A few days ago I debated Michael Shermer at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville. Shermer was his usual affable self and the mostly-Christian audience both liked him and treated him respectfully. I didn't feel bad about putting Shermer before a largely religious audience. The last time we debated I was in hostile territory at Cal Tech. The Cal Tech debate was sponsored by Shermer's Skeptics Society and most in the audience were on his side. The debate was moderated by Christian radio host Janet Parshall. She conducted it in a format similar to the presidential debates, in which the moderator poses questions to each side.
On July 12, a few months from now, I have a rematch with atheist Christopher Hitchens. This is in Las Vegas at the large libertarian annual conference called Freedom Fest. This is one of the liveliest political conferences in the country, and I invite readers of this blog, whatever your religious or political persuasion, to attend. Each year the libertarians have invited me to debate, and each year they tell me, "Well, next year we're going to find someone who can take you on." The first year I went I debated libertarian presidential candidate Harry Browne. The next year, former Congressman Bob Barr. Last year, presidential contender Ron Paul. This time organizer Mark Skousen has decided to focus the main debate on the God v. atheism issue. So Hitchens and I will enter the arena. You can find out more information and sign up here.
April 25 I'll be debating the notorious Peter Singer at Biola University near Los Angeles. This is another event worth attending, although I also intend to post the debate on the web. When Singer was hired by Princeton University some years ago it caused a big stir. Singer is a champion not only of infanticide and euthanasia but also of animal rights! This may seem to be anomalous, even absurd, but Singer is an avid Darwinist who sees himself as following the logic of Darwinism to its unavoidable conclusion.
Man, Singer argues, is on a continuum with the animals. Unfortunately through the influence of Christianity man has raised himself onto a pedestal, invested himself with all kinds of bogus rights, such as the "right to life," and consigned beasts to a life of subordination to human interests. Singer argues that once we get rid of God we must accept our Darwinian position, and this means giving up the values that Christianity brought into the world. Ultimately human beings must be pulled down a notch, and animals raised up a notch, to restore the biological order of things. I've been reading Singer's books which are always thoughtful and eloquent; he is far superior to some of the new atheists who have gotten far more attention in the last couple of years. I look forward to taking him on next month.
Also in April: I'll be debating philosopher Walter Sinnott-Armstrong April 21 at Dartmouth, where he teaches and where I attended. Our topic is whether it is possible to be good without God. On April 22 at Harvard I'll share the podium with Dan Barker. Barker is a former evangelical minister who is now an outspoken atheist. He is currently head of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a kind of atheist ACLU. We keep hearing from atheists that they are not a movement and that "atheism is not a belief system" but merely the denial of a belief in God. So isn't it interesting that we now have atheist books, atheist magazines, atheist conferences, atheist organizations, atheist Sunday schools, an atheist radio show, and so on? Quite clearly atheism has become an ideology and our atheist friends cannot escape criticism by inanely proclaiming that their position doesn't constitute a position. Perhaps one of these days these characters will stop living in denial and prove worthy of the rational realism that they claim to uphold.
Some atheists have emailed me asking me if I've accepted Sam Harris' offer to a written debate. A few months ago Harris proposed such a debate, and I agreed, but also proposed to Sam that we have an oral debate in the classic format. Written debates strike me as a bit wimpy, since both debaters can get advice and assistance from various experts. The advantage of a face-to-face encounter is that it compels each side to think on its feet and make its best case before a live audience. Having himself proposed the written debate, Harris hasn't responded to my counteroffer.
Given that Richard Dawkins has already wimped out, proving himself an intellectual invertebrate, I'm beginning to wonder whether some of the world's best-known atheists are losing the courage of their convictions. One of my former professors now calls me Joe Louis, in reference to the boxer who knocked out so many "bums of the month" that he eventually had trouble finding worthy opponents. Although modern atheism is very belligerent in its writings--angry missives issued from the security of academic offices--it seems that some of our leading advocates of unbelief are positively timorous when it comes to standing up and debating their core convictions.
