Keep Up the Debate

http://www.universitychronicle.com/news/student-organizations-debate-existence-of-god-1.2173238

It’s nice to see that these debates are taking place. Secular and religious organizations in universities around the world should be working to ensure that events like this continue to occur.

“On Wednesday night, SCSU students flocked to the Atwood Ballroom to witness a debate on one of the most basic and age-old questions: does God really exist?

SCSU’s Secular Student Alliance (SSA) and Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) worked collaboratively to set a stage for a conversation between people of polar opposite worldviews and perceptions.

In order to present the best arguments possible to the packed room of skeptics and believers, the organizations invited professional speakers to debate each side.

Representing team “God does not exist” was August Berkshire, former President of Minnesota Atheists and current traveling Atheist speaker.

Joe Boot, Christian Apologist from the Ezra Institute in Canada, was CRU’s contender.

Sarah Maddox, junior ecology student and co-founder of the SSA, stated that gathering secular students is as tough as herding cats because everyone just does their own thing and does not have passion to come together to discuss the topic unless they feel their image is being stereotyped or judged.

Tyler Helfers, criminal justice student and CRU organizer of the debate, anticipated the success of the event.

“The content [is] compelling. The question of whether God exists or not is in the heart of every person, and an event discussing that question is surely going to attract people…” Helfers said. “In fact, the answer to that question governs the rest of our lives and shapes our worldview. They want an answer to the question that rests in the deepest part of their being.”

Those who went to the event had as varying reasons to attend as the views they had concerning the existence of God.

Many came not to witness a sort of verbal boxing match, but to gain understanding of the opposing side.

Ernest Langston, communications studies student and Christian minister said he came to just observe.

“Although I am a Christian minister, I respect the opinions of those who don’t believe in my God or any god.”

Kylie Wojahn, a senior communication studies student, said she chose to attend because she loves God and wanted to understand those who do not.

Helfers stated that a main reason to fund this debate was to engage Christians in an intellectual conversation with non-Christians in order to strengthen their own beliefs about God and the universe through rational, intriguing arguments.

According to Maddox, when CRU approached SSA to cosponsor the debate, SSA accepted not with the agenda to secularize every SCSU in attendance, but to make sure they have a say in how secular students are viewed.

“We want to show people that secular students aren’t scary or evil,” Maddox said.

Maddox went on to say only one in four college students identify as secular and some feel attacked when they deny the existence of God in many settings.

Kendall Valley, junior psychology and communication studies student, said she thought the event was set up well and was glad she attended because she felt it was a chance for people to rationally talk about the non-existence of God without being shut down right away.

Helfers said he believes that Boot’s best point through the debate was that there is no basis for judgment, reason or understanding without God and he has clearly revealed himself in his creation, his word (the Bible) and in the person of Jesus Christ.Helfers said it is intellectually necessary for God to exist.

Valley said she thought that Berkshire helped her understand why she believes the things she does thought his best point was that people cannot handle uncertainty so they create a god.

As Helfers went through the comment cards filled out by those in attendance, he found that three people said they prayed to receive Christ in their lives.

Because the debate was merely a stage and not a boxing ring, there was no “winner” and it was not determined if there is a God or not.

As Maddox pointed out, it is more important to get along with each other than to agree.

The video of the debate will appear on CRU’s Web site www.scsucru.com.”