Previous Event
October 14, 2007
"A Debate: Does God Exist? "
Yes: Mark Hausam
No: David Keller
Moderator: Deen ChatterjeeThe forum debated the question of God's existence by looking at historic as well as recent and contemporary developments in science and philosophy. The focus of the debate was whether God exists and how we claim to know about it. If one were to rationally believe that God exists, such belief needs to be supported by good arguments. The debaters were invited to look into a host of arguments to examine the validity of such belief claims. The forum also explored whether an atheist can rationally prove that God doesn't exist. Just to show that something cannot be proved to exist is not the same as proving that it doesn't exist. To establish God's non-existence, one needs a different set of arguments. The forum aimed to explore whether such arguments are possible.
Mark Hausam is an adjunct instructor in philosophy at Salt Lake Community College and an elder at Christ Presbyterian Church. He has an interest in formulating and articulating the evidence for the existence of God and the truth of the Christian religion and exploring how the Christian world-view impacts all of life.
David R. Keller is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Utah Valley State College, where he also serves as Director of the Center for the Study of Ethics and Chair. He is particularly interested in the relationship of religion and public policy in pluralistic societies.
Deen Chatterjee teaches philosophy at the University of Utah and is the editor-in-chief of the forthcoming multi-volume Encyclopedia of Global Justice and the series editor of Studies in Global Justice. His publications include, most recently, Democracy in a Global World: Human Rights and Political Participation in the 21st Century (2007).Books suggested by Mark Hausam:
R. C. Sproul, Not A Chance: The Myth of Chance in Modern Science and Cosmology
William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics
Greg Bahnsen, Always Ready
Phillip E. Johnson, Reason in the Balance: The Case Against Naturalism in Science, Law, and Education
Books suggested by Mark Hausam:
David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
Bertrand Russell, Why I am Not a Christian
Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion
Christopher Hitchens, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
Deseret News Article:
Here's the story from the Deserted News. Note that there are 50+ comments online.
DEBATE: 'DOES GOD EXIST?'
At one level, the difference between a theist and atheist is simply a small
gap of white space. But the divide between the two is also a chasm, a
difference not just about sect and doctrine, or church vs. state, but about
fundamental questions of the origin and purpose of life.
FULL STORY: http://deseretnews.com/article/1%2C5143%2C695218155%2C00.html