Christians meet atheists in televised God debate
Pastor Dale Morgan
Christians meet atheists in televised God debate*
Best-selling author to prove case without mentioning Bible or faith
Posted: May 3, 2007
ABC News
Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron
Two Christians are meeting two atheists in a televised debate with the
subject the existence of God, and Ray Comfort, a best-selling author and
expert on Christian evangelism, says he can prove the existence of the
Almighty in his allotted 13 minutes – without mentioning the Bible or faith.
"The network originally offered me only four minutes to present my
case," Comfort said. "After speaking with Kirk [Cameron, former Growing
Pains and Left Behind series movie star] and conferring with the
atheists, they settled on 13 minutes. I'm ecstatic. I can prove the
existence of God in that amount of time."
The debate will be Saturday in New York, and ABC had originally planned
a live webcast of the 90-minute event, but changed plans to capture a
larger audience, officials said.
ABC instead will broadcast the entire debate on ABC.com on May 9, at 1
p.m. EST.
"We are very grateful to ABC for taking this courageous step," Comfort
said. "As far as we know, nothing like this has ever been done before.
ABC's website is already the 7th most visited news site, with 19 million
visitors every month. But with more than 177 million people in the U.S.
who call themselves Christians, we are sure that it will draw an even
larger viewing audience."
Comfort is no stranger to challenges. He's the Christian leader who
produced Gospel tracts that look like $1 million bills. The tract
repeatedly has attracted the authority of the U.S. Secret Service, even
though there is no such thing as a real $1 million bill.
"Is there actually evidence for God? That's the most important question
any of us will ever consider," said Comfort, whose has written books
titled "God Doesn't Believe in Atheists," and "Intelligent Design vs.
Evolution – letters to an atheist."
"We are excited that the network has decided to do this, because we have
something very relevant to present," said Cameron. "Most people think
that belief in God is simply a matter of blind faith, and that His
existence can't be proven. We will not only prove that God exists, but
as an ex-atheist I'll show that the issue keeping so many people from
believing in God – Darwinian evolution – is completely unscientific.
It's a fairy-tale for grownups."
The idea for the debate developed after several atheists launched the
Internet site Blasphemy Challenge, which offers to send people a DVD if
they post on Youtube.com a video of themselves condemning themselves to
hell.
The self-described "Rational Response Squad" said its DVDs, "The God Who
Wasn't There," was described by the Los Angeles Times as "provocative –
to put it mildly."
Those DVDs, at least until 1,001 are gone, are free, almost.
"There's only one catch: We want your soul," the website said. "It's
simple. You record a short message damning yourself to Hell, you upload
it to YouTube, and then the Rational Response Squad will send you a free
'The God Who Wasn't There' DVD."
"You may damn yourself to Hell however you would like, but somewhere in
your video you must say this phrase: 'I deny the Holy Spirit,'" the
website instructed. "Why? Because, according to Mark 3:29 in the Holy
Bible, 'Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be
forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.'"
ABC told of the website and the hundreds of responses in a story,
getting Comfort's attention.
"But," Comfort said, "there is something more sinister here than a few
people not believing in God. Why would so many be so bitter against
Christianity in particular? Why aren't they making videos that blaspheme
Buddha or Muhammed or Gandhi? We made our own video clip and posted in
on Hollywoodblasphemy.com to expose why."
The debate is to be moderated by Martin Bashir, and plans were announced
that also on May 9 a shortened version of the debate will be aired on
"Nightline."
Comfort and Cameron also have collaborated on The Way of The Master, an
online teaching site that coaches Christians on how to explain their own
faith.
Comfort said that he's constantly amazed at "how many respectable men of
God say you cannot prove God; that it's only a matter of faith."
"I've seen atheists backslide when they've heard me provide them proof,"
he said.
"What I will say sits squarely on the basis of Scripture," he advised,
without giving away his multi-point strategy, on which Christians should
take notes.
Besides Comfort's writings on atheism, and Cameron's own experience with
it, Comfort attended the 2001 annual convention of American Atheists,
Inc., at their expense and request, to speak to the group.
"Evolution is unscientific. In reality, it is a blind faith that's
preached," said Cameron. "I'm embarrassed to admit that I was once a
naïve believer in the theory."
"Most people equate atheism with intellectualism," Comfort said, "but
it's actually an intellectual embarrassment."