BeIR/webis-touche2020 huggingface dataset:
Religion has no explanatory power

Explanatory power is the ability to demonstrate why a certain proposition is the way it is. If you say that you believe that we were created by God, you have to show how your religious text explains it. In other words, how did God create humans? Do not just say that he did using magic because that is not an explanation. If you cannot demonstrate your belief, then I win because you have failed to demonstrate your religion's explanatory power. Because I am unable to, and I have been unable to, find any religion that has any sort of explanatory power, I have concluded that religion has none. It is on you to show otherwise. You may choose any religion. You can pick any claim out of any religious book. For example, the Bible speaks of Jesus' resurrection; however, it never goes into depth in explaining how he was resurrected, only that he did. I want explanations, not hearsay. Pick wisely because your claim must have an explanation. I made this 2 rounds too, so his is my last round. Voters remember that the onus is on him (those are the rules I set down for the debate. If my opponent dos not like it, then he should not have accepted the debate). I will make any rebuttals to his argument if necessary in the comments section.
Religion has no explanatory power

In this debate, my opponent must be able to demonstrate that religion (any of his/her choosing, probably Christianity) does have explanatory power: that it can demonstrate why x is the case (x can any morality, any religious teaching). If I say that humans came out of Africa about 100,000 years ago, I have to demonstrate why that is true. I would use mDNA evidence along with fossil evidence. If a religion says that man is at the center of this universe, then it has to demonstrate why that is the case. The fact that we are not even at the center of our own solar system would show this is not the case. I am under the conclusion right now that religion has no explanatory power because I cannot possibly research every segment of every religion; therefore, the onus is on my opponent to show religion's explanatory power. I will wait for my opponent to pick a religion.
Overall Life will be more Happy if you Accept some kind of Higher Being is real

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Overall Life will be more Happy if you Accept some kind of Higher Being is real

I attend a Lutheran Christian church but do not follow the Bible very closely and is more of just a weekly social event for myself, I have a very basic belief in God and that is that my conscious tells me what is right and wrong not a book and if I ever need someone to talk to when I feel alone or someone to go on a rant about my problems to God is always their. No slaves were not happy being slaves, Children were not happy being mutilated but the modern day 84 percent of the world whom have faith and the third that are Christians are not enslaving or mutilating kids, While a very small minority might follow some of the greatly outdated verses in the Bible many have adapted with the Bible to the modern world. 84 percent of the worlds population is not homophobic if we turn to pew research it states that 60 percent of Americans, 80 percent of Canadians, And nearly 90 percent of Germans and Spaniards said society should accept homosexuality. America, Germany and Canada all of religious rates for Christianity at about %70 of the country showing the the large part of Christians would indeed support homosexuals of which I would say wouldn't these homosexuals enjoy have the support of the majority of most country's? In comparison just 16 percent of Russians surveyed by the Pew Research Center in 2014 said society should accept homosexuality and Russia by comparison has only a religious rate of about 49% in 2019. I personally attend a weekly visit to my Church and no their are not kids being mutilated anywhere around my area and while I believe this practice to be prevalent in some country's I think like other parts of the Bible it has become outdated and the majority of people have adapted to what is right in modern day. You are indeed correct that I do not turn to God for guidance but rather but treat him more as a friend to turn to in need which is where I believe and agree that many people do go wrong with strict followings of different religious doctrine but while I recognize I am viewing this from a heavily isolated town's church compared to the majority of the world I do not see many being theists and I suppose we do agree on this that strict following of religion and the belief that turning to a higher spirit is a good form of guidance is wrong but I still believe that the world is modernizing and with it old strict following of religion is dying and a newer more open form is taking place one that treats God as a friend who will always be their to help you in need but allow you your own free will and this form of following is certainly of a more happy lifestyle. Thank you for a great debate.
Overall Life will be more Happy if you Accept some kind of Higher Being is real

