Q&A: Questions About the Debate
Questions About the Debate
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Did the concerns you had about holding the debate end up being justified, or are you glad you agreed to hold the debate after all?
It was apparent that the atheist has no philosophical skill, to put it mildly. In your opinion, was it worthwhile to have this discussion with someone like him, who argues for things that are obviously false to anyone who knows even a little philosophy, and he keeps insisting they’re true? It felt to me that the whole discussion revolved around very basic points in philosophy. Next time it would be better to bring someone with more philosophical experience.
Answer
From the outset I wasn’t enthusiastic about a debate, no matter with whom. This format is not very successful or efficient for clarifying ideas. I agreed to it only because I was told these were people with major influence, and that it was important to present an opposing position at a high level—which does not happen, and almost cannot happen, in conversations with their crowd.
From my experience, most people are not skilled in philosophy, and his arguments are the standard arguments common among atheists.