Chapter 1: Introduction to the Debate

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! A debate is imminent! An Atheist will engage in a discussion with a Theist over the question of God's existence. My aim is to utilize scientific reasoning and empirical evidence to argue against the existence of God, while my opponent will present arguments in favor of God's existence. Although my opponent prefers to host this discussion on his platform, I believe it is important to share it here as well, ensuring both audiences have access to our dialogue.

To initiate the debate, I will present my argument against the existence of God. I extend the invitation to my opponent (and only my opponent) to freely share our entire conversation wherever he wishes. Here’s a brief introduction to my opponent:

13. Fearghail, the author of "Appalachian Irishman." - Medium

Read more from M. Fearghail, the author of "Appalachian Irishman," on Medium, a public platform for writing and commentary.

My primary evidence against the existence of God is encapsulated in my God Power Equation:

This equation is inspired by Einstein's comprehensive energy equation, which includes momentum, and his equation for momentum that incorporates gamma (the symbol resembling a looping "v" next to the italicized "v" in the equation). Additionally, my equation takes into account the definition of power as energy divided by time. While Einstein has an equation that relates power and energy using relativity, it involves tensors which are unrelated to mass, affirming the accuracy of my equation concerning mass.

Now, why does my equation suggest that God cannot exist? According to religious teachings, God is said to be without mass. When you substitute zero for mass in my equation, it results in the right-hand side equaling zero, leading to P = 0. Therefore, an immaterial God would possess zero power. This conclusion aligns with the intuitive understanding that mass is necessary for power.

Importantly, light, although massless, possesses relativistic mass. Consequently, light does not cause my equation to zero out as a massless God would. Therefore, if God exists beyond our universe, He would not be able to enter our universe to respond to prayers, as He would require power to do so. With zero power within our universe (unless He can somehow acquire mass, contradicting the belief that God is without mass), this presents a significant challenge to the notion of divine intervention.

Our universe is governed by space and time. If God exists outside of it, He is also outside of space and time, which complicates the idea of Him answering prayers. The vast distances within the universe would make it impossible for Him to traverse that space in a reasonable timeframe, especially not exceeding the speed of light. Consequently, God cannot exist in a manner that would allow Him to respond to prayers throughout humanity's history due to the impracticality of such travel.

God, like all entities within our universe, must comply with the laws of physics. Any assertions that contradict these laws require substantial evidence to support such claims.

This introduction sets the stage for our debate, and I will now include my opponent's rebuttal.

The first video titled "Hear ye, hear ye! Town criers descend on Central Otago" explores the tradition of town criers and their cultural significance. This engaging visual presentation complements our discussion on the historical context of public debates and announcements.

The second video titled "Hear ye, hear ye: Holland town crier to retire" reflects on the legacy of a long-serving town crier, highlighting the importance of such roles in community history. This adds depth to our exploration of how public discourse has evolved over time.

Thanks for taking the time to read my perspective.