What Pro does not understand is that this belief leaves you susceptible for believing in other far-fetched ideas that have similar kind of evidence like God. Let see the facts. 84 percent of the world population believe in some sort of faith. A third are Christian. Pro is in the minority like non-theists, Agnostics, Atheists etc. Going by this I can conclude that people who do accept a higher being are less happy. My questions were not answered and I await for them to be answered. If not then he is pretty much excluding the 84 percent that do follow a God which is more prevalent that what he is. (Would like to know what you call yourself either you can add it in the Round following or in the comments). 84 percent of the world population has faith; a third are Christian (Washington Post) What you are referring to are the vast majority of theists that pick and choose. I would call them followers. The people in charge do have information on this and they are what the followers refer to if they have questions about their Bible or whatever it maybe. They do not deny slavery was a thing allowed in the Bible and somehow make as though it is a good thing. I would say you are talking about fundamentalists. If I go by what PewResearch are stating they make up something less than 1. 3 percent since all the other sections of the pie chart are not fundamentalists. I wasn't speaking about fundamentalists instead the majority of the Bible sect Catholicism which do not deny slavery or there views on homosexuals. Since I am sure there are more homosexuals than fundamentalists. Homosexuals would be less happy being persecuted by a small minority and also 84 per cent of the population if they do have the same homosexual views. Global Christianity (Pew Research) Children went through genital mutilation and I don't see you denying it. Instead you are basically saying ignorance is bliss. Due to their lack of concern for what they believing in they are happy. Lets count up the simple trip every Sunday to the local Church. It would be around 30. Times by 53 and then times by the average age of death 70. So basically you think it is okay to live with illusions for 129, 850 minutes of your life. So you are basically say we still have aspirations with God? It is a given really because what you are advocating is basically some form of deism which most of the world population does not subscribe to. God cannot be perceived with our senses so you are advocating for people to live with their illusions not remove it and find actual meaning in life not something they cannot even see. I agree with you but hardly anyone follows a deist or whatever form of God you follow. 84 percent of the population are theists which barely gives room for deists to be the vocal part of God believers. People want a path. Not someone to look over them and not saying anything. Which is why they like stories which tell them what to do instead of realising it themselves. You I am sure only state God as the person looking over you but do not ask him for guidance instead I am sure you find your own.
Overall Life will be more Happy if you Accept some kind of Higher Being is real

Let us remember this is no debate over the existence of a higher being merely a debate over if the belief in one is beneficial to ones happiness. For myself I believe in a God but I subscribe to no single religion to believe in a higher being you do not need to only follow a specific doctrine. Simply because the Bible does not discuss the issue of slavery is simply irrelevant to most who strictly follow it as "God's word" as for those who follow the bible to each letter find that it brings answers for them in certain moral questions and while the Bible brings wrongful answers to some such as it's harshness against homosexuals people feel they do not have to debate with themselves about what is right or wrong all they must do is follow the Bible and that for some people makes them more happy. Again my opponent discusses the specifics of Christianity and it's own faults but believing a higher spirit for the majority of Christians let's does not involve genital mutilation for most it's a simple trip every Sunday to their local church not a strict life lives by the church and this weekly ability to feel forgiven for the wrongdoings of a week is of great comfort to many. Aspirations still exist with God and it's a basic human quality to know that if they feel as if they are being watched in every action one commits they will most likely think twice about doing something that would be frowned upon in public. For many God has tangible ways of happiness, Nature for one and especially myself is a thing of such beauty that I only believe to be created by a genius being, When life gives tough decisions, Stresses and those leaving us on Earth like grandparents, Parents, Siblings to be able to believe that they are now resting in heaven where I will reunite with them upon death brings me real happiness. Life should not be spent trying to please a God I agree with my opponent on that but for those who's faith is unwavering and they wish to spread God's word let them for they think it is one of joy and happiness and for those who listen I say let them for they find comfort in knowing their always someone to turn to in times of crisis. Everyone should recognize that to be happy in life they need friends, A good job and a lifelong companion of sorts but like everything on this planet all of these come and go so to have one constant in life for your entire life, A God that you know is always their for you does bring more happiness.
Overall Life will be more Happy if you Accept some kind of Higher Being is real

