Debate: Christianity Doomed

The debate "Is Christianity Doomed?" exploded like a damp cracker with the leader of the affirmative (N. Lewis) spending all his time defining the motion. This startling technique bewildered Mr Roberts, leader for the negative, who proceeded to recite a set speech of refutation against arguments not yet raised. Mr O'Brien, in his usual manner, heckled the speaker, whereupon Mr Roberts suggested that he (O'Brien) return to sucking his bottle the consuming of which had obviolusly impaired his judgement. Mr O'Brien demanded an apology. The chairman ruled that there was nothing in the rules to forbid one member vilifying another. Mr O'Brien Left.

Mr Simeona and Mr O'Donovan the other platform speakers added little of note to the debate nor did a procession of speakers baring their shabby prejudices. There were, however, one or two exceptions.

Mr Maxwell showed a fine sense of technique by opening with a topical dirty story and ensued complete audience participation by teetering precariously on the edge of the stage during his speech. He saw N.Z as a "pantheistic society worshipping the bitch trinity of success, money and power; the fundamental godhead of lust, and last and least, the Christian God!" Christianity was doomed because it was no longer independent of or dominating the political system but had become subservient and committed to capitalism or communism.

Miss Barnao, flapping her arms in what appeared to be the throes of religious ecstasy, opposed the motion on the grounds that she was a "fan for It" (Christianity?)

Mr Middleton felt that Christianity was doomed as it had failed to tackle the problems of social inequality, poverty and war. Despite the weight of his own arguments, he would like It to be otherwise.

Opposing the motion, Mr Gager argued that Christianity could not be doomed as it had never existed. He was undoubtedly the most effective speaker for the negative, but his arguments did not seem to enlist the sympathy of other negative speakers.

Mr Tamasese, urbane and charming as ever, found the failure of Christianity in its lack of unity and its "lack of a common language or common understanding. This failure, he argued, meant its inevitable defeat in the hands of militant atheistic communism.

The rise of reason meant the inevitable defeat of Christianity was the hopeful, perhaps inevitable, assertion of Mr Dwyer.

The negative relied heavily upon acts of faith by the individual streakers and failed to explore the storehouse of available arguments.

The adjudicator, Mr Bolinger, despite votes of the house and the students in support of the negative placed Mr Maxwell first, Tamasese and Simeona second equal and Gager fourth.