Preparing the Belk Auditorium last Thursday, I was both expectant and tense. That night’s event — a debate titled “Is America a Christian Nation?” — would be the first time I would have my newfound beliefs challenged by someone other than students or their parents.
The debate proceeded without a hitch, and I doubt anyone left offended or frustrated. As for me, I felt nothing but confusion.
I questioned Chaplain Moore — both during the debate and afterwards — about his work with Roy Moore, who had gained so much attention for his Ten Commandments monument in the Alabama Supreme Court building. Barreling through all the permutations of our discussion, there remained one point that stuck with me: Nonbelievers have no moral basis for their actions.
I had believed up to that point that there was no moment where debate could just stop, no moment where the lines drawn between believer and nonbeliever were rigid and impassable. But I hit one that night. There was no available quote or counterpoint: the sides were drawn, and that was that.
I think these moments are important for us to recognize, because they are the moments most dangerous to the religious debate. They are the moments where misunderstandings and stereotypes creep in.
An example of this is the evolution debate, hashed until it seems unrecognizable. Supporters talk themselves breathless to creationists, until finally they hit that mental silence. They label believers ignorant or unscientific, giving nonbelievers this stigma of elitism which destroys our best efforts at dialogue.
Confronted with the same moment, what was I supposed to do? Give up on trying to engage in debate? Just write off those opinions on my morality to a stereotypical, “damn thee to hell” religious mentality? No. That would jeopardize rather than accomplish understanding. Perhaps this is being too idealistic, but there is no moment where discussion has to stop. We can — and should — talk until our voices give out with it, and we should never be cowed by a belief that seems so unassailable. Assail it; confront it meaningfully and vigorously. You may never be sure of the reward.
The Daily Gamecock > Viewpoints
Both sides must keep debate alive
Avoid religious labeling by engaging in conversations
Published: Monday, November 2, 2009
Updated: Sunday, November 1, 2009
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One of the grand flaws in the reasoning of believers is that morality only comes from their god-based beliefs. It is a very popular argument; one that believers use to place themselves on the moral high ground, but a purely false premise.