Many thanks to all those who answered my plea. I have not yet spoken to the
atheist and so I am not sure what the ground rules are. I agree that no one
can prove anything. My attitude is going to be one of a scientist who
realizes that reality has a supernatural component to it that cannot be
detected by any scientific device and is only detected by human beings. It
is in that space where moral issues, values, and purpose lies. Thanks
again. Moorad
-----Original Message-----
From: Vandergraaf, Chuck <vandergraaft@aecl.ca>
To: 'Moorad Alexanian' <alexanian@uncwil.edu>
Cc: asa@calvin.edu <asa@calvin.edu>
Date: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 11:39 AM
Subject: RE: atheism vs theism
>Moorad,
>
>What are you supposed to debate? Seems to me there is a wide range of
>topics that theists and atheists could debate.
>
>If the debate deals with the existence of a Supreme Being, I would think
>that the universe is a clear indication of the existence of an entity that
>created it and that is outside the universe. Both theists and atheists
have
>to address the existence of the universe. A theist would argue for a deity
>who is outside time and space, i.o.w., who is eternal. An atheist denies
>the existence of a Supreme Being which leaves him/her with the unenviable
>task to explain how the universe was created.
>
>Having established that there must have been some creative activity to
>create the universe, the next question is, how do we know. There are,
IMHO,
>two possible options here: either we have figured this out on our own, or
>Somebody told us. As Christians, we believe the latter and the evidence we
>have is the Word of God as spoken through the prophets and revealed by
Jesus
>Christ.
>
>Maybe this is a bit too simplistic but, then again, I am not a philosopher.
>
>Chuck Vandergraaf
>Pinawa, MB
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Moorad Alexanian [mailto:alexanian@uncwil.edu]
>Sent: Wednesday September 13, 2000 8:17 AM
>To: asa@calvin.edu
>Subject: atheism vs theism
>
>
>I was asked by the Philosophy and Religion student organization on campus
if
>I wanted to "debate" a professor of their department who is an atheist---I
>am supposed to represent the theistic point of view. I have accepted. Any
>comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Moorad
>
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