Last night saw the screening of ‘Collision‘, a combined event for the UWA Christian Union and the UWA Atheist and Agnostic Society.
Festivities actually got started earlier in the day, as Ben Rae (from the Christian Union) and I got together on RTRFM for a interview on Morning Magazine.
It went pretty well — I only had one brain fart, which is pretty good for that time of day.
The real action happened at night, when 300 people packed the UWA Tav. Sincere apologies to everyone that had to be turned away. We had an inkling that it would be big, but in retrospect, maybe we should have hired the Octagon. Wait — no beer in the Octagon. Oh, well.
First was the film, and it was great to see Christopher Hitchens at his most fluid and incisive. Douglas Wilson was a surprisingly tenacious fighter, and some of his arguments made me think, I must confess.
Then the discussion with me and Ben. I noticed a couple of things. One, people stuck around for it and didn’t just leave after the film. That was a nice surprise. The other was how quiet the audience was. You’d think 300 tavern-goers would form a boisterous crowd, but they didn’t. It was scary-quiet. I suppose the civilised nature of the documentary set the tone. There was an exception: toward the end one biology maniac could no longer restrain himself, and began explaining to everyone loudly about mirror neurons. There’s always one. I did appreciate the assist, though.
Anyway, I think I managed to address the strengths of atheism, and Ben had a chance to get his message out, too. Overall, a very successful evening, and a fun time.
There were cameras, and we’re working on a YouTube version of the discussion. In the meantime, here is a still.
If you were there, put your impressions of the night in comments.
6 August 2010 at 8:45 am
Ha ha, too much beer for that biology nut (I hear he's more of an English major and really has no business dabbling in scientific discussion!). It's strange, M and I watched the film about a week prior to the screening (which turned out to be a good idea as beer and concentration don't always go hand in hand (unless you're a poet and alcohol has done wonders in that field) and we were able to engage with it a little differently) and both times, to us, Hitchens comes off way better than, um … Wilson, and looked like a brave move from the UWACU. This was then reflected in the discussion later (Midgely > Ben). However, surely there is no way a Christian Union would screen a debate between these two if, conversely, they didn't feel that Wilson came off better in the movie than Hitchens … I liked your point, that you can really only be talking to the fence-sitters and doubters, those from both sides who're unsure; otherwise the conversations are cyclical…
Loved the night. Thanks to both the UWACU and the UWAA&AS.
8 August 2010 at 1:06 pm
Hey Biology Nut! I saw how much beer you drank and I don't think it can be blamed!
But honestly Daniel, I know the discussion was very civilised and all, and maybe you have just had more practise at deep-breathing when asked ridiculous questions, but some of us were getting very frustrated!
There is such thing as being too civilised/diplomatic. I don't think there was enough emotion.
Let us know when the next event is on and we will be sure to be early so as not to be turned away!
8 August 2010 at 2:19 pm
I have to tell you, I don't think I would have taken things too much differently if I had the chance. And that's not just because of civility.
It's this: In any conflict between Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny wins.
My goal was to be Bugs and not Daffy. I didn't have to bat down every point. I could tell what the audience was going for, and what they weren't. I let a lot of things go, but only when I could tell that the point had been made, and the audience knew it. That freed me up to say other things I wanted to get across.
9 August 2010 at 7:42 am
Great analogy- I think you were successful Bugs. I'll practise my deep-breathing and meditation for future events.