Evolution v. Creation


Definitions:
No semantics please. These are the definitions that will be used throughout this debate.
Theory - A well supported, conceptual framework that encompasses a large body of s...
Richard Dawkins is a gratuitously unpleasant man


gratuitous: done without a good reason, uncalled for (1)
The resolution is taken from a comment by Tom Watson, UK politician (2).
(1) http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/gratuitous?q=gratuitous
(2) http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/04/21/richard-dawkins-mehdi-hasan_n_3127629.html
Animal Testing Should be Banned

Welcome to this debate: "animal testing should be banned". I as pro define animal testing as experimenting using the lives of animals or harming animals in any way. I define banned as completely abolishing taking lives or harming animals in tests or experiments. Animal testing is certainly a disgrace, and should be banned. It firstly is fairly unreliable. Animals don't have the same body systems as us, and what might be good for them may not have the same great effect on us. It has be...
Big Bang cosmology supports atheism over theism.


Topic: Big Bang cosmology supports atheism over theism.
Position: Pro/For
Category: Science
Should people who kill sharks be given a life sentence?


I believe people who kill sharks should be given a life sentence. Sharks play a major role in the ecosystem, they are more important than anyone thinks. Us humans have killed approximately 90% of all shark species (discovered) so far. If we keep killing them they will soon exist. Sharks only kill on average 4 people a year whereas we kill over a million sharks in a month. i see this as murder so why should people not be given life sentences for killing sharks and not just sharks but any kind of...
Nuclear Energy

This is going to be a simple Pro Nuclear Energy vs Con Nuclear Energy. No specific resolution, just the broad subject of using nuclear energy. Burden of Proof - The BoP falls equally on both debaters to support and defend their arguments while refuting their opponent's. For example, Con can focus on negative effects to the environment, safety issues, or better alternatives rendering Nuclear obsolete, but Con cannot just disagree with everything Pro puts up (and vise versa). I will go ahead...
Young Earth Creationism Is Not Possible


Full Resolution
Young earth creationism is possible.
BoP is shared.
Definitions
Young Earth Creationism: "...the religious belief that the Universe, Earth and all life on Earth were created by direct acts of the Abrahamic God during a relatively short period, sometime between 5,700 and 10,000 years ago."[...
The Big Bang Theory Is True


I'm doing this for a lot of reasons - Commitment, learning, and most importantly, the weekly stupid. The Big Bang Theory - "A cosmological theory holding that the universe originated approximately 20 billion years ago from the violent explosion of a very small agglomeration of matter of extremely high density and temperature."[1] First round for acceptance, and please don't forfeit. Sources [1]: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/big+bang+theory...
Global warming is likely (and mostly) anthropogenic


This is for Subutai's environmental tournament. In this debate, I am for the resolution. The BOP will be even since this is a contested issue--BOP shall not be negotiated. The debate structure is first round acceptance, second round arguments (no rebuttals), third round rebuttals/defense, fourth round rebuttals/defense. My opponent is familiar with the wording, and definitions are not needed. Have fun!...
Universal Common descent is a scientific explanation for the genetic origins of living organisms


Universal Common descent is a scientific explanation for the genetic origins of living organisms.
Definitions
Universal Common descent - Universal common descent is a general descriptive theory concerning the genetic origins of living organisms (though not the ultimate origin of life). The theory specifically postulates that all of the earth's known biota are genealogically related, much in the same way that sibl...