Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Nightline Face-Off: Does God Have a Future? (Sam Harris and Michael Shermer vs. Deepak Chopra and Jean Houston)

Which god? Whose god? OK, seriously.

Chopra could pick anyone he wanted as his "second," and he chooses Jean Houston? Shermer made a WAY better choice in Sam Harris for his "second."

Sam Harris and Michael Shermer vs. Deepak Chopra and Jean Houston - on the future and usefulness and/or existence of god as a being or a concept.

This is a 12-part video, which should offer continuous play of all parts.



Enjoy the "discussion"!


3 comments:

Bob said...

Before this discussion I had no idea what a buffoon Deepak Chopra can be. Maybe he had too much wine beforehand or just had an off night, but I was actually embarrassed for him several times. Especially when the theoretical physicist from the audience challenged him. Jean Houston did not impress me either, with her rambling, off-point stories and blatant name dropping ("I was hanging out with Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King when MLK told us this funny story..."). Shermer and Harris can come across as dicks sometimes in these types of debates, but with Deepak shouting out of turn and repeatedly making a jackass out of himself, the two "arrogant atheists" seemed warm and fuzzy by comparison.

william harryman said...

When Chopra is the "star" he can be pretty coherent, but in discussion with others, yeah, he seems like a buffoon. I've had the misfortune of meeting Jean Houston and being in classes with her (SDi) and she is SO impressed with herself it's painful. What an unfortunate pair to represent the "faith" position.

Harris and Shermer CAN be asses, but all they needed to do here was let the other two speak and they win by default.

Peace,
Bill

Bob said...

In an alternate universe, one where Integral Institute embraces open dialogue, Ken Wilber would be on that stage, pushing the discussion in really exciting, fruitful directions. Oh well...