At first, I was skeptical about this debate. I really didn't like the idea of a respectable scientist giving religious nonsense a platform to stand on. I'm positive that Ken Ham and the Creation Museum will use this debate as a way to somehow prove their credibility. I'm already annoyed at having to defend 'atheist churches' to Christians, I really don't want to have to now argue that just because there was a major debate that creationism is now a viable option.
The debate can be watched at www.debatelive.org where it will be available for the next week or so. I believe that YouTube will be archiving the debate as well. There are sure to be many ways that one can watch all the action. I implore you to seek it out and watch the whole thing.
My favorite part of the night was all the facial expressions Bill gave Ken when something didn't sound quite right. Here is my favorite:
Isn't this just the look of 'I'm tired of your shit, Ken'?
A few points that I loved about Bill's way of debating: I LOVED that Mr. Nye was not afraid of saying that he didn't know an answer. He would spin the idea by making it sound wonderful that while, yes, we don't know the answer but HOW COOL IS IT THAT WE GET TO FIND OUT?!? Many times when I have debated a Christian and have answered a question with "I don't know" they use it as an 'ah-ha!' moment. They have me now! THEY have an answer. It's God and Jesus and the Bible. That's all they need. I feel sad for them at that moment. They have an answer so they are done? How do they know that answer is right? What about the insurmountable evidence that is piled against their answer? They choose to ignore reason for their comforting answers.
I also liked how many times Bill Nye said, "It's an extraordinary claim" as compared to Ken Ham's "It's impossible." Ham just seems to be so immovable in his faith- which, in many circles, would be commended. But, when someone is so stuck in their opinion, they close themselves off to so many possibilities. Mr. Nye, by saying that there is an extraordinary claim, is still leaving room for extraordinary evidence; all someone needs to do is present it.
Just like Bill, many atheists were not satisfied with Ken's answers to questions or his explanations of creationism. Most of Ken's responses to audience questions were a mix of "I have this book that begins with 'In the beginning...,'" a complete lack of not answering questions, and his very impressive way of answering a question that no one asked. At one point he answered a question by stating that his answer had to be what it was because his sponsors 'would have wanted it that way'. That one baffled me.
Most of the evening had me feeling as if I were in college again. PowerPoint presentations and short videos were used a lot by Ken. I wondered if he was going to be speaking on his own at all during his 30 minute presentation. He did do a LOT of preaching, however, throughout the night. I guess he figured that would help.
The point that I think many people are fixated on was the responses by both men to a particular audience question. The question was, roughly, 'what would be enough for you to be swayed to the other side?' Ken's answer was that he was a Christian. Christians can't explain nor prove their evidence. It is something that was specially revealed to them via some non verifiable way by God. Ken is 100% positive that nothing will change his mind.
Bill's answer? Evidence. Spoken like a true man of science.
By the end of the night I was chanting "BILL, BILL, BILL, BILL! BILL NYE THE SCIENCE GUY!"
No comments:
Post a Comment