Questions (Asked & Unasked) from the Atheist-Christian Panel Discussion at Jubilee ’10
February 24, 2010
This past weekend, I moderated a panel discussion between Christians and atheists at Jubilee ’10. The panel was made up of Hemant Mehta, Jonathan Weyer, and Ashley Paramore (above). I already wrote a good bit on the panel itself here. To optimize the experience, we asked the audience of 500+ to submit their questions on paper. Many of the questions were quite good, some were not, and as a sampling of what Christian students ask when they have the opportunity, were interesting even apart from the answers.
You’ll see we received quite a few questions. I was hard-pressed to keep facilitating the discussion while reading over them, let alone organizing/prioritizing them. But I’m thrilled by the level of interest. The number and quality of questions, combined with the attendance, clearly demonstrated that this conversation is important and worth having.
We only had time to use a small percentage of the submissions, so as promised, here are ALL of them. (Thanks goes to Mrs. Cross, my 9th grade typing teacher). I organized them according to whether we used them or not, as best I could recall. There’s no particular order.
My questions: (I ran this thing like a West Coast Offense, with a few plays scripted in advance)
- What’s one myth about your position you’d like to debunk? (ie, do you eat babies?)
- What do you think is the strongest argument for your position? The weakest?
- The Problem of Evil is a problem for both sides–how do you handle that?
- What about faith in the public square?
- What about Christopher Hitchens’ admission at the end of Collision? If there was only one Christian left, would you convert him?
From the floor, that we used:
- [To Hemant]: How much did your “soul” go for on eBay? (around $500).
- Is it scary coming to Christian conventions?
- Is it possible to have a “value-free” or “belief-free” classroom? Aren’t students influenced just as much by what they don’t learn (in this case God or values) in the classroom as they are by what they do learn?
- With respect to your contention that scientific experimentation does not deal with perception, are you not still trusting in the rational intelligibility of the universe, and if so, on what basis do we place that trust? I believe that is what a Christian means by “perception.”
- Often a criticism from atheist circles is that religion is poison or bad for people. How would you define religion, and do you think religion is something only certain people have, or do you think it is something everyone experiences to some degree? (ritual, worship, fellowship, etc.)
- How do you reconcile your Christian faith with the scientific inaccuracies found in Scripture? For example, the ancient notion that heaven is located in the sky and that breath is an animating force?
- What are some of the positive contributions that you can recognize the “other side” brings to the table? What do you respect about each other?
- What has meant the most to you about your relationship with one another?
- Do you find any of the arguments for Christian theism compelling even as an atheist? If so, what?
- Is there room/possibility for an honest friendship between a Christian and atheist, even when the atheist in the relationship is vehemently anti-theism and anti-fundamental religion?
- Do you believe in good and evil, and if so, what is your basis for defining it?
- What is the nature of atheists’ reason for living morally? For instance, Christians –> moral law comes a moral law giver, ie, God.
- From both perspectives, what is the basis for ethical norms or moral imperatives?
- Do you believe in an inherent morality? If so, where does this morality come from? Particularly, as natural law is concerned?
- Can real Christian faith coexist with evolutionary theory? Why or why not? How does the Bible support this?
- What evidence would prove to you irrevocably that God is real and cares about you? And, what makes you believe that if God exists He would naturally provide that evidence for you?
From the floor, unused:
- After an accident, a person ends up in a vegetative state and is kept alive only by life support. Should the person be kept alive or pulled off life support?
- In light of what evidence would you (atheists) change your minds and hearts? What sort of evidence would it take?
- Is it dangerous for uneducated Christians to engage in debate with atheists?
- Is debating useful for anything but massaging one’s pride?
- How should Christians approach atheists and arguments of doubt?
- Is it ok to say “I don’t know”?
- Are all atheists damned to Hell? How would you feel if on Judgment Day you found out there was [a] God?
- From only these forums, how (if at all) has your view/perception of Christians changed?
- In the past few years how have your conceptions about Christians, or other people of faith, changed?
- How much literature, research, or experience do you think is necessary for a person to have before they establish their beliefs?
