never understand modern science.

DR. GEORGE OREMLAND at 10:15AM on Dec 3rd 2007

8. "You don't have a rational mind, therefore you only can support what religeous writing have been [brain washed] instilled in your brain. you could never understand modern science."

Dr. George: eloquently put. IMO, it is the brainwashing, or indoctrination of young children that perpetuates the myth of religious beliefs.

I was given the choice as a child to find my own way w/r god. Morals are easily taught without religion. But it seems that most christians, at least on this blog, cannot grasp that concept.

So indoctrination continues.

Linda at 10:25AM on Dec 3rd 2007

9. in the end we will all get the chance to see who was right. as i said earlier,science answer no question to the problem of evil or for that matter good. science does not help you deal with lonliness,depression,substance abuse,anger,hostility,as is shown on this blog, it has no answer for behavior issues. yets its our behavior as people that gets us in trouble.

i had a friend who dies yesterday of cancer. i am damn glad there was no atheist around to tell the family bill's life was one cosmological accident and his life had no meaning past here. yes whatever you want to call atheism it is GRIM.

brian at 10:28AM on Dec 3rd 2007

10. I was at the debate, Dennett was clearly out-presented and he conceded to that. The interesting thing on Philosophy is that Dennett is, of course a very accomplished Philosopher who basically equates believing in God like believing in the Easter Bunny. Well, his heros, Aristotle and specifically Plato were very pro-"God". So are they idiots who believe in easter bunnies too? Is everything they wrote reduced to nonsense simply because they welcomed and believed the notion of God?

Brittany at 10:35AM on Dec 3rd 2007

11. I've watched most of the debate, and I didn't find Mr. D'Souza's presentation terribly convincing. He tended to gloss over many inconvenient issues. For example, in responding to a question, he stated that religion gets blamed for conflicts that are really about land or politics, and his primary example was the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Of course, back in the 1940's when Israel was created by fiat, there was a competing proposal to create a Jewish homeland in South America. But the reason Israel was created where it is - the reason why *that* land is being fought over - is entirely religious. According to Jewish tradition and theology, God *gave* them that land (regardless of the wishes or rights of the people who occupied it - thousands of years ago or now) and so, there they are.

The violent response to this has been horrifying and devastating, and involves reprehensible targeting of civilians. But one other thing that response was: predictable.

Ray Ingles at 10:38AM on Dec 3rd 2007

12. In the beginning Man created God, and in the image of Man created he him.
And Man gave unto God a multitude of names, that he might be Lord over all the earth when it was suited to Man.
And on the seven millionth day Man rested and did lean heavily on his God and saw that it was good.
And Man formed Aqualung of the dust of the ground, and a host of others likened unto his kind.
And these lesser men Man did cast into the void. And some were burned.
And some were put apart from their kind.
And Man became the God that he had created and with his miracles did rule over all the earth.
But as all these things did come to pass, the Spirit that did cause man to create his God lived on within all men: even within Aqualung.
And man saw it not.
But for Christ's sake he better start looking.
- Jethro Tull

Mokele-Mbembe at 10:38AM on Dec 3rd 2007

13. In reality, ATHEISTS DO NOT EXIST. They are just people who don't want to believe that which they know must exist despite the scientific evidence of a fine-tuned universe.

---------------------

atheist: one who believes that there is no deity

deity: the rank or essential nature of a god
: one exalted or revered as supremely good or powerful

prffsrx, i would ask you to not present yourself so foolishly, but i'm guessing it's not possible for you.... let me guess, you had a lobotomy and now you can't engage a very critical part of your brain for critical thought...

people can't just make up their own definition of something to make their point irrefutable, it's called using a circular definition.

Richelle at 10:39AM on Dec 3rd 2007

14. god is a man-made way to keep fear at bay; to explain the unexplainable, and to control the masses. we will never ever prove the existance of GOD as a man-form; nor should we wish to. Any God we could define would be worthless to us. I think that we are creating God even as we speak....the computers we build to be omniscient, or to do our work for us... and we ARE god; given my definition of the word; which is; all existence is god if anything is.......

dorothy at 10:40AM on Dec 3rd 2007

15. You can debate the unseen until you are blue in the face. The bottom line is the historical record. Christians have a blood history (Inquistions, witch hangings in Salem, etc.) and athiests do not.

The Goddess Athena at 10:43AM on Dec 3rd 2007

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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.