Jacoby-Shermer Debate, 6/10

[This is Dr Shermer's cross-examination of Dr Jacoby.]

The debate between international Christian speaker Douglas Jacoby and agnostic and skeptic Michael Shermer took place Saturday June 23, the highlight of the 2007 International Apologetics Conference, sponsored by the Apologetics Research Society. The debate topic: Does God Exist?

Dr. Shermer is one of the three or four most famous atheist / agnostic scholars in the world, author of 12 books and President of the Skeptic Society. He has held dozens of debates, appeared on Oprah, 20/20, Dateline, Tom Snyder, Larry King Live and The History Channel. Dr. Jacoby, director of the Athens Institute of Ministry, has spoken in hundreds of cities in some 80 nations.

This exciting event was held before a packed house, with an overflow crowd watching close circuit monitors outside the venue. Kedron Jones (Board member of ARS) was moderator and affable host. Shermer and Jacoby both bring their best analytical skills to this debate. The interchange is lively, with both speakers willing to concede points made by their opponent. You will benefit greatly from weighing the arguments put forth. Douglas' clear and incisive arguments for the existence of God are persuasive. He argues from cosmology (both its creation and its complexity). and the unmistakable fact that moral absolutes are part of reality. Shermer makes the case that religions are socially constructed, historically dependent, and that the faith you adhere to and the god you believe in depend largely on when in history and where in the world you were born.

The two-hour debate is lively, engaging and instructional. You can watch each speaker's opening, rebuttal, rebuttal summary, and conclusion here at YouTube. For the entire debate in one DVD, however, including the 40+ minute Q&A session, please visit www.douglasjacoby.com. The Skeptics Society website is www.skeptic.com.

To post further comments, please visit Jacoby's forum at www.jacobyblogs.com.

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• jacoby
• shermer
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• god
• exist
• evidences
• apologetics

[kusalaviro]

Geez he avoided answering that question didn't he...

[VarialProductions]

"Time!"

The hell is wrong with that moderator?!

[anosh88]

Notice in the Bible (when you read it) that Jesus always says to the Pharisees 'your Law', not 'God's law'.

[anosh88]

I think Douglas Jacoby is making the whole issue about how we know stoning is wrong confusing. If Michael Shermer, who was an evangelical for 8 years, read the new testament, he would see that Jesus himself said that he came to abolish the Law, which didn't go well with the Pharisees. Also, read the story of the adultress woman. Another thing is, and this might be taking it a bit far, Moses could have made his own laws in order to deal with the stubbornness of the Israelites.

[slicksmitty1]

@kusalaviro god is just, a year ago i would reminisce of all the horrible twisted things i would do to someone who would say that to my face the words might sting but you yourself i just feel sorry for,i can forgive my birth dad from the hart,i can be treated unfairly and just be fully content and smile and cry i can look weak and have so much joy i care about you becuase god firsthand has confirmed to me jesus is the way love you bro

[kusalaviro]

@slicksmitty1 Spoken like a good little slave always obedient to his cruel dictator in spite of all his capricious acts. I'll make one assumption here though, YOU are more moral than the god you worship because, I haven't met you, but I'm sure you wouldn't do the shit god has done. I don't think you'd burn me in a fire for eternity either, even though I didn't believe in you...

[slicksmitty1]

@dwheel39 chirst is the moral standard his teachings what he made available to us himself dying for me and his spilt blood being the new coventment to wash away our sins because the harts of people where far from (love)god and they would go off and commit horrible sin then have a traditional party with no hart but head knowledge so the issue isn't a technical one

[slicksmitty1]

@kusalaviro well if you read from the gospels you'll notice how Jesus says Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.its a matter of hart and the implications of reading the whole text,like i don't use gods name in vain becuase of what he has done for me then i would notice how the might've stoned someone in the old days then i would feel guilty and ask for forgiveness its quite beautiful and refreshing to humble myself

[kusalaviro]

@slicksmitty1 Not one sentance in the new testemant says the old testament laws are no longer valid. Jesus also stated he is not here to change the old laws (you can google that). Besides that, it at least means that god was a fucking asshole at one time. Who would worship such a prick?

[slicksmitty1]

@kusalaviro the question being the law of stoning to death women and disobedient children? why to read the old testament and the ones to agree with and the ones not to agree with?i believe jesus was the messiah so if you are to believe the new testament he is the new covenant the new moral standard,stoning and other extreme methods of punishment our guidelines to just notice how serious our sin would have been punished in those days, and repent through making effort to change and move on in life

[dwheel39]

if morality isn't objective and real, how does Shermer adjudicate between the varying Old Testament moral laws? How does he judge what is closer or further to being "right" or "correct"?He's apparently using some kind of standard, but what IS that standard and how does he know it's reliable?