- What in life do you worship, idolize, and put your faith in?
- How do you think about death?
- If you believe in testing or science, and you admit God can neither be proved nor disproved by science, then how (by what method) did you come to believe God doesn’t exist?
- Would you say that belief in God/Christianity/religion in general is intrinsically bad for the world (ie, John Lennon’s “Imagine”). Why or why not?
- [To Hemant] You said you have a sense of right and wrong. How can you claim there exist right and wrongs while claiming the absence of absolutes?
- How do you have faith in faith?
- Describe a time in your life when you questioned your atheist or Christian convictions. What did you learn from the experience?
- How can one posit the non-existence of an all-knowing being without [having] a full, omniscient knowledge yourself?
- Do you believe in accessible, ontological truth?
- To what extent does our understanding of the formation of the world/universe/inhabitants contribute to the way we are to act or interact within it?
- Does intellectualism, science, or evolution impact your disbelief in God? If so, why?
- How do you justify the presence of a conscious [sic], in correlation with the Id, and Superego?
- It seems like atheists in general at one time believed in God, but then turned away because of some type of hurt, lost a loved one, etc. They are angry at God, it seems. Why are you an atheist?
- How do you avoid the despair that comes with nihilism, and how do you assert meaning or where does this meaning come from that supports existentialism?
- Is free will simply a product of how God creates our brains?
- Why does God create people who are damned to hell from their foundation?
- What has influenced your beliefs towards the concept of God?
- What do you believe the role of religion is in society?
- Why does an atheist get offended when a Christian is humbly offering eternal happiness? Why is that idea unattractive? Since no one knows what happens after death, isn’t believing in God worth the risk? Sincerely, B. Pascal (I added the signature. Just making sure you’re still reading).
- How do you use science to prove incidents that have happened to you or friends, that a Christian might say was a miracle by God?
- [To atheists] What is your purpose for living?
- If you believe that there is/are universal truths (morality), to what extent do you believe people are responsible for teaching, observing, and enforcing them?
- [To all] Do you personally feel as though there is a meaning or goal for life?
- For many Christians, a belief in (and personal relationship with) God provides them with a purpose, context, and meaning for their lives. As an atheist, what do you look to for as a reason to get out of bed? Does one look towards philosophy? Does one look towards the teachings of Nietzsche or towards existentialism? Both don’t provide a very optimistic justification for existing or continuing to exist, it would seem. Do you study philosophy?
- Is it the case that in order to do science/examine evidence one must hold to certain beliefs and assumptions that are not demonstrated scientificaly/empirically? Put another way, is it the case that in order to examine evidence, I must have beliefs formed based on which I draw conclusions about the evidence?
- Do you believe faith should be based solely on reason?
- Can you reason your way to Christianity at all, or is it based on 100% faith?
- [For Ashley and Hemant] Do you ever feel like you’re missing anything in your life? Or maybe that there is something more…even if it’s not God for you?
- Do you ever long for a relationship with a divine power (God) such as you see with the Christian population? Either for that deeper meaning in life, loneliness, or some other reason?
- Do you only believe in things that can be tested? If no, do you believe in non-tangible things like love and hope?
- Can parents and pastors really compete with the amount of influence a secular school system (7-8 hours per day) and a media-saturated culture has upon young minds? Honestly, compared to churches which one has more power to indoctrinate minds, the school system or churches?
- There is a view in some Christian schools that God is the catalyst behind the Big Bang and that God guided evolution along to the point to the level of complexity of humans. I don’t see how a process of evolution described as random mutations and survival of the fittest could lead to the way we are today without a “guiding hand.”
- Some scientists claim that they know what data/facts would be necessary to change their views on evolution/creationism, and that no such evidence empirically exists. Do Christians have or should they have a similar mindset in regards to their own views?
- I’d love to have a dialogue like this on my campus…but I’m afraid it would all go horribly wrong! How do you host a dialogue like this?
- Doesn’t the claim that God allows too much suffering reflect the questioner’s nature, not God’s nature?
