Here is the final part of my Cal Tech debate with atheist Michael Shermer. In some ways the question-and-answer sessions are the most interesting of these debates, because you never know what to expect. This debate features such bizarre inquiries as "Why does God hate amputees?" That one stumped me for a minute because I wasn't sure what our undergraduate Aristotle was getting at. I've got several more debates with leading atheists coming up this year. You can find the list on my website dineshdsouza.com.
Hitchens is stepping back into the ring with me, and we have a couple of showdowns ahead. We are going to be debating at a large libertarian convention where the audience is likely to be in Hitchens' camp. Shermer and I will put the gloves on again in March, but this time I will have the friendly crowd. We are debating next before 6,000 media at the National Religious Broadcasters convention. At Dartmouth, my alma mater, I'll be facing a local hero, philosopher Walter Sinnott-Armstrong. At Harvard I'm debating Dan Barker, head of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, a kind of atheist ACLU. I'm especially looking forward to my debate Aprl 25 in Los Angeles with Peter Singer of Princeton University. You're welcome to come, but given Singer's relentless advocacy of euthanasia you may want to ask grandma to stay home.
I'd like to report that I'll be debating Sam Harris, author of The End of Faith. But Intrepid Sam has still not replied to my invitation to do both a written and an oral debate. The written debate was Sam's idea, so let's hope he isn't backing off from his own challenge. As for Richard Dawkins, he's still hiding in his closet! Finally I think I know why. I watched a DVD of Dawkins debating theologian John Lennox in Birmingham, and Dawkins got soundly whipped. The man is a terrible debater: halting, witless and verbose. Perhaps Dawkins is avoiding more debates for the same reason that many public school teachers resist undergoing competence evaluations: they know they won't pass muster.
The new atheists thought they had reason and science entirely on their side, but now you can see for yourself in these debates that it isn't so. Some atheists are so prejudiced that they won't admit it, of course. They will continue their delightful blather about what a cretin I am, how I got creamed, how stupid my mannerisms are, why I should go back to India, etc. But their own most articulate advocate, Christopher Hitchens, said publicly before our New York debate that I am one of the most formidable debaters he has faced on any subject. I think Hitchens is a more reliable source than "BornAtheist" or whatever. Besides, when they hurl embittered invective at me, my critics are unwittingly revealing that they are completly bereft of arguments.
Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 53)
46. What actual evidence is there for a creator.
Ryan Anderson at 11:04AM on Jan 25th
_______________________--
The cosmos, earth life to name three.
The big bang is not mathematically possible.
Zero substance + zero substance = zero substance
hand/foot/way at 12:17PM on Jan 25th 2008
47. I can't remember who gave us this website:
http://godisimaginary.com/index.htm
Oh, and here's how you can prove a negative:
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_carrier/theory.html
AND, as has been stated multiple times on this blog, you cannot prove the tooth fairy, easter bunny, santa claus, and pixies don't exist either. But this is never addressed by the god-ites.
Linda at 12:18PM on Jan 25th 2008
48. Scientists claim that the fossil record is evidence of evolution but of course fossils are the DEVIL'S HANDIWORK!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1_BRZoXjOmI
:-)))
Joe Bob at 12:19PM on Jan 25th 2008
49. Yech my response got mangled up somehow and it makes me look like a creationist.
Former Airline at 12:22PM on Jan 25th 2008
50. "Why does God hate amputees?" That one stumped me for a minute.
xxxx
poor you. amputees are stumped forever. here's yer sign...
Clif Kuplen at 12:23PM on Jan 25th 2008
51. Somebody needs to go back to school to learn about the Big Bang Theory.
I hate it when newcomers come up with these incorrect statements that have been researched and reported over the past few months on DD's blog, because it is inefficient to keep posting the same thing.
Linda at 12:23PM on Jan 25th 2008
52. 47. Scientists claim that the fossil record is evidence of evolution but of course fossils are the DEVIL'S HANDIWORK!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1_BRZoXjOmI
:-)))
Joe Bob at 12:19PM on Jan 25th 2008
______________________--
How are fossils the devil's handiwork?
hand/foot/way at 12:25PM on Jan 25th 2008
53. "The big bang is not mathematically possible."
OMG ur right! I don't know how thousands of physicists overlooked that!
Former Airline at 12:26PM on Jan 25th 2008
54. Former Airline, it's happened to me. The response to the quote doesn't get posted. frustrating.
Linda at 12:26PM on Jan 25th 2008
55. We're waiting for the "evidence" of intelligent design and/or creation.
Linda at 12:27PM on Jan 25th 2008
56. Andrew @38
Have you heard of context? It's pretty important if trying to argue my ACTUAL POINT...Get thee to a philosophy classroom.
Mark at 12:27PM on Jan 25th 2008
57. @51 Follow the link!
Joe Bob at 12:30PM on Jan 25th 2008
58. "Yech my response got mangled up somehow and it makes me look like a creationist."
I thought it was a great response. Then I realized it was my own and realized it was great.
LOL
Mark at 12:30PM on Jan 25th 2008
59. hate it when newcomers come up with these incorrect statements that have been researched and reported over the past few months on DD's blog, because it is inefficient to keep posting the same thing.
Linda at 12:23PM on Jan 25th 2008
___________________--
Were did substance come from Linda?
Please do not embarrass yourself by saying from another universe or some crap like that.
If you make a statement on this blog, back it up with more than just your faith. Do I make my self clear.
hand/foot/way at 12:32PM on Jan 25th 2008
60. 12. here's an example,
"399. Fuck you vedanta. You have no idea what Saddam was working on.
And everyone calls him 'saddam'. So fuck you again.
Linda at 12:14AM on Jan 25th 2008
this is what happens when you cross hairs with an atheist on a rage
brian at 10:17AM on Jan 25th
_______________________-
Keep it Real said:
"brian, is Linda a drunken sailor?
Or just an old hagg....."
KeepItReal:
My vote is for slutty old hag. Scary.
kulari94 at 12:33PM on Jan 25th 2008