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 61)
31. HI FORGOT SOMETHING!!!!
For all the families that have lost their Patriotic young son or daughter to this egregious warmongering by the bush cabal, all of my soul, heart and sympathies. Please know you are not alone. I offer you a place of peace to talk and shre, it is Gold Star Families for Peace, if you find it offensive I apoligize deeply, many actually thousands have found a kindred spirit there since they've suffered the same losses.
http://www.gsfp.org
rhodalee at 8:51AM on Mar 17th 2008
32. "PLEASE THINK OF CINDY SHEEHANS SON SPC. CASEY SHEEHAN MURDERED IN IRAQ AT 23." --Rhodadendron
________________
Sorry, Rhoda...he volunteered. NOBODY drafted him. He volunteered. Clue up. Nobody MURDERED him. He volunteered. Nobody coerced him. He volunteered. Nobody forced him. He volunteered.
When you VOLUNTEER to enlist in the US military, you go where the DOD needs you most. Shame that he died for his country, but please do not diminish his the sacrifice of his life in the name of freedom by inaccurately labeling it as murder. He COURAGEOUSLY volunteered.
Paul at 8:57AM on Mar 17th 2008
33. "Pick-a-fight" Daniel... comment 19, for example says, "I used to be one of you..."
Yet you seem to be trying to pick a fight with some weird memory of your old 'atheist' self.
Here's the thing Dannyboy, although I am sure enough that atheists are not some cult or club as D'Souza keeps suggesting as part of his anti-atheism, I'm also pretty sure that there are no other atheists than your old self that would fit your description of an atheist.
Ah, but then how can we know that we're not a club or an 'anti-cult' or something if we don't know each other or attend the non-meetings?
The answer is, of course, D'Souza's blog. Thanks Dinesh, it is really the only way that a non-club could find any 'cohesion' at all now, isn't it?
This makes me really suspicious of D'Souza's motives though. To rally Christian hatred towards a political cause seems that that is what it IS yet it still seems so anti-Christian.
What do you say Daniel, do you think that the majority of Christians are ready to fall for that same old crap AGAIN and AGAIN?
not-pboyfloyd at 8:59AM on Mar 17th 2008
34. DavidG, he actually made such a disturbed hate filled comment? So sad and shameful!
I, as Daniel who posted earlier, believe in a Power Greater, whether it be Nature, the Dalai Lama, what or whomever, but now for me GOD is Good Orderly Direction, there is no GOD anymore, EVIL resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and assuredly if God were with us bush, et al would be Impeached, tried, convicted and, my personal wish, sent to a Black Site of WE the PEOPLEs choice, 5' X 3', solitary w/Torture, bush said it isn't TORTURE just increased interrogation techniques, so we WaterBoard him, shackle all of them, no light and hooded, loud music 24/7 and beaten over and over and over, if there was a GOD this would be, for this is TRUTH.
rhodalee at 9:01AM on Mar 17th 2008
35. Wow. Is there anything sadder than a bunch of cranky, irritable atheists engaging in their "Oscar the Grouch" routine? If atheism is so great, why are you people so miserable all the time? It doesn't matter what Dinesh writes. The response is always the same: malevolent hatred and contempt. There's no thoughtful, rational response. The AOL Church of Atheism is imploding in complete madness.
Dave at 9:12AM on Mar 17th 2008
36. On an Off track Note: You should all go to www.TMZ.com and read the "ANONYMOUS" Protest Blog about Scientology on Saturday that took place all over the World.
Didn't Hear about it?
There's a Reason for that! WOW What a Freaky and Powerful, Influential and Far Reaching CULT.....
It was wonderful and Brave of TMZ to allow the Posting of that Coverage.....
No one else did.....A real First and Beginning....Those Poor people!
And so it is! at 9:13AM on Mar 17th 2008
37. rhodalee,
How can you separate yourself from Bush if you are willing to stoop to the same level?