- Do you believe in objective morality? If yes, where do you think it comes from? If no, why not?
- Why does morality make sense?
- [to atheist panelists] If you ever came face-to-face with God, how do you think you would view your life up to that point? In other words, does the existence of God really have any meaning or relevance to how you think people ought to live?
- Why do atheists talk about God all the time at all? What does it matter to them if they don’t even believe in his existence?
- How do you find meaning in your life, and where would you say the value of life lies?
- What would you say is the most polarizing difference between a Christian worldview and an atheist worldview?
- What is the meaning of life for theists and nontheists?
- What are the greatest barriers to community between Christians and atheists?
- What do we do that offends atheists most?
- How can we as Christians use our faith in a way that enhances or encourages friendship between the Christian and atheist communities?
- How are atheists different from each other in worldview/in their atheism? (eg, atheists from western vs. eastern cultures).
10 Comments
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Why do you consider the “problem of evil” a problem for atheists? I’m assuming you don’t mean simply a practical problem – how to combat evil – but a philosophical problem. As an atheist, I can’t see any such problem.
Knockgoats–we’re talking about this at Sojourn, the faith-and-doubt discussion forum I host here at PSU. When I get a chance to post my notes in coherent form, I will.
Steve’s Questions:
1) That in claiming to be an atheist, I’m making any claim other than that I am not a theist, or that I believe that no god(s) exist. Or that I am claiming to KNOW that no god(s) exist. All I’m claiming is that, depending on which common definition of atheist we go by, is that I A) lack belief in god(s) and/or B) believe that no god(s) exist.
2) The strongest argument for the claim that no god(s) exist? Probably the same as your strongest argument that unicorns or fairies or leprechauns don’t exist.
3) The Problem of Evil is not a problem for atheists.
4) We need freedom of religion, freedom from religion, and a strong commitment to the separation of church and state.
5) I’m guessing he feels that he would miss something that has been a big part of human culture.
Questions from the floor:
1) Question for Hemant.
2) Surprisingly, no.
3) It probably isn’t possible to have a “value-free” or “belief-free” classroom. But it is possible to promote particular values or beliefs with respect to certain things, while not addressing values/beliefs with respect to others. For example, science, hard work, education, objectivity, etc. can be promoted, without any need to promote any particular religious beliefs. Not telling kids that God exists is not the same as telling them that he/she/it doesn’t exist.
4) I’m not sure who they question was for or what whoever said it meant in saying that scientific experimentation does not deal with perception.
5) I think that religion necessarily involves one or more of the following: blind faith, dogma, belief in god(s), or other mystical or supernatural claims, and often involves some sort of moral code. No, I would not like to define “religion” in such a way that everyone necessarily has a “religion”.
6) Question for Christians.
7) I’m not sure if the question refers specifically to Jonathan and Steve, or Christians in general. But I always appreciate a willingness to engage in dialogue, an appreciation and an acceptance of science, and a willingness to help those in the world who are less fortunate.
8) Nothing really that’s specific to my relationship with Christians that doesn’t also apply to my relationship with other atheists. The only plus is that I can engage in an open dialogue in which we disagree about theological questions.
9) Not so much. But if I had to pick one, it would be arguments pertaining to the unlikeliness of us existing, without such a creator. But such arguments are only initially persuasive, until they are examined rationally.
10) Only if religion is never discussed.
11) Yes. My basis for defining it isn’t (and shouldn’t) be all that different from my basis for defining anything else. My basis is that I think my definition is the best (or one of the best), where best is determined by standards pertaining to practicality. If we agree that when we speak of “ethics”, what we are speaking of is something necessarily tied in some way to “values”, then I would argue that the only things that could possibly be considered of value (in this case, ethical value) are those things which are valuable to beings that have values. And if we also agree that when we speak of “ethics”, we are speaking of something that necessarily involves stepping away from egoism/selfishness and taking an impartial perspective on which actions should be taken, then I would argue that something like utilitarianism is the easiest ethical philosophy (that I know of, at least) to justify.
