The God Debate

No matter which side of the debate you’re on, this is an interesting read: Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Life, and Sam Harris, well-known atheist and author of The End Of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason, sit down for a friendly chat about whether or not God exists.

Some choice quotes, taken completely out of context:

Sam Harris: There’s no evidence for such a God, and it’s instructive to notice that we’re all atheists with respect to Zeus and the thousands of other dead gods whom now nobody worships.

Rick Warren: I see the fingerprints of God everywhere. I see them in culture. I see them in law. I see them in literature. I see them in nature. I see them in my own life.

Sam Harris: How is it fair for God to have designed a world which gives such ambiguous testimony to his existence? How is it fair to have created a system where belief is the crucial piece, rather than being a good person?

Rick Warren: We’re both betting. He’s betting his life that he’s right. I’m betting my life that Jesus was not a liar. When we die, if he’s right, I’ve lost nothing. If I’m right, he’s lost everything. I’m not willing to make that gamble.

Sam Harris: I think you could use your time and attention better than organizing your life around a belief that the Bible is the inerrant word of God and the best book we’re ever going to have on every relevant subject.

Rick Warren: You’re more spiritual than you think. You just don’t want a boss. You don’t want a God who tells you what to do.

They both make good points, and they remain civil throughout their dialogue, which is a refreshing change from so much that you see and hear these days.

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