Jerry Brown at 9:15AM on Mar 17th 2008
38. You will notice that TMZ does it's best to remain or give the appearance of remaining neutral....
http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/16/crazies-come-out-to boycott-other-crazies/
And so it is! at 9:25AM on Mar 17th 2008
39. http:www.tmz.com/2008/03/16/crazies-come-out-to-boycott-other-crazies/
And so it is! at 9:35AM on Mar 17th 2008
40. Today's hot steaming cup of stupid.
D'Idiot calls this blog "Are Atheists Now Scared To Debate?"
Well, no. He then goes to list the people who plan to meet with his lame jug-eared self and how he will take on all comers. While D'Inesh's ego seemingly knows no bounds, his capicity for sheer moronarama seems even greater.
Get a clue, D'Stupid. You can debate your God-myth all you want. You can also bring up Paul Bunyan, Snipe Hunts, Tooth Faries and Santa Clause along with the Jesus Fraud. Maybe even through in Obama is a Muslim and John McCain has an illegetimate baby. It still doesn't make them real...or true.
Tim at 9:42AM on Mar 17th 2008
41. http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/16/crazies-come-out-to-boycott-other-crazies/
Aha!
Third time is the Charm? Or no....
And so it is! at 9:41AM on Mar 17th 2008
42. Just for the record...
I'm an atheist and I'm certainly not miserable. I don't hate Dinesh D'Souza. I don't hate Christians. I don't hate liberals. I don't hate conservatives. I don't hate Hindus. I don't hate Buddhists. I don't hate followers of Wicca. I don't hate M&Ms. I don't hate steak. I don't hate symphony orchestras. I don't hate 1968 Mustang GTs. I don't hate the Miami Heat. I don't hate the New England Patriots...
In fact, I can barely list anything that I actually hate outside of ignorance, malice, victimization, disinformation, cowardice, fascism...oh...and country music. Sorry. Just can't handle too much country music...although there have a been a few really great songs from country music...like Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" and Craig Morgan's incredible "Almost Home".
Paul at 9:45AM on Mar 17th 2008
43. Oral debate is an interesting sport, but it's not really aimed at arriving at truth. In real debate contests, the debaters have to prepare cases for both sides of a topic and be prepared to argue them, *regardless* of their own opinions.
In a written debate, as D'Souza notes, "both debaters can get advice and assistance from various experts." But if the goal is to find the better argument - instead of the better *arguer* who can "think on his feet" - why *wouldn't* you want advice from experts? Even the best theory can fail from a single uncooperative fact; why would you want to limit the chances of turning up those facts?
Ray Ingles at 9:53AM on Mar 17th 2008
44. 10. Just remember--we share--what is it--97% of our dna/genetics with other species?? What do Creationists (excuse me Intelligent Designers) say about this?) I may not have the numbers straight, but the gist is there.
Robyn at 3:17AM on Mar 17th 2008
-------------------------------------------
The same creator, created all.
This is why you would see similarities.
The life of mankind and animals is in the blood.
The blood of a animal cannot be used in humans, unless of course you want to die.
If you ever find a perfect DNA match, between the animal kingdom and the human reace, then you would have proof of the darwin notion of evoloution.
The supporters of this theory are still looking for the missing link.
What a waste of time and money, there is no link, except for the fact that God created all life.
He is the link....You can stop looking now!!
Observant at 9:53AM on Mar 17th 2008
45. Josef Goebbels is back to talking about atheists, huh? Obama didn't hold his interest long.
Singer is really out there with some of his views, and I can tell from personal experience that most atheists aren't on the same page as him. But, since atheists are a monolithic organization according to Dinesh, we must agree with him. If I lumped in Dinesh with Fred Phelps, he'd cry foul, even though Phelps is following the logic of Christianity to its unavoidable conclusion.
And, Dinesh, I don't have credentials, but I would debate you, and I'd mop the freakin floor with you. You are nothing but a propagandist. Heil Dinesh!
AndrewV at 9:59AM on Mar 17th 2008