12) The question is essentially: If there is no God, why act ethically? Read chapter 12 of Peter Singer’s Practical Ethics. Before the question can be answered, it needs to be understood from what perspective the questions should be asked. If the question is being asked from an ethical perspective, then ethics is already being assumed and the answer is that you “should” act ethically, because “ethically” is, by the definition set by the accepted set of ethics, how you “should” act. If the question is being asked from a perspective of self-interest, in which the reasons that count are those reasons which appeal to self-interest, then many answers can be given, including that it ultimately makes life a happier experience. If the question is more causal in nature, asking what physically causes us to behave in ways that we call “ethical”, then I would advise you to read scientific literature related to biology and/or evolution.
13) Explained in #11. Although, I would argue that if there is a God, then there really isn’t any more of a basis for ethical norms / moral imperatives than if there was no God.
14) What do you mean by “inherent morality”? If you mean, do we have a biological predisposition to have a sort of feeling that some actions are “right” and some are “wrong”, then yeah, I think we do. However, these feelings often conflict with and contradict each other. And I would also point out that there is no necessary connection between such feelings and what is actually taken to be moral. Again, read some scientific literature for the best answers our species has to offer.
15) It depends on the particular Christian faith. The only way it wouldn’t is if we agree on a particular interpretation of “Christianity”, then we would know whether it would or would not contradict science.
16) It depends on what is meant by “God”. If “God’s” nature contains logical contradictions, as many would argue, then nothing could prove that God exists, as he would be logically impossible. If God is an alien on another planet who created life on earth, then it might be a matter of meeting such being(s). However, it might be the case that God (however defined, as long as not defined without contradictions) does exist yet we have no way of having access to such information. It may be the case that God exists, yet we are not rationally justified in believing in him. This is not inherently problematic. If “God” does exist, I don’t know his nature (at all), so I don’t have a clue whether he/she/it would be inclined to provide me/us with evidence of his/her/its existence.
Unused questions from the floor:
1) Not really relevant to the panel discussion. But I would say it depends on a number of factors. If there is no chance of recovery, and no friends/family that want the person to keep living, then yes, the plug should absolutely be pulled (or preferably, a lethal injection administered).
2) Question already asked.
3) Probably not. Although education always helps.
4) Yes.
5) With a healthy amount of skepticism and open-mindedness and a willingness to learn and be challenged.
6) Yep.
7) It depends on the type of God. But I certainly wouldn’t feel guilty or irrational.
8) Jonathan and Steve are awesome Christians (relatively speaking, of course =] ). I only wish more Christians were more like them.
9) Not too much.
10) The more, the better.
11) I do not worship. I do not have faith. I do idolize/agree with/follow (to varying extents) certain individuals and certain philosophies.
12) How do I think about death? Kind of an awkward question. I think we have to assume that when we die, we just stop existing. However, I will say that I am much more inclined to believe in theories of reincarnation (which require a body to experience anything) than those theories that put us in an immaterial eternal afterlife of suffering or happiness (which somehow allow us to experience without a body).
13) By the same method that most people come to believe that unicorns don’t exist. If you don’t want to claim that unicorns probably don’t exist, then we’re getting into some technical epistemological issues.
14) I don’t think that any action or belief is intrinsically bad for the world. Having said that, I think that religion has resulted in both good and evil, with the ratio being the more significant question.
15) It depends on what is meant by “absolutes”.
16) No.
17) The more I question myself, the more I ground myself in my beliefs.
18) No one is claiming to KNOW that God does not exist.
19) I believe in truth. I don’t believe that all the information out there is necessarily accessible to us.
20) Our beliefs guide our actions.
21) Yes. It fills in those “gaps” which God had previously been created to fill.
22) Don’t understand the question. But I certainly wouldn’t just jump to the answer of “God did it” for any question I don’t have the answer to.
23) I never believed in God. I am not angry at a non-existent being. I have no reason to believe in god(s).
24) Nihilism is what some theists experience when they lose their faith. This happens because the thing that used to give them meaning in life is no longer there. For people who are raised without religion, meaning is grounded in other areas. So there is no more need for nihilism by such atheists than there is for nihilism by faithful Christians.
