Few events can draw out a crowd at UTSC-free cotton candy, lineups at Tim Hortons-but last Thursday, a bestselling author arguing against the existence of God, did not attract a shortage of students or opinions.
At least 150 of them gathered around a small stage outside Bluff’s restaurant, including organizer Justin Trottier of the Freethought Association of Canada. Trottier was assaulted two weeks ago at Ryerson while putting up posters for the event, which featured author Victor J. Stenger.
Stenger, a retired professor of physics and astronomy from the University of Hawaii, presented some of the ideas in his newest book God: The Failed Hypothesis-How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist.
Stenger’s main argument against the existence of God is that there is no scientifically observable evidence of His actions. This notion drew pointed questions from the audience, some of whom admitted to not being familiar with the book itself.
Questioning Stenger’s argument that a higher being would make his presence known if he is indeed moral, one student argued that God might test faith rather than rationalism. Others questioned what they saw as Stenger’s application of objective, scientific arguments to the subjective idea of a creator.
Though most who were in attendance took sides on Stenger’s arguments, the scientist-turned-philosopher said the apathetic should also have a vested interest in the debate.
“We’re going back to the basics and questioning not just the policies, but the superstitious thinking behind the policies,” said Stenger, who points to the U.S. as an instance where religion has overreached its influence on policy-making.
According to Stenger, topics such as combatting HIV/AIDS through condom use, stem-cell research, and global warming are some of the most pressing issues at stake.
“Until people start thinking rationally, none of this stuff is going to be taken care of,” Stenger said.
Raised as a Catholic until he “started thinking for himself,” Stenger’s first encounter with what he considered the negative impacts of religion came at a young age, when a playmate who lived down the street died of polio.
Yet grief for their lost child was not the only thing the playmate’s family had to go through.
“Rather than providing comfort, their religion added another burden, and that was guilt-they thought that God was paying off the debt,” said Stenger.
It was not until much later, that Stenger started actively working against the idea of the existence of a higher being.
“It was the misuse of science that really started getting to me.”
