If the atheists are right, there is no god or gods.  If the theists are right, there is a god or gods.

One of you has to be right, and if one of you is right, the other is wrong.

You all sound reasonably intelligent, but if I'm to make an informed decision that may or may not have eternal consequences, I'd rather hear from brilliant people who have devoted their lives to studying their respective fields; people who have degrees that I never knew existed.  I saw the amputee link and stuf, and no offense to ya'll or anything like that, but can someone direct me to scholarly literature?   

I've been back for a week, and I still can't get access to the One on One forum; I don't see any reason why we can't do this thing right here and now. I've just about gotten to the point where I see this sort of discussion and debate with anyone - believer or non-believer - as a completely pointless waste of time, and I have a website to run, so if you want to do this speak up. Some things I want to know, for the record are . . .

1. Do you want other people to participate and to what extent? Anything you decide regarding this is fine with me so long as you clearly state what that is before beginning.

2. Do you want iwbiek to moderate and what exactly does that mean? Would he act as a judge in a public hearing, a referee in a boxing match or a director of a play? I personally think that the first would be unfair, the second unnecessary and the third possibly a good idea. On the other hand, what else would I expect than the first, I can tolerate the second and the third would intrigue me. So again, I am leaving it to you with only the stipulation that you make clear your intentions.

Deists claim that God plays no practical role in the lives of human beings. Deists claim that proof of God can be found through nature and the sciences. However, God isn't necessary to explain anything naturally, and it makes no sense to disregard God up to the Big Bang or to some other event that is of yet unexplained. Why? Quite simply because at this point, any explanation goes. If anything, attributing the beginning to God seals up any other inquiries to the matter. The Deist thus faces the dilemma: If God isn't necessary to explain anything, why believe in him? Or if God is necessary to explain nature, why claim otherwise?

That aside, we determine that the only practical role that God can play in a human life is in the supernatural. Now, since Deists claim that God doesn't interfere while we are alive, it follows that the only possible intervention or action from God can come in some sort of afterlife.

If this is so, then we come to the following complications:

Let us suppose that the Deist God rewards those that did good and punishes those that did evil. But wait a minute, if God has never revealed himself to humanity, and never will, how can a human possibly determine what this God think is good or evil? What may seem reasonable to a human may be but pure inanity to a God. Therefore, any search for what this God rewards will be marred by extreme uncertainties. The search will be futile and always inconclusive. In short, God plays no meaningful role in man's quest for moral answers.

Hello!  I am a Christian participating in a friendly debate with a group of atheists.  If anyone would be so kind, I would like to find out more about what atheists believe and how they think.  If you would poke holes in my argument by giving your best rebuttal, it would help me out a lot.  My only purpose in asking this is simply to learn and expand my mind;  Whatever you say will stay here on this forum.  I invite you to give me your best shot, but please keep it to rational and logical arguments.  Thanks for your time!

Question 1: What is the origin of morals?

I am not sure if I am doing this correctly, and I am not sure if anyone will volunteer, but here goes: Is anyone willing to go into a small mini debate with me on the subject of what it all means? Essentially, the mini debate structure would go like this:

I'd go first with my main argument and sub arguments in one post. A brief, 300-500 word post should be sufficient. Then my opponent would offer a 300-500 word rebuttal comprising his main argument ect. Then the thread is opened for voting, and the first person to get--say...30 votes wins the debate? And a moderator could set up the poll, seeing as how I don't know who I'd be going up against?

The resolution is kind of vague, but that's cause I'm having a hard time wording it in a way that I find acceptable. Suggestions would be nice; here's a working revision:

Regarding what it all means; The solution is a journey into immediacy

Since this is my debate, I will be arguing in the affirmative.(Also It would help me explain what I mean by "Journey into immediacy"

Here is my Opening Argument. Remember, you only get one rebuttal, ok? AND PLEASE! THIS IS JUST FOR REVIEW PURPOSES! WE WILL ONLY BE CHOOSING THE CHALLENGER IN THIS THREAD! Thanks.

Why is there something rather than nothing?

Why do people who believe in "god", life after-death, or "heaven" suffer when a loved one has died?

Isn't this a conflicting reaction to have when one has faith?

Shouldn't the reaction be joy and happiness?

I've noticed that theists love to invoke the argument that the universe couldn't have been created from nothing, therefore there must be a creator.

But if everything must have a beginning and a creator,then who created god,and when.

So my question to any theist and atheist is, how can people say that the universe must have a creator and still believe in a god that apparently has been around forever? 

The bible leaves heaven, pretty open ended. I have been to church many times long ago, and I don't recall the preachers hitting on exactly what heaven is like either. This is another miniscule ratiocination in why I do not believe in the whole sham. It is obviously left open ended so that one could conjure whatever fantasy in the mind one likes and it would be heaven.

From what I recall it is guarded by some pearly gates and St. Peter, and inside there are people playing harps (an instrument seldom used today). So, what do you do when in heaven. Obviously you would leave behind all your worldly cares like sex, video games, and football. So, what exactly are you going to do in heaven. Is it just a perpetual state of bliss? Like being extremely high or something?

Well here are more Theist arguments I get, and the reason I post them here, is not to alert you of any new arguments, but rather I'm just not that intelligent enough to answer some of them. So maybe you more intellectual types can help me out.

Argument 1: "Newton and Einstein believed in God, and they are much smarter than many atheists." So, because Genius's had believed in God, that must give more credibility to God.

Argument 2: "If Atheists are trying to get rid of Religion, doesn't that make them as bad as Religious people who want to get rid of other religions, beliefs, or groups of people?" (whether it's ethnicity or sexual orientation)

Argument 3: "Why can't Atheists just get along with (insert religion)?" Personally I believe that Religions are basically giant cults, and usually those are looked down on and take care of themselves.. However they make a more peaceful point. Though I also think Religion has detriments to human progress..