(January 23, 2014 at 5:24 pm)Insanity Wrote: They'll hear what they want to hear. I imagine regardless of what happens most will have the same opinion as when it started.

I see a potential that it may give family members something to point at in order to broach the subject in the home. May be safer than just coming home and announcing "I'm questioning my faith".

Having said that, I now have the same feeling I get right after imagining what I would do with my lottery winnings.

(January 23, 2014 at 6:16 pm)Cato Wrote:

(January 23, 2014 at 5:24 pm)Insanity Wrote: They'll hear what they want to hear. I imagine regardless of what happens most will have the same opinion as when it started.

I see a potential that it may give family members something to point at in order to broach the subject in the home. May be safer than just coming home and announcing "I'm questioning my faith".

Having said that, I now have the same feeling I get right after imagining what I would do with my lottery winnings.

When is this being televised?

The evidence that creationsim is wrong is so overwhelming that only brain dead morons and deluded fools CAN still believe, so this debate is a pointless exercise. These people are so deep into their delusions that there is no hope for them at all.

(January 24, 2014 at 1:55 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote: The evidence that creationsim is wrong is so overwhelming that only brain dead morons and deluded fools CAN still believe, so this debate is a pointless exercise. These people are so deep into their delusions that there is no hope for them at all.

Many atheist activists were formerly evangelical Christians or similar. They will tell you that this outreach activity is important. Believers are not some other that is hopelessly different from you.

(January 23, 2014 at 7:16 pm)Darkstar Wrote: When is this being televised?

Honestly, no one will win even if Nye has science on his side. This same debate has been going on for a looooooong time now. The religious will never recognize science and factual evidence over their faith.

(January 24, 2014 at 2:56 pm)pocaracas Wrote:

(January 23, 2014 at 7:16 pm)Darkstar Wrote: When is this being televised?

Shoot, I won't be home then. Oh well.

It does matter.

This isn't going to change the fundie's mind, no. This might even strengthen their resolve. But who gives a shit about them? There are people out there who are intelligent who may have never even thought to question their faith. If even a small amount of moderates see this, it's bound to shake something up in someone. I consider the day that I finally heard someone talk about the way I felt about religion and science internally one of the most important in my life. This could be that for someone.

I don't know what to expect from this, as intelligence and facts aren't the most important factor in a debate; experience and debating smarts are. Bill Nye is no doubt used to playing an audience, but Ham has more practice at this sort of thing. Regardless of how it goes, I don't think anybody's mind will be changed, and creationists will be even more firmly entrenched in their beliefs afterward, no matter how badly Ham does. Still, I hope Nye slaughters him. The question, however, lends itself well to arguments from ignorance and arguments from incredulity, which people seem to eat up like it was apologetic gold.