Is faith in God warranted? (Smith vs. Dehler)

Venue: Confirmed. Beaverton Activities Center, in the large conference room.
12500 SW Allen Blvd., Beaverton, OR

Admission: Free

Topic: Is faith in God warranted?

Abstract: People place faith in all kinds of things, but some things aren't worthy of faith. For example, a cancer patient may place their faith in their doctor, and a child may place their faith in Santa to deliver a present to them on Christmas morning. Is faith in God a faith in a real person (as Christians think) or is it placing faith in an imaginary character like Santa Claus (as the atheist believes)?

Phil Smith is a Philosophy Professor at George Fox University. Phil is the author of "Why Faith is a Virtue" at this link: http://tinyurl.com/n6j487n

Bernie Dehler is the author of a free online ebook called "Modern Science and Philosophy Destroy Christian Theology" at this link: http://tinyurl.com/q6kz88k

The debate is moderated by Justin Gray, a graduate of Canby Bible School.

Format: -- Opening presentations: 15 min. each
(30 min. total)
-- Interchange: 10 min. for each in the driver's seat
(20 min. total)
-- Audience Q&A (live interaction, not written questions):
(40 min.)

-> Total content time = 1 hr. 30 min. (not including moderation time)

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/8/6/6/600_429790342.jpeg

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/c/c/0/600_430436512.jpeg

More information about Bernie Dehler:

• Has a Bachelor's degree in electronics engineering and has been working at a large computer design company since 1984
• Earned a Masters in Ministry degree from a Baptist seminary in in 2007, then left the faith and became an atheist in 2009 (after being raised a Catholic then becoming a born-again evangelical Christian for over 25 years)
• Humanist Celebrant certified by The Humanist Society. Promotes naturalism, atheism, etc. in workplace and prison groups as a volunteer. Is Chairman of the Board for Sunday Assembly Portland, a secular "church without the god bits" group. Runs "The Center for Philosophical Naturalism" and "Westside Science and Religion Discussion Group" in Portland Oregon.
• Very active in formal Christian/atheist debates in the Portland area, which can be seen online for free here: http://tinyurl.com/pcz2ak5 . Bernie has had formal debates with the following Christians:
• Eric Hovind (President of "Creation Today")
• Phil Smith, Ph.D., Philosophy Professor at George Fox University and Christian author
• Steve Gregg (president of "Narrow Path Ministry" and author of "Revelation: Four Views")
• Jeremy Wallace, D.Min., Dean at Canby Bible College; Also Ben Clifton, adjunct instructor at Canby Bible College
• Bart Rask, MD. Author of the anti-evolution book "Evolution By Affirming the Consequent: Scientific Challenges to Darwin's Theory of Evolution"
• Nathan Lewis, senior pastor at Evergreen Presbyterian Church in Beaverton, OR.
• Dennis Marcellino, author of numerous Christian theology and self-help books
• David McCorkle, Ph.D. Biology professor emeritus, Western Oregon State University.
• Rick Livingston, online show called "Counsel Here"
• Brandon Church, member of "Design Science Association"