Michael Shermer wins debate
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- Published on Sunday, 19 December 2010 05:58
- Written by John Draper
- Hits: 3627
Anyone who has an ounce of rationality would prefer Michael Shermer's arguments about the existence of God over the mushy, feely thinking put forth by Father Jonathan Morris. Fr. Morris does not seriously try to refute any reasons - he simply talks about his feelings and the ability of us all to love.
But the short debate on the John Stossel show on Fox Business between Michael Shermer and Father Jonathan Morris comes close to summing up in a 10 minute discussion what atheists and Christians think about God. The nearest Fr. Morris came to making sense was when he said there are two kinds of certainty - scientific certainty (or truth) and spiritual certainty (or truth). Huh? I thought something was either true or not - I guess priests are allowed to redefine the meaning of words! Basically, to him spiritual truth is based on feelings and not reality. OK, I'm paraphrasing a bit, but that was the gist of it. The problem is that he's really saying that he wants to believe in some things that are based on feelings and not on evidence. The fact is that the only thing that a feeling proves is that you have a feeling!
Fr. Morris dismisses Michael Shermer's point about the evil in the bible by saying that "you have to take the overall picture from the bible - not all the specifics". But as Shermer points out - this would mean that you are picking and choosing to suit today's thinking.
In response to a question from the audience "what would you do if you find out you are wrong when you die?" Shermer gives the obvious response: Why would an all-knowing all powerful god care what he believes, surely only his actions would count? This brings up the whole question that caused Fr. Morris to dance around of why belief is so important to religious people. A good question that has no answer .
Best short debate I've seen in some time. I suspect religious people would like it too although some might be embarrassed.
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2013-04-06 21:35:03 | moot
Assuming it turns out that “god” is the Abrahamic God. What if it’s something else?
Anyway, it’s not an interesting question. A more interesting question is if there were a creator god and it made souls eternal, what’s the point of this incredibly short blip of existence in a corporeal material life devoid of need of external influence and manipulation? Why does the immortal soul (cut off from awareness of the eternal) only get such a short window to decide the entire rest of its infinite existence (or finite if you’re Hindu or Buddhist or something like)?
This is the question I asked myself at the age of 5 in bed at night after my grandfather died that started my atheism. Certainly made me question the validity of the god described in the Bible. Once that happened, it was an easy slide off all gods. Especially since I was the one that had to explain how Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy worked to my parents. When you’re the one trying to perpetuate a fantasy, you realise quickly the role self-interest takes in myth-building.
I'm an atheist. If when I die I find out I am wrong. I will be very surprised. And will ask God why he/she/it did not give me any indication that he/she/it existed.