There is a talk on creation and evolution happening in the Sanlamsaal in the Neelsie tomorrow (5th Feb) at 13:00. I’m planning on attending to see what it’s all about. I know it’s short notice, but it would be good if more skeptics can join in. I don’t know too many details, but I believe it is arranged by the Shofar church, so expect the usual flawed arguments put forth by creationists.
Darn! Stellenbosch is a bit of a haul from here, especially for just one day. Is there a chance of recording the talk and posting it in, say, MP3 format? Because it would be interesting to find out what unique spin, if any, is put on the creation arguments. Also, Dr 'Luthon64 and I would be prepared to transcribe (and translate if necessary) the talk.
'Luthon64
I will not be able to record it - but I’ll try to make notes on the arguments they present.
Was just listening to PZ Myers’ (“Pee Zee” as the Americans call him - I am a lot more comfortable with “Pee Zed”) being interviewed on the Skeptics Guide to the Universe Podcast #135 and he was saying that he finds it such a waste of time debating with creationists!
Sorry you have to waste your time listening to what the creationists have to offer. For some entertainment, see how many of these you can tick off - How to Argue Like a Creationist.
Indeed, these talks are not really set up for any sort of debate.
It pretty much played out as I expected. The speaker was Don Batten. And he had the usual array of flawed argument, out of context quotes and catch phrases to convince the uninformed masses and produce either an amused smile or a disapproving nod from people who actually knew the subject matter.
There wasn’t much time for questions afterwards, the highlight was probably someone asking the speaker ‘Why God created dinosaurs?’. There was also someone, I didn’t catch the name or website he advertised, who apparently wrote a book on ‘God by evolution’ or something like that. It might be this guy: http://www.godbyevolution.com/
There is another one of these on 27 August at lunch time: psychohistorian.org: Creationism on Maties campus
Transcript of the previous talk: psychohistorian.org: Dr DJ Batten of Creation Ministries International
A transcript of the last talk is here: Noah’s flood - CMI, Silvestru and Shofar at it again
Thanks Auke!