Annual Debate
Each spring semester students participate in an Oxford-style public debate. The debate is a venerable institution in Western higher education dating from the medieval universities. While largely an exercise in public oratory, the JAF annual debate is also a time for members of the Gordon community to engage the cumulative work of collaborating students.
Topics, resolutions and debate teams are listed below.
| Spring 2012 | THE GOOD AND GOD |
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Ken Olsen Science Center
6:30 p.m. Reception, Chairman's Room
7 p.m. Debate, MacDonald Auditorium
Resolved: One can be good without God.
The Affirmative Case: Dawn Cianci, David Botticello, Hannah Strauss, Jordan Greenlee, Katherine Stephens, Jessica Kane, Trevor Hinshaw
The Negative Case: Emily Boop, Jen Christianson, Matt Clemmer, Jorge Rodriguez, Laura Johnson, Benjamin Wright, Mallory Moench
The Jerusalem and Athens Forum annual debate is part of Gordon College's springtime Symposium sponsored by the Center for Christian Studies.
For more information about this year's theme, see www.gordon.edu/symposium2012.
Spring 2011 | CHRISTIANITY AND CAPITALISM
Resolved: A free market economy provides the greatest hope to alleviate poverty and is compatible with Christian ethics.
The Affirmative Case: Molly Connolly, Laura Farnham, Ian Good, Margaret Ivy, Lazaro Mancilla, Rachel Plourde, Tala Strauss
The Negative Case: Maia Mattson, Katie Nellis, Matthew Nicewinter, Jonathan Ozuna, Abigail Sargent, Kyra Sliwinski, Mark Whitfield
Watch on YouTube
Spring 2010 | BIOTECHNOLOGIES AND GENETIC TESTING
Resolved: The biotechnologies that enable genetic testing and its applications promise more good than harm for humanity.
The Affirmative Case: Amy Holcombe, Zachary Capalbo, Inngee Kim, Sarah Grimes, Joshua Bell, Lindsey Reed
The Negative Case: Elizabeth Baker, Hilary Sherratt, Joanna Gallagher, Korynne Bolt, Holland Stewart, Joel Nolette, Joanna Smith
Watch on YouTube
Spring 2009 | THE EMERGENT/EMERGING CHURCH
Resolved: The movement commonly designated as "emergent church" or "emerging church" bears witness to the positive flourishing of Christianity during our time.
The Affirmative Case: David Denison, Amy Bither, Kirk Vanacore, Izabela Wisniewska, Will Nadeau, Suzanne Loughry, Jenna Breitbarth
The Negative Case: Lauren Nash, Joseph Guidi, Nicole Lucey, Anna Taylor, Lynn Sommerville, Alysa Obert, Nicole Naude
Watch on YouTube
Spring 2008 | PACIFISM AND POLITICS
Resolved: Pacifism is the most faithful political ethic for Christians.
The Affirmative Case: Joanna Epling, Sarah Mattingly, Hannah Baker, Gabe DiMauro, Luke Suttmeier, Allison Kuhns, Carl Nellis
The Negative Case: Lydia Sheldon, Caroline Meditz, Stephen Armandt, Colby Smidt, Paul Miller, David Allen, Patrick Welsh
Spring 2007 | A CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY OF ISLAM
Resolved: As an Abrahamic, monotheistic faith, Islam should be understood as a cousin to Christianity, and not primarily as a false religion.
The Affirmative Case: Militza Richard, Josh Hasler, Michael Whitnah, Joshua DiFrances, Amy Gentile, Bethany Joy Floch, Ryan Stadt
The Negative Case: Angela Yarian, Jenny Harris, Scotland Huber, Michael Tischel, Kirsten Swanson, Isaiah Moore, Kreigh Knerr
Spring 2006 | THE ETHICS OF ARTIFICIAL CONTRACEPTION
Resolved: Artificial contraception is acceptable to Christian sexual ethics and may be employed in good conscience by married couples and recognized as a matter of global stewardship to work against world hunger and overpopulation.
The Affirmative Case: Laura Schweiger, Elizabeth Mannon, Katherine Arnold, Elaine Lawliss, M. Ryan Groff, Angela Ng, Josh Birdsall
The Negative Case: Hannah Miller, Susanna Quaile, Brad Coon, Daniel Bell, Lauren Moreau, Laura Carlson, Matt Allard
Spring 2005 | CHRISTIANITY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
Resolved: Due to its unparalleled power and its faith-imbued history, the United States has a special obligation to spread democracy and human rights across the globe, acting unilaterally if necessary.
The Affirmative Case: Ian Corbin, Kirstin Hasler, Meghan Schrader, Jessie Sorrells, Elias Pearson, Kirstin Heacock
The Negative Case: Gina Zingarelli, Kate Anfuso, Steve Wall, Sarah Baker, Marissa Weaver, Stephen Taylor, Rachel Van Wylen