Could someone give me a summary of the Nightline atheist vs. Christian debate?

Question

Is it worth watching? I saw five minutes, up to the point when Ray Comfort held up a soda can as part of his proof for God's existence. I couldn't stomach any more than that, and I am a Christian. Does it get any better? Is there anything productive there? Is there any more footage of that Kelly in the red dress?

Thanks for any info.

Mibandibi: The reason I couldn't stomach it is the flaws in the kind of argument Comfort was making. I believe there is a God and I believe there are sound arguments for his existence. I just don't think Comfort was offering such and bad arguments make me wince.

Answer 1

Ray's proof was incredibly weak. It was basically- look at this painting, it had a creator. Look at this building, it had a creator. therefore- we must all have had a creator. Oh- he also referenced the 10 commandments as the source of our conscience.

Kirk came across as a real nice guy. He gave an impassioned tale of when he found god. There was no rationality, but it was sincere and heartfelt. Hey- anyone who lived the teenage life that he lived and didn't grow up to be a total dick, may truly have had some divine intervention.

Yeah- I think Kelly looked hot enough in that red dress to get Ray Comfort to enjoy some sinful thoughts.

If you want to see a real discussion- check out the "beyond belief" videos on youtube. here's one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ9JMUFIVqE

Answer 2

I think its definitely worth watching.

The truth is that the forum wasn't appropriate for either side to give their arguments. It made each side look bad.

However, after viewing the entire thing on ABC.com, I realize that Ray Comfort (and awesome man of God, in my opinion) wanted to do two things:

1. He wanted to show that believing in intelligent design can be intellectually satisfying. His arguments were logical and he and Kirk Cameron (especially) generally spoke with authority. And the evidence they pointed to (which they did not have time to produce) does exist.

2. Ray Comfort repeated the gospel message several times. If you understand his ministry, you understand that he doesn't believe anyone will come to faith by the "proving" of God's existence. Instead, he points people toward brokeness by showing how they are sinners. Biblically, I think this is the most sound way of evangelism I have seen, and I know choose to study it because of that.

Comfort challenged the crowd to investigate the scriptures with an open heart and relayed Christ's promise that "if you seek, you will find."

I admire Comfort and Cameron - they did a wonderful job and kept their focus. I don't think the atheists realized that the two evangelists planned to use this "debate" as a way to point people toward Christ.

I think the debate is also worth seeing because you get a better idea of where atheists are coming from, what their mindset is and also the bitterness and anger that comes from many of them.

Answer 3

Kirk Cameron:
I can prove absolutely that god exists, without science.
xxx: Go ahead.
Cameron: Let me state that I am not a rocket scientist, but an actor, so don't expect anything intelligent.
xxx: OK. Go ahead.
Cameron: Here is my proof.
xxx: What is that?
Cameron: It is a picture.
xxx: So?
Cameron: It requires a creator, did it not?
xxx: So?
Cameron: If a picture requires a creator, then scientifically we can recognize that everything must require a creator.
xxx: Then who created god?
Cameron: God does not require a creator.
xxx: You just said that everything requires a creator.
Cameron: I mean everything that you argue about. This rule only applies to you. Since my belief does not involve science, anything that I say is exempt from this rule.
xxx: Is that your entire argument?
Cameron: Yes. That is absolute scientific proof that god exists. I rest my case. Are you convinced?

Answer 4

Your one million) and a pair of) are solid representations, different than that own journey isn't evidence so the Christians do not incredibly have any evidence in any respect. merely faith. I admire those Christians who're brave sufficient to confess this. that is not significant how a lot logic and reason one makes use of in his on a daily basis life, if one is believing something exists without evidence then that theory is baseless and an irrational one.

Answer 5

Mibandibi and Ray Comfort are roughly on the same level apparently. Not surprising.

Personally, I thought they all were pretty lightweight. We could pull a random sampling of people from R&S and come up with much of the same nonsense.

Answer 6

(Comfort) I can prove God exists without using the Bible
This soda can has a creator, as does the Mona Lisa
We are all liars and thieves and adulterers..
but we have the Ten Commandments. See?

(Moderator)OK other side:

(RRSquad) You were not supposed to talk about the Bible.
I can call up the maker of the soda can and we all know who painted the Mona Lisa
etc., etc.,

(Comfort) Everything requires a Creator

(RRSquad) Then who made the Creator?

(Comfort) No one. He exists outside of Time.

(RRSqquad) uh huh. Well.. Thermo-dynamics!!

(Comfort and Cameron) .........

(Cameron) We all die someday (insert Pascal's Wager here)

That pretty much sums it up.

Answer 7

I wouldn't watch it if I were you. Without any offense, I did feel sorry for Christians who watched this. Cameron/Comfort are a disgrace to human intelligence.

I, as an atheist, could have done a better job at defending Christianity. That fact alone made the entire debate worthless. The atheists didn't win, they also weren't all that good. Cameron/Comfort simply lost.

Answer 8

I got very restless after the Coke can analogy, the young lady with the big breasts sounds like a freshman at community college delivering a speech in Communications 101. So no, it just gets worse...

Answer 9

I was charmed by Kelly's pert, heaving cerebral hemispheres.

CD

Ah, yes - mustn't forget the pivotal role played by that sack of sleaze M. Bashir, a 'devout Christian', apparently. Even he couldn't save the no-hopers' dire attempt to validate their fantasies, using all the material we see here several times a day.

Answer 10

I felt the same way.

It was like when you're flipping through the channels, you see a deer, and she's just getting some water from the lake...then you realize it's a hunting show....

I'd like a summary, but brutality is not my thing...