Nice Video…

I love this guys English voice, but his argument is a little shaky. Basically he does smoke and mirrors while never using any actual points; all the time attacking religions wrongdoings. I also noticed he never answered the attacks on evolution he only dismissed them. 

The Rabbi is a fallacious debater, but he at least has some sort of argument. I hate how he shouts when he argues. Maybe one day he will laugh and remember the day

I think they both sucked and hopefully no one will become religious or an atheist based on this crud. 

Also the English guy totally made up the stuff about the court. The guy he quotes has a serious problem with Judaism. Read his stuff it actually gets kind of funny.

To Linda (Feb. 23): You write “And I give Rabbi Boteach credit for tackling one of the most debated scientific theories in an intelligent manner, quoting several reputable scientists...”

One of the major problems for Boteach (and he had many) was that yes, he quoted reputable scientists, but the quotes were taken out of context, or distorted (intentionally or not, I don’t know), or simply incorrect.

As for Hitchens not offering any arguments to back his case: I was surprised to read this in your comment; I thought Hitch’s arguments were rational and logically sound. Besides, even if he had not presented a case at all, as he said early on, the onus of proof was on Boteach, not him.

“I have trouble listening to extremists...Only by working together can we find a middle path, which is where the majority shall always be found.” By Martin Eile at February 10, 2008, 1:29pm

No, because one would not try to find a middle path between a spherical Earth and a flat Earth. As with this debate, one side is dealing with reality and facts, while the other is dealing in fantasy and delusion. The majority is not always correct, and the middle is not necessarily the place one wants to be on issues. Truth, the Sublime is is the best course.

To this fact and this alone, a fact which Hitchens didn’t dare try and contest.

Simply put, “Mathematically there is not enough time to run all the possible combinations for genetic trial and error in between the evolution of lower organisms and mankind. “There is no scientific evidence to prove that argument”. Furthermore it takes more faith to believe that evidence will be found to support such a claim than to believe in the G_d how made it so.
One can only conclude that both sides require faith to believe their claims. As ironic as it seems those of us who believe in a creator, believe that “in time” G_d will reveal his truths to all… figure!
Thank you again for the great food for thought.

what did he google Evolution or something? I thought this was a debate about the existence of God.
Boteach seemed ridiculously unprepared for this debate, making it almost effortless for Hitchens to obliterate his argument.

Erik, that is because Hitchens does not need to contest it.
Dawkins already discussed this argument in the God Delusion in his discussion on the creation of the universe. If believers assume that god created the universe because complex things can only be created by more complex things, then that means that, even though the chance that the universe emerged without a god is very small, the chance that it emerged with a god is even smaller. After all, you’d need a more complex thing than the universe to create the universe, and therefore the chance that a god existed that could have created the universe, is always smaller than the chance that the universe emerged by itself.

In the case of evolution, the problem isn’t exactly much different.

I felt that the true debate on the existence of God, which actually popped up every now and then, was overcast by unnecessary instances of character assassination, ego posturing, sarcastic quips, pettiness, and insults. I had hoped to watch this to gain some insight or a new perspective on the subject, or to even walk away with great respect for these men, however I ended up watching it with a box of popcorn, the surround sound cranked way up, and my money on the underdog. What ever happened to true debate, light in it’s tone and serious in it’s matter.

Rabbi Boteach gave the worst performance of anyone I’ve ever heard debate in favor of religion.  He was angry, while Hitchens was both calm and funny and actually sounded as if he had a better grasp of Judaism than the rabbi did.  Hitchens got cheers and laughs from a room full of Jews to the point that, near the end, I thought that Boteach was ready to cry.  When challenged to explain what happened to the Midianites, he spoke of the Hittites instead.  Since the Midianites were Moses’ in-laws whose male infants were slaughtered as per Yahweh’s command and whose virgin women were kept alive for the Israelite men according to the biblical story, it’s understandable why the rabbi would want to avoid the subject at the close of the debate. His arguments about the complexity of the eye come from the Discovery Institute, an organization made up of Christian creationists.  To support his arguments against Hitchens’ critique of Chanukah, he cited Wikipedia, which is almost like citing Google.  The kippa on his head is the only difference between him and a raving Christian fundamentalist from the back woods of Tennessee.

hitchens owned shumley he just got to emotional

Hitchens a joke!! The Rabbi Boteach and Mr. Hitchens neither difinitively proved or diproved the existence of God!!! However hands down Rabbi Boteach was more knowledgeable and well spoken on science,history and theology and so much more. Hitchens was witty and candid and humorous and somewhat intellectual but not very sound, he lacked proof, honor and substance. However he did mention that a moral person could reason within himself morality without the belief in a “higher power”; what he said is that morality (as confirmed by the Rabbi)is innate in humans and that we as humans dont get nobility from religion but religion from us- leading to “man created God” not the other way around!!! This was powerful and astounding to hear........ but dont let your hearing decieve you. Man as in all time to the present shows (whether for religious beliefs in a higher spiritual authority OR NOT)is imperfect and can be subject to ruthlessness and pure wickedness. So it is in our best interest as a species to look to what will be a more productive and preserving way of life. Well, without the thought on this principle we could never achieve a greater society of morality...... and with thinking of merely what I think or what you think might be pure morality (because we are imperfect)we will never achieve that morality; because what you think is right would definitely conflict with what others believe to be right!!! So in finding TRUTH and MORALITY in its purest sense we must look to a higher /perfect being this my friend is all around us and its name is GOD!!!

I’m organizing a similar type debate and am looking for someone to take the atheist position.
Any recommendations on who I should contact?