DEBATES

Here are some themes that we wil be debating in some of our meetings

1. Science and Religion
2. New Age Issues
3. About Alliens, Monsters and Mythical Creatures
4. Religious Education

Related Links:

Debating: A free how to guide

Monash Association of debaters guide to debating (pdf)

Our Debates:

1. Science and religion

• Are science and religion compatible? (Beware of defining the meaning of "compatible")
• Is evolution theory compatible with theistic beliefs? (Beware of the meaning of "theism" and "deism")
• Can we explain the origin of the Universe without a concept of God?
• Is morality the result of neurobiolgical activity or is given to us by a deity?

Suggested Readings for this debate

Daniel c. Dennett and Alvin Plantinga (2011)-Science and Religion. Are they Compatible? Point/Counterpoint. Oxford University Press This book presents two arguments for and against the compatibility of evolution theory and its compatibility with religious belief in God. Daniel Dennet is a well known philosophersdefending atheistic point of view. Alvin Plantinga is a philosopher who defends the Theistic and Christian approach.

Paul Krutz and Barry Karr Eds.(2011)-Science and Religion. Are they Compatible? The Centre for Inquiry. Prometheiws Books

2. New Age Issues

• Healing, crystals, homeopathy and any other quackery...
• Universal Consciousness

3. About Alliens, Monsters and Mythical Creatures

‘Aliens use my body’: Sydney-based medium claims to communicate with extraterrestrials

4. Religious Education

a).Should the State fund religious schools?

Related Articles

• Taxpayers' cash should not be used to fund faith schools, say voters (The Guardian)
• Faithschools must not be funded by us (The Independent)
• Should Faith-run Schools Recieve Government Funding?
• Faiths Schools: Arguments for and against
• Should the State fund faith based schools? A review of the arguments (Robert Jackson (2003)-British Journal of Religious Education Vol 25 (2))
• Should the State fund religious schools? (Michael S. Merry (2007)- Journal of Applied Philosophy, Vol. 24, No. 3, )

b). Should Schools Offer Religious Education?

• Schools must teach children that Britain is a Christian country (The Telegrapth)
• The Guardians vew on Religious Education in Schools: Don't trash it, transform it (The Guardian)
• Schools told to end religius instruction and teach morality in stead (The Independent)
• Should Religion be Taught in Schools? ( Debate.org)

Notes for the debate:Define the terms education, instruction, proselytising and indoctrination

• Neill Harvey-Smith (2011)-The Practical Guide to Debating - Worlds Style
• Debbie Newman (2013)-Pros and Cons: A Debaters Handbook 19th Ed. Routledge
• Simon Quinn(2013)- Debating in the World Schools Style: A guide. iDebatePress
• Monash Association of debaters guide to debating (downloadeable pdf)