The Orange County Freethought Alliance is hosting a debate called “Does God of the Bible Exist?” on Dec 9, 2009 at the Costa Mesa Community Center, 1845 Park Avenue, Costa Mesa.
On Dec 9th, at the same location we are holding our Orange County Freethought Alliance Conference, we will be holding a Debate: "Does God of the Bible Exist?" where three Christian apologists will square off with three devout atheists. This debate will not discuss the traditional teleological, cosmological and ontological arguments for and against God's existence. Instead it will focus on the existence of the god of the Bible. The contradictions of his/her/it's existence as well as the ramifications of God's possible non-existence will be examined.
I plan to attend and will live blog the event. For those of you who want to poke me in the nose, I’m short with curly hair and will be dressed in black. For my friends, look for the guy with the big smile.
The Christians
Hugh Ross, Ph.D Astronomy, University of Toronto, former fellow at CalTech, and founder of Reasons to Believe. Ross and the RTB staff keep tabs on the frontiers of research and how it connects with biblical theology. Ross has written numerous books and debates frequently on these issues.
Clay Jones, M.Div - Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, is a professor at Biola University. Jones was host of a weekly, national call-in radio program, served as the executive director of Simon Greenleaf University, and has been on the pastoral staff of two large churches. Jones has authored numerous scholarly articles, speaks nationally, and has a forthcoming book, Why God Allows Evil
Dan Grossenbach, M.A. Christian Apologetics- Biola University. Teaches apologetics at Mount of Olives Church in Mission Viejo, is a contributor to the blogsite ApologeticJunkie.com, and is a federal criminal investigator by profession.
The Atheists
Mark Smith, Manatee Community College in Bradenton, FL and California State University - Long Beach, CA is a mechanical engineer by trade. A former Christian turned atheist, Smith now runs the website JCnot4me.com posting critical arguments challenging theists worldwide. Smith has formal debate training and competed in formal events on the college level and professionally in local churches
Bruce Flamm, M.D. Wake Forest University, Inland Empire Atheists & Agnostics club organizer, Freedom From Religion member, Coalition for Secular America advisory board member, and outspoken critic and writer against faith healing claims.
Alex Uzdaviness, fourth year undergrad at University of California – Irvine, CA studying psychology and social behavior and is a leader of the AAR (Atheists, Agnostics, & Rationalists) club on the UCI campus.
