Our first Backyard Skeptics meeting which actually happened in my backyard last night was a huge success.  Doug and Jim form Calvary Chapel, both creationists, and Gary and Carroll, both evolutionists debated for over 2 hours with about 28 people attending and asking their questions.  The surrounding were very comfortable and pizza and soft drinks were served. 

Even though this debate was quite civil, it did have its exciting moments.  Both sides brought up questions for the other side, and many issues were examined.  Many attendees came up and said this was one of the best creation/evo debates they have witnessed. 

It's my pleasure to offer my house for these gatherings, and I hope to have many more.

Since I am in the video business, I taped the debate with two of my high-end professional cameras and will be selling the DVDs for a whopping $7 plus 3 for shipping in about two weeks.  You can order with a simple email and a credit card.

Had a good lunch today with Ray Comfort.  Why do you ask - would I consider spending an hour with an evangelical Christian preacher saving should through open-air preaching?  Isn't he the 'enemy'?  Previously, we spoke to each other at the pier, and even though we have several major disagreements, we also exchanged some thoughts on what we do agree on.  I thought it was a worthwhile venture - and it was.

Ray generally thinks most atheists are like the one's he debates on national TV.  Of course, those atheist debaters pull no punches and lets Ray have it - and sometimes not in a nice, gentle way!  I wanted to let him know that most unreligious people and atheists are just like him, you and me - trying to make a living and stay afloat while seeking their own truth about our natural world.

Ray introduced me to his wife, his CFO, and all the other employees of his 'Living Ministries' non-profit center in Bellflower, CA.  Even though I introduced myself as "Bruce - the good atheist" everyone was friendly and even chuckled a bit at the obvious ironic intro (an atheist visiting an all-jesus-loving, bible-thumping ministry). 

Before lunch, Ray showed me his bicycle he rides to work every day.   I learned he doesn’t own a car, but borrows his wife's car when he needs to. He doesn't like faith healers (a common opinion with me) and doesn't like the Catholics church's spending policies.  In a short recorded interview after lunch, he said he doesn't consider himself 'religious' - meaning he is trying to save souls through his ministry and doesn't belong to any Christian denomination.  His ministry is a 501C3 non-profit group and his income is listed for the public to see.  He owns the same $195,000 house that he purchased 19 years ago.   He fly’s coach everywhere he goes, and doesn't ask for any fee for speaking - only if the congregation takes a collection does he get paid.  He does ask for 1000 in attendance due to some previously low-attended seminars he have to somewhere in Idaho far from any airport or major city.

Even though we are world's apart theoletically, Ray impressed me with many humorous and sometimes corny jokes and gags around his office, was genuinely friendly, humble and honest.   I hope he learned from our lunch that all atheists are not like the one's on TV. I learned that all preachers on TV are not like the one's - well, on TV!  

This blog entry proves that some ideas can be agreed upon - even with the widest separation of ideologies.  Maybe it could be a lesson for other extreme thinkers.

Went to see Ray at the pier again today - I decided not to talk to Ray on camera, although I did answer the question 'do you ever lie" to another evangelist.  Basically their questions are easy to debate - they are there to save souls, and not versed on a well educated debate.  If you give them the floor, they will ask 5 rhetorical questions leading you to the answer they want.  They answer mostly with Bible quotations.  I did however, find some young Christians that did have many answers for me:

Where did the universe come from? Do you believe that we came about from evolution and how? If you have no God, how can you be moral?

It was a pleasure to answer these young impressionable minds with the seeds of a rational-thinker.

Also I have modified my thoughts on what type of people approach me at the pier: 1: hardcore ranting Christians, 2:athiest and agnostics, 3: people that say they are Christians, but have many questions for me and are sincere in their quest for knowledge. This means I have the rare chance to talk with total strangers and plant the seed of the rational though process. 

Ray was his charming self again - and we even exchanged numbers to have lunch sometime.  Although he is a horrible debater, he's a genuinely nice guy - as long as he isn't trying to save your soul!

First I would like top thank several of our Backyard Skeptics members coming down to support me. 

We finally met Ray at the HB pier today.  We first saw that he was promising to give away $40 if anyone could prove they were a good person (rom the bible's view, of course).  It took only 10 seconds for him to ask if we were atheist (easy to see with our signs) and invited us to speak at his set-up microphones and cameras.  I was reluctant, because I really did not go there to confront or debate with him, but I knew he might not leave us alone, so I stood straight up and prepared for my fist real public debate.  

I was quite nervous to be honest, but stood my ground on the develpment of morality, lust and evolution.  Frank (the one in the photo) then talked for another 20 minutes on the mike.   Ray relinquished the mike while another preacher/evangelist, Mark, took the mic. See below for the youtube ink.   Amazingly, some of the crowd (about 30-40) was with me on some of my issues.   I met both Ray, Mark and anothe preacher Steve later and all were courteous and respectful.   I'm hesitant to debate him again, but my main purpose of giving an alternative to religion was met, as I was approached by a couple that didnt know if atheists even had social meetings such as the Backyard Skeptics.   

I've always had an interest of having an evangelic speak at one of the many atheist or skeptics groups, but as I personally experience some of the weak arguments they have, that hope is fading quickly.

Francois and I went down to visit Ray Comfort, an outspoken preacher who tries and save people at the Huntington Beach pier.  We had two 2’x3’ signs, one which said “There are no gods, no angles, no devils, no heaven or hell.  There is just the natural world we live in.  Religion is only myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds”  The other one said “if you REALLY want to know what the bible says, visit EVILBIBLE.com”



This was my first experience with the public and free speech, so I really did not know what to expect.  I was determined to stay calm at all times, let others speak, and remain in control of the conversation.



We didn’t see Ray there, (he visits the pier sporadically) but even though predicted rains were on the horizon – it was a perfectly sunny day at the pier at about 72 degrees



I did not go to confront Ray not to preach atheism, but rather to answer questions of agnostics and to meet other skeptics.  I definitely did not go there to change anyone’s minds, but maybe place a minuscule doubt that the Almighty might not exist.



Nearly all of the people that came up to us were pleasant and polite.  We had our first encounter with Richard, a man about 50 who said Jesus brought him out of a depressed suicidal condition. We talked for about 25 minutes about his experience. I mentioned that there might have been any one of hundreds of other ways he could have been persuaded to move on with his life, but of course he was adamant about the way he choose.