Is religion good or bad for society? Ben Shapiro v Alex O'Connor The Big Conversation – Episode 7 | Season 5

Unbelievable?

Premier Unbelievable?

Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.6 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 1 December 2023

⏱️ 80 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Big Conversation is a unique video series from Unbelievable? the flagship apologetics and theology discussion show from Premierunbelievable.com In this bonus episode of The Big Conversation' formidable Daily Wire host and renowned political thinker Ben Shapiro goes head-to-head with Oxford graduate of philosophy and theology, now international public speaker and debater, Alex O’Connor. Hosted by Andy Kind, Shapiro and O'Connor debate Is religion good or bad for society? What is the concept of free will? Does it even exist? What about the idea of the self, and the foundations of morality in society, and do we all have to agree on them? Ben Shapiro is a distinguished figure in the realm of political discussion, recognised for his bold opinions and remarkable debating skills. Ever-innovative in thought and influential in culture, Shapiro brings a fresh and compelling perspective to this philosophical conversation. Atheist Alex O’Connor, the YouTuber formerly known as the Cosmic Sceptic, and host of the Within Reason podcast brings thoughtful philosophical rigour and insight to provoke deliberation on varying timeless faith-science-philosophy topics. Religion’s effects in the evolution of consciousness, Nihilism’s counter to the concept of free will and, ultimately, the basis of varying worldviews serve as crucial discussion points in this thought-provoking exchange. This debate wraps up this season on a captivating note, leaving audiences across the belief spectrum increasingly inquisitive of the ever-disputed questions among various worldviews and intricacies in the crossover realms of science, faith, philosophy and culture. • For bonus content, updates and more shows sign up at: http://www.thebigconversation.show The Big Conversation is a video series from Premier Unbelievable? featuring world-class thinkers across the religious and non-religious community. Exploring science, faith, philosophy and what it means to be human. The Big Conversation is produced by Premier Unbelievable? in partnership with John Templeton Foundation. • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate

Transcript

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0:00.0	When we put prayers to end extreme poverty into practice, there's no going back.
0:05.0	Yes, thank you Isaac. I was just about to get on to that.
0:08.0	You see when...
0:09.0	When we are trained in new skills, we can provide for ourselves.
0:12.0	Can I carry on? We can grow our own
0:14.9	vegetables, send our children to school, build our own homes. Do you want to do the
0:19.6	whole ad? No you go. This Christmas put your your prayers into practice, so there's no going back to extreme poverty.
0:27.0	To donate, search for Tier Fund, no going back.
0:30.0	Pretty much universally, Social Science suggests that many of the institutions that we hold here that shape us that provide a social support.
0:37.6	A huge amount of this used to happen anyway inside of these traditional religious structures and there really has been nothing to replace it.
0:43.6	We're talking about what the self is here. I mean, atheists believe in the self.
0:46.5	Everybody believes in this.
0:47.5	Well, no, that's not, I mean, that I find difficult to believe. Why would an
0:50.4	atheist believe in the self? The self is a series of non-deciding mechanisms.
0:54.4	This show does seem to have an extraordinary capacity for putting me face to face and
0:58.8	people that I've been talking smack about online. So thanks again. Welcome to the big conversation.
1:13.0	Part of Premier Unbelievables roster of shows brought to you in partnership with the Templeton Foundation.
1:19.0	I am your host and dekind.
1:22.0	Today we are talking about a very interesting topic. The question is,
1:26.9	is religion good or bad for society? And I've been joined by two very dapper chaps, Ben Shapiro and Alex O'Connor, who some of you, most of you
1:37.3	maybe will be completely aware of.
1:40.3	Ben Shapiro is a prominent American conservative political commentator and columnist.
	...

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