ex-xian

Kent Hovid's son (I think his name is Eric) will be in Kingsport, TN at the end of this month. Since I in Virginia and only an hour from the city, I plan to attend innocently ask some questions.

I was wondering if there were any more infidels who live close to this area who would like to attend.

Doubting Didymus

I wish you luck, and I hope you know what you're doing. Creationists like hovind (and presumably his son) have an answer for everything. It will certainly be wrong, probably a lie, and doubtless it will demonstrate ignorance, but it will also be familiar to the supporters in his audience and deliverable in a short swift sound bite. I know for myself that I would never engage an experienced creationist in public. Let them come to the internet, where their every word must be truthful and referenced.

ex-xian

Thanks for the heads up. Back in my fundy days, I went to a Bible college in Pensacola--Hovind's home town. I've seen most of his seminars, so I know pretty much what will be said. I'm under no illusions about "beating" him at his own game, but if I can reach just one person who's undecided...well, then, it will all be worth it. (said with tongue firmly planted in cheek)

Doubting Didymus

Let us know how you go!

Albion

...which is why they don't come to the internet.

Nickle

There's no desire to win an honest argument for these types. They could care less. Can you see fundies actually checking references?

Cretinist

My advice: don't even try to debate evolution with him. Just attack his character. Bring up his tax evasions, child abuse, that his degree is from a diploma mill (print out pictures of the place and pass it around), his recent arrest, etc. Mention that AiG thinks he is a crank.

Edit: I forgot, this is his son. Might not be useful to bring up stuff like this then.

The Lone Ranger

I would second Doubting Didymus's advice that attempting to engage a professional Creationist in such a setting is tantamount to suicide. I've attended a couple of talks by Creationists, and attempted to engage them. In each instance, I was shocked at how blatantly and confidently they simply lied in response to any challenge I could make.

You can't win under such circumstances. The audience is almost certainly against you to start with, and you can't provide references. He'll lie shamelessly and try to goad you into losing your cool.

Stick to things like tax evasion and his phony degrees.

Good luck,

Michael

Sauron

Huh?

They barely crack a book.

Checking references would be herculean.

Jayjay

How about, instead of verbally challenging the slicky spawn of Hovind, handing out anti-creationist pamphlets or something? Has anyone had success with that kind of activism?