Update on Eddie Tabash Event

I wanted to share some developments and information with you about the Eddie Tabash event on 3/25. (See background info here and here):

I went back and forth for a while in debating whether I wanted to have an on-campus event or hold a debate off-campus, at a church, in the hopes of drawing in a much larger crowd. I went ahead and made sure the first option was available, and in checking on the second option, I saw that it would be difficult to set up and coordinate with a church venue, given the day that it is designated on.

So far, the largest room I've been able to procure on-campus is Norman Hall 137, with a capacity of 360.

I have this room from 1 - 5 PM on 3/25.

I have been talking to some leaders of Christian groups at UF about getting a debate opponent for Eddie, and I'll hopefully know more soon. I spoke with Howie Kauffman and C. John Sommerville, as well as the Christian Study Center of Gainesville, and I hope to finalize things within a week (or two at the outmost).

Dr. Sommerville has a webpage here, and he wants to debate religion in academe. I'm not sure if Eddie and he will work out, since Eddie has five specific topics he wants to debate:

1) Does God Exist?
2) The True Meaning of Separation of Church and State
3) The Threat of the Religious Right to Modern Liberties
4) Goodness Without God: Why the Bible is an Unfit Basis for Moral Conduct
5) Science Versus the Supernatural

Basically no responses whatsoever from any of the campus groups I emailed showing serious interest in the debate. Almost all of them wrote me and gave one reason or another as to why they aren't interested or don't feel it's in their group's best interests. (Perhaps many of them recognize the distinct disadvantage they are in by trying to lay out a cumulative logical case for specific aspects of their faith...or maybe they just don't like debate, who knows.) One guy from Campus Crusades said he brought it up at a meeting, and no one wanted to go for it as they felt it "divided" and cultivated an "us vs. them mentality" and that debates only bring out "hardcore Christians and hardcore atheists". Even if that last part is true, I don't see why that undercuts the merit of debating those positions, regardless of the composition of the audiences. Especially if A/V equipment is employed to capture the debate for educational use.

I do plan to try to tape this event, whether it turns out to be a lecture or a debate. My biggest hope right now is that Howie Kauffman can work something out for me with someone pretty good. Probably not lucky enough to get Bill Craig at this late date, but someone of his repute and level. Keep your fingers crossed, and keep pray...er, I mean, hoping. ;-)

I'll post more soon as I know more.