Subscribe to this page via e-mail here - Subscribe
0719
Debate held in Biloxi, Miss., Mar. 24-26
The first nights Dr. Alt affirmed that the theory of evolution had been established by the scientific method. In his first speech he did not define his proposition and made little effort to prove it. In his second speech he surrendered his proposition when he acknowledged that no one had been able to prove how the universe originated and did not think anyone would be able to do so. Furthermore, he admitted that the origin of life had not been prove scientifically. After the close of the discussion on the first night, Alonzo Welch, chairman, suggested to Dr. Alt privately that since he had surrendered the proposition why not go on to the second proposition. Mr. Alt said that he wanted to deal with the fossils. The next night he hardly had enough bones to rattle.
More than once Alt appealed for faith in evolution by saying that the scientists and teachers in the various universities would not be teaching evolution if it were not true. After affirming that it had could be proved and had been proved by the scientific method he, in effect, told us to take it by faith which comes by hearing the words of the evolutionists. But he overlooked the following facts:
1) Darwin and others in his day accepted evolution because they had accepted the idea that all must be explained in terms of present day processes, and they had rejected the possibility that God had created things and life as set forth in the Bible.
2) Today many people assume that evolution was proved in the last century, and we today do not need to consider the question of evidence. It has already been settled. It is accepted in the environment in which they live.
3) There is pressure to accept it, for one is not considered educated or a scientist if he does not accept it.
4) Accepting evolution helps many people to put God farther away from them.
Dr. Alt accepted the hypothesis of vestigial organs and also the position that the life history of the embryo recapitulates or re-enacts the history of evolution. While he argued against God having given us a written record, in brief, of the creation, he found it easy to believe that matter in motion had written the story of evolution in the life history of the embryo.
After the second night, one student from Harding overheard one of Alt's supporters say that he thought Alt was a total failure the first night and even worse the second night. A man who was a cultural anthropologist and an evolutionist, told Jack Wood Sears in my and Dr. Alt's presence that it was unfair for Dr. Sears, a scientist, to debate a layman who, although he was well read, knew nothing about evolution. Dr. Sears told him that we had been invited to participate in the debate and had been told that Dr. Alt had good credentials. We learned that Alt had been endorsed by Madilyn Murray O'Hare who said that he could uphold his position. Furthermore, he had not only attended the Scopes trial in 1925 but from 1925-1929 had been a member pf an anthropological expedition in Australia dn African from 1929-1938.
On the third night Dr. Sears affirmed that Genesis is the most probable account of creation, and Dr. Alt did little to try to answer Sears' arguments. As his closing speech, which closed the debate, Dr. Alt read a copy of a letter which he had written to the editor. Among other things he said we are just animals, that what does it matter after all since you live but a short time ans then you do and that is it. He said one should not expect anything, and then he would he would not be disappointed, but if something food did come along one could enjoy it. The world, he said, was bad and getting worse. "This was the fruit of evolution. If we are just animals, why expect us to live like children of God?" He congratulated the churches of Christ for having treated him with a Christian spirit and more of this was needed in the world. Yet, his position undermined Christ.
Mr. Alt was pleasant in debate but did a poor job. Jack Woods Sears would have done a good job with any opponent. He did not need any help. I think James A. Harding, Jack Woods' great-grand-father, who was an outstanding debater, would have been proud of the job which Jack did in the debate. This debate proves these evolutionists can be debate.
VIEW NEXT REPORT >>
Print
Dr. Jack Wood Sears vs Dr. Ludwig Alt (Atheist)
June 26, 1975
Biloxi, Mississippi
(By James D. Bales)
June 26, 1975
Biloxi, Mississippi
(By James D. Bales)
Debate held in Biloxi, Miss., Mar. 24-26
The first nights Dr. Alt affirmed that the theory of evolution had been established by the scientific method. In his first speech he did not define his proposition and made little effort to prove it. In his second speech he surrendered his proposition when he acknowledged that no one had been able to prove how the universe originated and did not think anyone would be able to do so. Furthermore, he admitted that the origin of life had not been prove scientifically. After the close of the discussion on the first night, Alonzo Welch, chairman, suggested to Dr. Alt privately that since he had surrendered the proposition why not go on to the second proposition. Mr. Alt said that he wanted to deal with the fossils. The next night he hardly had enough bones to rattle.
More than once Alt appealed for faith in evolution by saying that the scientists and teachers in the various universities would not be teaching evolution if it were not true. After affirming that it had could be proved and had been proved by the scientific method he, in effect, told us to take it by faith which comes by hearing the words of the evolutionists. But he overlooked the following facts:
1) Darwin and others in his day accepted evolution because they had accepted the idea that all must be explained in terms of present day processes, and they had rejected the possibility that God had created things and life as set forth in the Bible.
2) Today many people assume that evolution was proved in the last century, and we today do not need to consider the question of evidence. It has already been settled. It is accepted in the environment in which they live.
3) There is pressure to accept it, for one is not considered educated or a scientist if he does not accept it.
4) Accepting evolution helps many people to put God farther away from them.
Dr. Alt accepted the hypothesis of vestigial organs and also the position that the life history of the embryo recapitulates or re-enacts the history of evolution. While he argued against God having given us a written record, in brief, of the creation, he found it easy to believe that matter in motion had written the story of evolution in the life history of the embryo.
After the second night, one student from Harding overheard one of Alt's supporters say that he thought Alt was a total failure the first night and even worse the second night. A man who was a cultural anthropologist and an evolutionist, told Jack Wood Sears in my and Dr. Alt's presence that it was unfair for Dr. Sears, a scientist, to debate a layman who, although he was well read, knew nothing about evolution. Dr. Sears told him that we had been invited to participate in the debate and had been told that Dr. Alt had good credentials. We learned that Alt had been endorsed by Madilyn Murray O'Hare who said that he could uphold his position. Furthermore, he had not only attended the Scopes trial in 1925 but from 1925-1929 had been a member pf an anthropological expedition in Australia dn African from 1929-1938.
On the third night Dr. Sears affirmed that Genesis is the most probable account of creation, and Dr. Alt did little to try to answer Sears' arguments. As his closing speech, which closed the debate, Dr. Alt read a copy of a letter which he had written to the editor. Among other things he said we are just animals, that what does it matter after all since you live but a short time ans then you do and that is it. He said one should not expect anything, and then he would he would not be disappointed, but if something food did come along one could enjoy it. The world, he said, was bad and getting worse. "This was the fruit of evolution. If we are just animals, why expect us to live like children of God?" He congratulated the churches of Christ for having treated him with a Christian spirit and more of this was needed in the world. Yet, his position undermined Christ.
Mr. Alt was pleasant in debate but did a poor job. Jack Woods Sears would have done a good job with any opponent. He did not need any help. I think James A. Harding, Jack Woods' great-grand-father, who was an outstanding debater, would have been proud of the job which Jack did in the debate. This debate proves these evolutionists can be debate.
VIEW NEXT REPORT >>
| Powered By |
| TheLordsWay.com |
| Click here to host your own church web site today! |