I will arguing for why you shouldn't accept a higher being for meaning because it does not make you happy. 1. There is no evidence for such a being. Since believing in God almost always means you subscribe to a specific doctrine. You are susceptible of learning bad ideas. Lets take Christianity. No where in its holy book does it state that they are against human property or slaves. It was congress who freed the slaves and the civil war. Not the Bible because it does not condemn slavery. Were the slaves happy being slaves? 2. Genital mutilationAlmost every single male child would go through this and some female children in Christianity. The child is being harmed in the process and during that time the childs reactions to anything that it does not understand would be crying. Now put the child into a situation where it will be painful. Now you allowing your personal beliefs to harm your child. There is no health reasons for having your genitals mutilated so basically it is about belief by that every single Christian child would go through this if there parents forced it upon them not because it is right. Were children happy having their genitals mutilated? 3. Lets take the most happy inducing thing I can think of. Sex. Is the Nun happy not having sex since she took a vow to say she wouldn't? 4. I think everyone goes to a phase of what am I going to with your life? The problem I have is that actually finding meaning in life do not have false hope on a God which you have to take a leap of faith until you die. By that if you were wrong about the existence of your God you have wasted all your life trying to please It. What I would say is find something real like a significant other or friends. Realise the worst can happen to them and the time they are alive you hopefully enjoy each others company. Another way to find meaning is through work. . To do this simply find what you like and do it. Doing this instead of having a really tedious desk job you can have a not so tedious job that you like. I have pointed 2 ways you can find meaning without God which is tangible happiness not a lie. I don't think I am meant to be rebutting in this Round so I will wait until the next Round.
Overall Life will be more Happy if you Accept some kind of Higher Being is real

Happy: feeling or showing pleasure or contentment. Higher Being: God, God's, Reincarnation anything more than life on Earth essentially a religion of any sort Accept meaning to believe in. The Earth we live on is one of great beauty inhabited by the most magnificent species of all time, Humans or more scientifically put homosapiens. The creation of such beauty has been one of debate for many millenniums and many have turned to the warship of a God or the idea of reincarnation after death to explain that of which science could not for many years but with new breakthroughs everyday the question must be asked "is life happier with a higher being in it? " The thought of death scares almost everyone but why, Well most likely because most feel they still have more to do on Earth or for those who are content they wish to not their accomplishments or family members behind therefor making death the most formidable things know to man kind. With acceptance of a higher being though this great fear of death can be put to rest for many, The thought of a heaven where upon death you will be with friends and family forever or reincarnation giving hope to those who feel they have accomplishment little that in the next life they can do bigger better things and leave a mark on the world. Our planet is one of such vastness with such rich history but many are forgotten through time and this to is a formidable fear of many, It can be mind boggling to say the least when sitting their for an 8 hour shift at an office job and wondering whats the purpose in all of this, Why am I not doing some more important something I will be remembered for? Questions that wander into the mind of most all can be answered through religion of a sort for if their is belief in something above Earth then for many it is no longer a worry that after death they will merely be forgotten to time. The mind is an incredible instrument of the human body but it often strays while looking up to the stars on a clear night or staring at the great vastness of the ocean and brings thoughts into question of being forgotten in time and living another pointless life like many before but religion brings solace to these unanswerable questions. With something more then just life on Earth many can feel that despite the life they live on Earth no matter how small or how insignificant their is more after death weather it be another chance, Pure energy or eternal happiness in heaven a higher being brings happiness.
(History suggests) Muslims have killed more than Christians in the name of their god.

(History suggests) Muslims have killed more than Christians in the name of their god. This debate is to see if Muslims have killed more people in the name of their religion than Christians. My arguments will be displayed in Round two, a way of reliving pressure when Con accepts a the debate. Expect anyone who takes this to have a good knowledge of the History of Islam and Christianity to modern day, also the History the Middle East and North Africa, Byzantium, Coptic Christianity (Patriarch of Alexandria) and military conflicts there. >>Definitions<< Muslim - an adherent of Islam [Islam - the religious faith of Muslims including belief in Allah as the sole deity and in Muhammad as his prophet] Christian - one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Kill - to deprive of life : to cause the death of. From: [http://www.merriam-webster.com......] >>Concepts<< In this debate it's important that you understand what qualifies as murder in the name of a God. The following criteria must be fulfilled: -They direct reasoning for that murder must relate to a god. IG a Hezbollah(party of god) militias fighting a war against Israeli armies. -If asked the primary reason of that person must be I did for God, Country and God is acceptable, but with the notion of "what is for God" and what "God supports(God on our side)". So the Crusades would count but not the war for Jenkin's Ear. -It doesn't matter if the murder is justified, it still counts. -That murder must be committed by a person of that of that religion. -The event of the murders must have taken place according to Historical body; Citation would be needed from a valid source. -The murder victim can be anyone not necessarily a Muslim or Christian, so an executed heretic or a Jew would skill at to the kill count. -Other rules may exist but must be assumed to a reasonable doubt. For con to win he must Reason that Christians have killed more people than Muslims for their god. He can only do so by proposing acts of religious murder by Christian people and questioning the acts I propose. The murders must fulfill the criteria, if either one of us thinks it does otherwise it's their obligation to say why in the following round(with 2 rounds it would be harder). ================================================================= I will present my case and allegations in round 2.
(History suggests) Muslims have killed more than Christians in the name of their god.

