Lowder-Fernandez debate (Naturalism vs Theism) online for free

[Brian63]

Previously available through purchase only, but now freely available:

http://secularoutpost.blogspot.com/2006/09/lowder-fernandes-debate-now-freely.html

My computer does not have the techno-power to download such a thing. Anyone else here see it and can give any thoughts?

Brian

[luvluv]

Lowder opened up with 8 independent arguments for naturalism, which included arguments on the dependency of the mind on the brain, the evidence for evolution, the argument from evil, and the argument from reasonable unbelief.

Fernandez countered primarily with an extended presentation of the kalaam argument, the teleological argument, the moral argument, and the argument of the ultimate meaninglessness of life without God.

I thought Lowder did a better job of interacting with Fernandez's points than Fernandez did of interacting with Lowder's, though there was a bit of speaking past each other on both sides.

The two seem to be friends (or at least friendly) and while I wasn't always satisfied with Fernadez's arguments I was very pleased with his humility and graciousness in responding to the questions of the majority atheist audience. When he didn't know how to respond to a question he admitted he didn't know and he did so in a compassionate, non-confrontational way.

I personally was unconvinced by most of Lowder's comments, but I thought he won the debate. Much of what he said I thought was simply irrelevant to the probability of theism (such as his argument that the mind was dependent on the brain) and of what was relevant, I thought there were many cognent available replies. However, Fernandez didn't always give the best available response to Lowder's arguments, so I'd have to concede the day to Lowder in this instance.