25) Free will is what people like to think they have, that their actions are entirely the result of nature and nurture. The problem is that most people (especially Christians) are philosophically illiterate on the topic of free will. I am one of the few people I know who can adequately define it.
26) Good question.
27) I would say that my rationality is what influences my beliefs pertaining to conceptions of “God”.
28) To control the masses, to lead them as sheep are led, and hopefully to get them to do good.
29) I don’t get offended. Hardly anything offends me. Pascal’s wager is a horrible argument at so many levels. But I would say that my chief objection to it is that it assumes that we can just choose our beliefs, as if I could just choose to believe in the Christian God if I wanted to.
30) It depends on the “miracle”. The question is always one of what does the evidence point to. What is the most likely explanation. And I have to say that “miracle from God” is never high on the list of likeliness (especially considering that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence).
31) Depends on what we mean by “purpose”. If by “purpose for living”, we mean “goal in life”, then certainly I am not representative of all atheists, but I would say my purpose is to be happy and to do good.
32) “Responsibility” is a concept which only exists because it is practical. Making people feel “responsible” motivates them to act. It is similar to ideas of praise and blame. There is nothing more to this concept.
33) I have a goal for my life. Goals are goals of individuals, or of normative standards, so it would make no sense to speak of goals apart from these things.
34) Yes, I study philosophy. The idea that we have no reason to want to continue living if the Christian God does not exist is kind of ridiculous. Atheists find meaning in their own beliefs and values, just as Christians find meaning in theirs.
35) Yes.
36) I think the two are opposed. But yes I believe that any concept of faith that is worth considering is one that does not run contrary to reason.
37) I’m not a Christian.
38) Nope.
39) Nope.
40) If you’re asking if I believe in the feelings I experience, then yes.
41) Hopefully secularism has more influence. Hopefully it, at the very least, has exposed individuals to alternative ideas, and that they shouldn’t accept their faith “just because”. People should want reasons for their beliefs. Secularism doesn’t promote ignorance, but Christianity to a large degree does.
42) Then you don’t understand science.
43) Don’t understand the question. Christians should question their faith.
44) Advertise, be open minded, don’t try to convert.
45) What it reflects is a questioner’s conception of evil, a recognition that evil exists, and a contradiction between that conception of evil and a conception of a “perfectly good” god.
46) What do you mean by “objective morality”? How does it differ from “subjective morality”?
47) Why does this question not make sense?
48) Whether or not God exists does affect how we “should” live our lives, not because God is the “source of morality”, but because the facts of the world are different.
49) It matters to us because we would generally prefer people to believe things contrary to what we believe, especially if such contrary beliefs have a negative impact on our lives. We are also generally people who think we’re right, and like to be right, and have no major problem demonstrating to others that they’re wrong. Also, if we are wrong, we want to know, so we want to provide others with the opportunity to show us how/why.
50) Repeat question.
51) Not sure. Maybe that we (atheists) are living for this life, and Christians are living for a life they’ll never experience.
52) Repeat question. It depends on the meaning of “meaning of life”.
53) I suppose intolerance, and possibly a lack of commitment to a separation of religion from public life.
54) Hmm… Maybe tell people that sex and masturbation and homosexuality are immoral. And telling young children that they will go to hell if they’re bad or if they don’t believe.
55) Engage in dialogue, open your mind, be practical and understand that you won’t likely convert us. Seek to learn from us rather that convert or demonize us.
56) Atheists are simply people who are not theists. So that can result in a wide and diverse range of philosophical views about any number of issues.
I welcome responses to any of my answers.
Hey Steve, will the audio of this panel discussion be posted online somewhere?
Not sure Logan–I’ll let you know and post it if it is.
Hey Steve!
I’m going to try and get the entire thing posted on my YouTube channel over the weekend. I’ll send it to you when I get it up.
Also, heck, maybe I’ll make a video addressing the unanswered questions. There are some good ones in there.
sounds great! quite a few people have asked about it.