Can I assume that's a forfeit by Con? Does Con accept the resolution and all 12,000,000 deaths? I will not add any more kills to the List because I hope to do this debate again. Extend all arguments, Vote Pro. Thank you. >>>Totals<<< Christianity - 1937 (1937) Islam - 0(12,000,000) Based on: Religion ( )
(History suggests) Muslims have killed more than Christians in the name of their god.

This is outrageous. My Opponent believes basically Muslims are all killers. Which one can deprive from his text. and I'd like to be the one who tells him, he is full of it. Most Muslims are good. Not bad or killers. If anything, Christians are worse then Muslims all together. Just look at the US. It claims to be a Christian nation but yet still has one of the highest murder incidents. Christian Extremism exist in 7 nations. In the USA one of the several extremist are the KKK. So lets look first at the KKK. How many have the KKK Killed? I'll divide the answer into several sections Reconstruction 1st Klan (1865-1877) 1500 estimated by the Tuskegee Institute 1200 blacks 300 whites 100-200 killed in South Carolina 150 Florida The rest mostly killed during black voting in Louisiana in the 1868 US Presidential Election The Klan was also partially involved in the Colfax Massacre Nadir 2nd Klan ( 1915 - 1944) 416 Klan was frequently involved in lynching, killed mostly blacks in this era Murdered Blacks returning from WW1 Killed Leo Frank (Jewish White) Killed 6 blacks attempting to vote in Orange County Florida Civil Rights 3rd Klan (1954-1968) 15 people (13 black) These murders are well known and include, but are not limited to 1963 murder Medgar Evers 1963 16th street baptist church bombing 1964 Mississippi Burning 1965 Viola Luizo Shooting 1966 Vernon Dahmer Killing Many of these murders were prosecuted ... in the 90s and 2000s David Duke 4th Klan 1979 Greensboro Massacre 5 killed 5th Klan 1981 Lynching Michael Donald Klan member electrocuted Total 1937 Note these are only those killed. Hundreds of thousands of people were injured or intimidated by the Klan + Although the Klan hadn't been formed, Nathan Bedford Forrest, leader of the first Klan committed this atrocity Fort Pillow Massacre 1864 277 blacks Case Closed.
Ted Cruz doesn't brush his teeth

I am most grateful to TeaPartyBijesse for a truly revolutionary topic. It would be my pleasure to defend Ted Cruz who I believe is more than just a man. (read citations to understand fully) I would first like to refer to my first source [1]. Here we have a complete Wikipedia page on who Ted Cruz really is [2]. Through this we can start to make certain assertions on the true nature of Ted Cruz and thus prove indefinitely that he does truly brush his teeth. In source [3] we can see that Ted Cruz is actually eating broccoli in this picture. Not only that with the angle that he is eating and the forcefulness he is eating it with means that broccoli would have to be caught in his teeth. In the two videos that PRO himself has shown us, you can see no pieces of broccoli in his mouth. Furthermore, pro might say it was near the back however then his voice would be affected eventually. It's through this process of deduction that my first point of Ted Cruz brushing his teeth becomes evident as how else would broccoli come out? However, there is more evidence. We can also see that Ted Cruz has another alias [4]. In this way we can determine how his other alias also brushes his teeth and therefore prove that he himself brushes his teeth as they are the same person. This 2nd alias has a picture of him wearing glasses. This shows that he has a certain intellect but more importantly it means he had parents. What does that mean if he had parents, well his parents would have taught him to brush his teeth and this definitively proves that Ted Cruz also brushes his teeth. It is clear that after the end of round 1 we have a PRO who is heavily biased and ignorant to the truth but also to the fact that if he does not understand two of Ted Cruz's many alias' he would never have the logic to understand if he brushes his teeth or not. For these reasons I beg you to oppose. [1] = https://goo.gl... [2] = https://goo.gl... [3] = https://goo.gl... [4] = https://goo.gl...