Rabbi David Wolpe: Why the World Is Better with Religion November 22, 2011

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Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2011/11/15/Debate_The_World_Would_Be_Better_Off_Without_Religion

Rabbi David Wolpe argues why the world is better off with religion. "If you want to measure altruism and empathy, the best measure is not age, gender, income, education," says Wolpe. "It's whether you're involved in a religious community."

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In the words of Blaise Pascal, mathematician and Catholic, "Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from a religious conviction." Does religion breed intolerance, violence, and the promotion of medieval ideas? Or should we concede that overall, it has been a source for good, giving followers purpose, while encouraging morality and ethical behavior?

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FOR THE MOTION

Matthew Chapman
Author, Filmmaker and Co-Founder of Science Debate

A.C. Grayling
Renowned Atheist and Professor of Philosophy

AGAINST THE MOTION

Dinesh D'Souza
President of The King's College and author of What's So Great About Christianity

Rabbi David Wolpe
Named the #1 Pulpit Rabbi in America by Newsweek

Named the #1 Pulpit Rabbi in America and the second most influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek magazine, David Wolpe is the Rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, California. He previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and he currently teaches at UCLA. In 2003 Rabbi Wolpe was named one of the hundred most influential Jews in America by Forward. He is the author of seven books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times. His new book, Why Faith Matters, is largely a response to atheist theories.