Cool Debate Between A Rabbi And An Atheist

[Ziggamafu]

For the atheist, "time is a euphemism for God;" given enough of it, you'll get any miracle you want.

Brilliant.

Check out the debate between Hitchens and Rabi Boteach here:
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnMYL8sF7bQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnMYL8sF7bQ[/url]

[CatherineM]

If I was the type to throw down a bet, I'd put my money on the Rabbi. I've seen those guys in action, and they debate better than most lawyers.

[KnightofChrist]

Wow, Rabi Boteach fought a good fight against a rude moderator, and opponent. Even the crowd was against him.

[Hassan]

[quote name='Ziggamafu' post='1759482' date='Jan 23 2009, 07:01 PM']For the atheist, "time is a euphemism for God;" given enough of it, you'll get any miracle you want.

Brilliant.

Check out the debate between Hitchens and Rabi Boteach here:
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnMYL8sF7bQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnMYL8sF7bQ[/url][/quote]

It seems like two Sophists rambling. Does the Rabbi ever give an actual argument for God to exist?

[tinytherese]

This totally reminded me of Weird Al's song, "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi."

[Hassan]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1759491' date='Jan 23 2009, 07:11 PM']If I was the type to throw down a bet, I'd put my money on the Rabbi. I've seen those guys in action, and they debate better than most lawyers.[/quote]


I just finished watching it and you would have lost. There is a long line of brilliant Jewish thinkers, that Rabbi is not amongst them. Towards the very end he just made a joke of himself.

[Hassan]

[quote name='KnightofChrist' post='1759521' date='Jan 23 2009, 08:05 PM']Wow, Rabi Boteach fought a good fight against a rude moderator, and opponent. Even the crowd was against him.[/quote]

I thought he made a fool of himself, particularly towards the end. That moderator, Neil Giliman, is a respected Jewish intelectual but it seemed like even he couldn't stand that Rabbi's non sense towards the end.

[CatherineM]

[quote name='Hassan' post='1759831' date='Jan 23 2009, 09:31 PM']I just finished watching it and you would have lost. There is a long line of brilliant Jewish thinkers, that Rabbi is not amongst them. Towards the very end he just made a joke of himself.[/quote]

I wish I could watch youtube. I miss out on a lot.

[Hassan]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1759900' date='Jan 24 2009, 12:21 AM']I wish I could watch youtube. I miss out on a lot.[/quote]


why can't you watch youtube?

[Hassan]

I will say that Hitchen's claim that anti-semitism was caused by the Jewish belief of being the chosen people was just asinine.

[CatherineM]

[quote name='Hassan' post='1759902' date='Jan 23 2009, 10:22 PM']why can't you watch youtube?[/quote]

Low speed doesn't make for the best viewing.

[Ziggamafu]

Best debate against Hitchens that I've ever seen was D'souza's performance:

[url="http://www.tkc.edu/debate/"]http://www.tkc.edu/debate/[/url]

The debate against the rabi was spirited and fun; I do think Hitchens did a better job. The "brilliant" line was the one I quoted about time being a "euphemism for God". That was clever. I also think that the rabi was very spirited (although that worked against him in a few rash instances), which made for an entertaining exchange. Overall a cool debate.

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1759491' date='Jan 23 2009, 07:11 PM']If I was the type to throw down a bet, I'd put my money on the Rabbi. I've seen those guys in action, and they debate better than most lawyers.[/quote]
That's probably because most lawyers are related to at least one rabbi.

(I think I'm allowed to make that joke, my grandfather's dad was a Jew ).

[Hassan]

[quote name='Ziggamafu' post='1759953' date='Jan 24 2009, 01:01 AM']Best debate against Hitchens that I've ever seen was D'souza's performance:

[url="http://www.tkc.edu/debate/"]http://www.tkc.edu/debate/[/url]

The debate against the rabi was spirited and fun; I do think Hitchens did a better job. The "brilliant" line was the one I quoted about time being a "euphemism for God". That was clever. I also think that the rabi was very spirited (although that worked against him in a few rash instances), which made for an entertaining exchange. Overall a cool debate.[/quote]


I didn't think D'souza did that great in the debate. Not that I'm some bit Hitchens fan. I just tried to read his "god is not Great" book today. I got through about 20 pages and couldn't go on (This was my third attempt to get through it, twice in High School and now). I made a note of my thoughts on it, "Like so much of modern atheism it could only be described as an angry, quasi incoherent, intellectually hypocritical ranting"
Shabbir Akhtar, and to a slightly less extent Joseph Ratzinger, are two of the only really honest authors I have ever read with regards to religion. Most of the rest seems to be either shallow apologetics, writing for the religious on religious matters, or just angry attacks.

[Saint Therese]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1759491' date='Jan 23 2009, 06:11 PM']If I was the type to throw down a bet, I'd put my money on the Rabbi. I've seen those guys in action, and they debate better than most lawyers.[/quote]

That's probably because they have spent so many years studying and debating the Talmud.