George to debate an atheist

[kencooke]

In the Catholic Weekly today it is anounced that George Cardinal Pell of Sydney will debate with prominent US atheist Dan Barker on the topic "Without God we are nothing".

Macquarie University, 11th March 2010. 10:30AM, Level 3 conference room in the U@MQ building.

Mr Barker is co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation and was formerly an evangelical preacher.

Interestingly, the piece in the Catholic Weekly says "He outgrew his religious beliefs when he began reading authors other than Christian ones". Methinks a head will role at the Catholic Weekly.

Edit: Yes of course Barker is a speaker at the convention beginning the next day!

[gruber]

Is it a booked thingy or what do you have to do to see it

[davo]

Hope it is recorded!

[gruber]

Sooooo do you just turn up or what

[kencooke]

Don't know if you just turn up. Article just says it is open to the public and is organised by the Macquarie University Atheist League. Will try and find out.

[davo]

Wonder if he will just repeat what he said at Festival of Dangerous Ideas :

http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/blog/2009/10/07/without-god-we-are-nothing/

If he does, Barker is gonna cream him.

(who am I kidding, he will do so anyway)

[kencooke]

This is from the Catholic Arcdiocese news. (http://www.sydney.catholic.org.au/news/latest_news/2010/2010210_246.shtml)

[Praxis]

I really hope this will appear in video somewhere (?YouTube maybe) as it's something I'd really like to see.

Barker will wipe the floor with pompous Pell.

[kencooke]

I have sent Macquarie Atheists an email asking for details of public admission.

[Caio]

If his speech at the festival of dangerous ideas is anything to go by, it will be a dismal failure barely worth wasting internet bandwidth watching...

[gruber]

this is what pell said


While the fruits of religion might be mixed, I do not concede that religions are generally poisonous. Indeed when people follow Christian teachings human life is enriched immensely.


go back 1000 years or even 100 years or just go to africa and say that

[kencooke]

The following is email reply from the Macquarie University Atheist League.

The second link below lists several other debates that Dan Barker is involved in including at the University in Canberra, Wollongong University and Uni NSW.

Hi Kenneth,

As of now the debate is scheduled to run as a first in, best dressed event.
However, due to the exponential increase in interest we may introduce an (online) RSVP system and/or move to a larger venue.

Stay updated on the facebook event page, and related group pages.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161106997747
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=139066948413
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=38712102000

Cheers,
******

[wearestardust]

An example of the man's thinking from a link provided upthread:

"I will continue to believe in the one true God of love because I maintain that no atheist can explain the smile of a child," he said.

There is not a facepalm in the world big enough for this.

[Loki]

This one comes close, and is apposite.

133

[wearestardust]

This one comes close, and is apposite.



..:D..