For Christians, atheists and agnostics alike

Fanny Cradock

Although I'll be adding this to the resources thread at some stage, I thought that this recommendation deserved a special mention because it might just contain something for everybody.

Unbelievable? is a Christian radio station that runs debates between Christians and non-believers every Saturday. It's slightly different to the rather stuffy formal debates that you normally find on the internet - two guys presenting well rehearsed 20-minute long speeches to an audience - as it has a more fluid and dynamic structure. Actually, it has a rather familiar feel to it, like a chat in a pub.

The first show I listened to was a debate between an apostate from RD.net turned Christian, a Minister and an atheist.

Dawkins said of the debate:

One more thing, though. I have listened to the audio at the top of the page (it is STUPEFYINGLY boring, by the way, but that is an aside). Everything about Richard Morgan sounds pathetically weak and vulnerable, and I suspect that he is being ruthlessly exploited. I hope people will be polite anyway, but I especially hope Richard Morgan will not be subjected to unduly unkind remarks. As with the unfortunate Antony Flew, it is best to reserve criticism for the exploiter rather than the exploitee.

I certainly disagree with Dawkins, it was anything but "STUPEFYINGLY boring", and I understand that it caused a bit of a storm over at RD.net.

Some other debates titles chosen at random:

*Are we alone in the Universe? Astrophysicist Paul Davies & Mathematician John Lennox
*Are we better off free from religion? Dan Barker & Charles Foster
*Is Christian faith at odds with science? PZ Myers & Denis Alexander

Anyway, if you have an hour and a half to kill then I suggest that there might be something here to suit people on all sides.

Stephentlig

I dunno, for me people who are persuaded by debates are ones who follow their minds and not their hearts.

Although I'm guilty of partaking in the odd debate myself I can safely say that debates achieve nothing and seem to go around in circles particularly when debating with someone who is already convinced of their position regardless of whether they win the debate or not.

But I suppose a debate can be for some, that seed in which we plant and in which God can further water and make grow. But for me the greatest response to any argument is prayer, and I feel both my Orthodox and Protestant friends may well agree with me on that one.

Pax Christi
Stephen

Fanny Cradock

Other than saying is nothing wrong with following both, I don't know what to else to say that.

Daftendirekt

Stephentlig wrote: »

I dunno, for me people who are persuaded by debates are ones who follow their minds and not their hearts.

It's probably a good idea to follow your thinking organ rather than your blood pumping organ though .

You're right that these things do tend to go round in circles though. IMO, there isn't really anything new that can be said in the atheism vs theism debate at this stage.

Soul Winner

Stephentlig wrote: »

I dunno, for me people who are persuaded by debates are ones who follow their minds and not their hearts.

"And this is life eternal, that they might KNOW thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17:3

Words of Jesus Himself according to St. John.

In order for us to KNOW God, do we engage the heart or the mind?

Soul Winner

KamiKazi wrote: »

They should just go ahead and ban all non-Christians.

Seems to work for this place.

dermothickey

Soul Winner wrote: »

"And this is life eternal, that they might KNOW thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17:3

Words of Jesus Himself according to St. John.

In order for us to KNOW God, do we engage the heart or the mind?

Definitely the Heart. Didn't Jesus always say pray with love to the father from your Whole Heart This does not mean that the brain is not a gift for we need the Brain to carry out the instructions from the Heart. But when people tend to use only the brain, they seem to use only brain judgement and logic. So take any passage from the bible put 5 top theologians in the same room and you've got 5 different opinions. Have someone in the room who can feel from the Heart and you get the essence of the truth from the same passage. But it's like what is written from the Heart and someone reads it from the brain judgement they lose the realization from the Heart. This in my humble opinion is one of many reasons for different branches of Christianity Hinduism Buddhism and Islam.