Good debate opponents for Hovind?
11 Comments - 660 Views
Submitted By doctorofscience on 09/04/17
FreeHovind, doctorofscience, Creation and Evolution
A few days back, someone mentioned that Kenneth Miller would make a good debate opponent for Kent Hovind. That got me thinking: who else would make for an entertaining debate with Kent Hovind?
A few of my picks (I realize that Hovind isn't going to be debating anyone but prison guards and fellow inmates for few years to come - but hey, a man can dream):
Kenneth Miller
For those not familiar with him, he's a biologist, a fairly well-known proponent of the theory of evolution (having authored high school text books that include it), and was one of the expert witnesses in the Dover trial. As much as I respect Richard Dawkins, I think that Ken Miller is a much more engaging speaker - and he's fairly quick-witted as well (obviously, if he held is own in an interview with Stephen Colbert, a former improv performer). He's also a Roman Catholic, which would make it rather difficult for Hovind to resort to his usual "evolution is about religion vs secularism" false-dichotomy.
James Randi
Another engaging speaker, and a well-known debunker of pseudo-scientific claims. And if Hovind were dumb enough to invoke his $250,000 challenge, Randi has a ready-made counter argument - his $1,000.000 offer to anyone who can provide hard evidence of the supernatural. Not only that, but Hovind's dog-and-pony theatrics would appear (even more) amateurish if he were pitted against a former stage magician like James Randi.
Sadly, many of those who would make for particularly interesting debates are no longer among the living - Carl Sagan, Steven J. Gould, George Carlin, Douglas Adams (author of The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy), and Robert A. Heinlein.
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Isabella (WWDD)
12 hours - 1,085v
Posted 2009/04/18 - 0:02 GMT
I went to a seminar by James Randi a few months ago, and he was excellent. That was what inspired my very first topic on this forum, asking for evidence of a creator.
» Reply to CommentRe: Good debate opponents for Hovind?
I went to a seminar by James Randi a few months ago, and he was excellent.
I am unbelievably jealous! Randi is probably the best personification of the fact that the practice of science is not limited to "professional scientists."
That was what inspired my very first topic on this forum, asking for evidence of a creator.
Has he weighed in on the whole creationism/ID vs. evolution debate? I haven't come across any statements from him, but I'm sure he must have some interesting insight on the subject.
» Reply to CommentRe: Good debate opponents for Hovind?
No, he didn’t talk about creationism directly. But he covered many other interesting aspects of religion, like how faith healing is completely fabricated. He also shared stories about the various contestants in his 1 million dollar contest to prove the supernatural.
» Reply to CommentRe: Good debate opponents for Hovind?
He also shared stories about the various contestants in his 1 million dollar contest to prove the supernatural.
Maybe Hovind should take a stab at that - he could probably use the money!
» Reply to CommentRe: Good debate opponents for Hovind?
There is one debate that I found online. It's the most expensive debate video that Creation Science Evangelism sells. It's with Hugh Ross a "creationis" but Hugh believes the earth is billions of years old. The debate must be extensive because it's 3 discs. Hugh basically believes in 'progressive creation' or like Catholics believe 'evolution and GOD.' I've seen Hugh Ross on a Christian channel before. I believe he's an astronomer. It should be good. I don't know if the one online is edited or not, but I'm going to check it out right now. Here's the debate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNuHuG517lI
Here's the site with extensive DVD of the debate between Ross and Hovind.
http://shopping.drdino.com/product-exec/product_id/84/nm/Dr_Hovind_vs_Dr_Hugh_Ross_Debate_Series_on_DVD/category_id/36
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Kent shouldn’t debate with scientists, because he’s not a scientist himself. It’s clear from that debate that the scientific evidence goes way over his head. After Ross explains telescopes with six thousand mile diameters, red-shifted light and quasars, Hovind replied, “I taught trigonometry, I know how this works.” And then he goes on to claim that you cannot use trig to measure distances that far. Sorry Kent, but high school trigonometry is not radiophysics. I actually feel embarrassed for him.
» Reply to CommentRe: Good debate opponents for Hovind?
I'll have to see the whole DVD, because it cuts Hovind off at every end. Another one of my favorites is when Hovind debates Dr. Shermer. Dr. Shermer wrote the book 'How to Debate a Creationist.' This online video is unedited here I believe. Edited videos are almost worthless. So here's Hovind and Dr. Shermer.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS252&q=kent+hovind+debate+video&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv&ei=lVHpSbTzDZOitgPT1MzjAQ&oi=property_suggestions&resnum=0&ct=property-revision&cd=1#
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If you can't paste it google it.
» Reply to CommentRe: Good debate opponents for Hovind?
Kent shouldn't debate students either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGfhAevhy_0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lekYXLgTZeU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvkHoMXAc7M
As far as Shermer, he is not a good debater since he let so many of Hovind's lies go. Shermer should stick to his (admittedly good) magazine.
» Reply to CommentRe: Good debate opponents for Hovind?
aaah i love that.
i listen to that and i laughed myself half to death. complete lack of biology hovind has.
QUIT WITH THE ANALOGIES BETWEEN INANIMATE THINGS AND LIVING THINGS HOVIND!
IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE!
IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE!
» Reply to CommentRe: Good debate opponents for Hovind?
Kent shouldn’t debate with scientists, because he’s not a scientist
himself. It’s clear from that debate that the scientific evidence goes
way over his head.
Agreed. I'd commented earlier that Hovind seems to have no compunctions about "fighting dirty" in debates (using arguments that are clearly fallacious, making personal attacks directed at his opponents, etc). IMO, he resorts to those tacts because he's in over his head when it comes to debating professional/trained scientists.
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