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Speaker contrasts views in age-old debate

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Diverse panel discusses Jesus
in religion, history

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Professor debates theologian

An atheist UNLV professor and a Christian radio talk show host met Saturday in the Green Valley Evangelical Church to debate the existence of God.

Author, theologian and Christian talk show host Steve Gregg explained why he rejects scientific claims of evolution.
“There is something that is there that explains what has come about since,” Gregg said. “There are things we marvel on that science may not ever be able to explain.”

He went on to say that the founder of nature must be supernatural and that no one has shown that anything other than a deity made life.

“We don’t know that there is no God,” Gregg said.

Assistant professor of philosophy William Ramsey, who taught at the University of Notre Dame for 18 years, was given the chance to explain his views and some of the criticism he has faced for being open about them.

“I was once told [in Notre Dame], ‘What’s a nice place like this doing with a guy like you?’” he said.

Ramsey also said that, for him, things do not make sense if they do not fit well together – a criticism he found of theology.
“I feel that way with core Christian claims. They just don’t make sense to me,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense to me that we need to be ‘saved.’”

Ramsey continued on to speak about salvation and why he believes Christians technically “kill the messenger” by devoting themselves to the idea that Jesus died for the sins of mankind.

Ramsey ended his speech by saying he could not understand how a benevolent, loving and caring God would let bad things happen to human beings.

He said Orthodox Christians believe that suffering will happen to those who don’t believe in God.

“It is essentially a scare tactic saying, ‘You better believe in this. If not, bad things will happen to you,’” Ramsey said.
The focus of the debate was then turned to Gregg, who argued from the perspective of a religious devotee.

“In a Christian point of view, heaven cannot be tainted with bad people,” Gregg said. “God wants people that are repentant for their faults and sins.”

Ramsey took the floor again to say that he believes there has to be reason for every single fact and that he is perfectly happy believing in facts alone.

To this, Gregg responded by saying that the miracles of Jesus were consistent with who he claimed to be.
Gregg asked Ramsey what it would take to convince him that there is a God. Ramsey responded by saying that he would require clear-cut evidence.

“I need to walk out of here and look up to see the stars arranged in a way that tells me, ‘Hey Ramsey, I exist,’” he said.
In one last question from Ramsey to Gregg, the professor asked the theologian why God makes it so difficult to believe and stays silent.

“Seeing is not necessarily believing [to everyone],” Gregg responded. “You believe what you are willing to believe and don’t believe what you are not willing to believe.”

At the end of the debate, both sides took time to express their respect for one another, with Ramsey adding that he believes there is an openness to atheism that has not always existed in the philosophy at large.

In brief

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A World Cup of politics

Upcoming United Nations meeting important for the new American image

The United Nations General Assembly is creating excitement as leaders from around the world confirm their attendance for the upcoming general debate from Sept. 23 – 28.

This year will mark the 64th Session of the General Assembly and the first for President Barack Obama.

So far, it doesn’t seem like there is much potential for any groundbreaking policies to be introduced or any important resolutions to be passed, but there is potential for a “Kanye West” moment to occur again.

It was not that long ago when Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made headlines after declaring that former President George W. Bush was the devil’s equivalent when he took the podium and exclaimed that the smell of sulfur permeated the room.

This year’s General Assembly looks like it will be business as usual, as presidential staffers all around the world prepare their public relations strategies to best showcase their leader.

But events such as this should not be waved off as nonsense, for there is a subtle undertone of political strategy throughout the gatherings.

TV cameras will be ready to capture and highlight body language, one-word gaffs and bad moments. It is also an opportunity for critics of the U.S. to showcase the unfairness of some policies encouraged by the current administration.

Each attending head of state is given the opportunity to address the assembly, which can result into an excruciatingly long day.

African nations will seek to make an impactful statement through their leaders’ speeches on the need to increase worldwide awareness of increasing regional warfare, health epidemics and decreasing economies. It is expected that they will seek to make an impact on the Economic and Financial Committee to increase monetary aid to African nations.

Meanwhile, western European nations, for the most part, will make a stand for nuclear disarmament and to support American-led talks on the issue. Obama will chair a meeting on non-proliferation, urging nations that have signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to begin official talks on reduction.

Interestingly enough, the U.S., as the only country to have utilized nuclear weapons as a form of warfare, wishes to begin eradication. But Obama affirms that the U.S. has a duty to headstart this call for reduction because of its own history.

No doubt, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will make the more interesting speeches.
Obama’s administration expects that there will be a general assessment of support for American policies. Such self-encouragement might be good, but the week may prove to be a bit more unwelcoming than expected.

Latin American leaders like Chavez, Bolivian president Evo Morales and Brazilian President Lula de Silva are preparing their speeches to voice unanimous discontent with unfair economic policies dealt to the developing world.
There is also a growing murmur of discontent with the current countries assigned to permanent seats in the Security Council. Since it was formed, some major regions of the world – namely Africa and Latin America – have had no real voice unless they are awarded the temporary seat.

Maybe this time around the U.S. can take a stand on behalf of other well-deserving nations and not just our favorite, Israel. Unfortunately, recent criticism from the State Department of a UN report denouncing both Palestinians and Israelis for war crimes is indicative of the same old American politics.

Such a spotlight event is the perfect opportunity for the American delegation to make an impactful statement on the U.S.’s desire to be more open to the needs of traditionally ignored regions. It is also an interesting opportunity to witness the cliques.

Obama will have to walk a fine line between respect and authority. His philosophy of learning through listening and not preaching has earned him international respect, but domestic critics seem to want him to be more “presidential” and less respectful.

He will face leaders who might not be important in the traditional way, but when the media get involved, the potential for diplomatic fallout multiplies. Anything anyone says or does can be blown out of proportion.

It is an opportunity to make a good impression on the state of the American presidency. International media are broadcasting the nation’s loud debate over health care and other policies to note the end of the “honeymoon” phase of the Obama administration. This has negative implications for any leader who cannot adequately handle domestic affairs is weakened in the eyes of international policy makers.

With a weak economy and a challenging health care debate at home, Obama’s priority is domestic at the moment. This might empower international non-allies to challenge and push the limits.
As each leader seeks to walk away unscathed, the days ahead will prove to be a diplomatic World Cup for Obama.

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