My Internet DEBATE With Dan Adams

My name is Daniel Adams, and I am one half of "The Debate". The purpose of this debate is to promote an understanding between myself, an avowed atheist, and my debating opposite, an avowed Christian, of each other's beliefs. Of course, we are also trying to present our case as to why we believe what we do, and as in any debate, this involves attempting convince the other side, or at the least the viewing audience, that you are right and the other fellow is disillusioned and wrong. Obviously, in this debate, the audience being an ever-shifting entity, the target of ones arguments is inevitably the debating opposite.

Briefly then, for the benefit of both audience and debating partner, I present my opening statement. I am, as I said, an atheist. The first thing I would like to point out shouldn't really have to be mentioned at all, but given some comments I have received is sadly necessary: that is, atheists are not Satanists. An atheist does not believe in God, Satan, Santa or the tooth fairy.

That myth dispelled, I expect what you really want to know is "why are you an atheist". The simple answer is basically, no one has yet proven to me that God exists. Since the burden of proof lies upon the positive claimant (that is, the person making the claim that God does exist), it is not up to me to prove to anybody that God doesn't exist, but rather for them to prove that he does.

Ultimately, a theist's argument must boil down to "I just believe". I used to vehemently attack this position as unsupportable, but I suppose that really, we all "just believe". Can you prove you are a person that exists and not just a brain in a jar being fed impulses? No. Although such an event is less likely, and we dismiss as being unlikely, we base this answer ultimately on "well, we just aren't".

It is my position however, that since no theist can prove God exists, I am warranted in my refusal to accept that he does.

					Dan Adams