Can we use science to ascertain whether prayer works?  Data from a series of prayer experiments is part of the evidence that US atheist scientist Victor Stenger uses to build the case against God in his best-selling book "God: The failed hypothesis".

David Bartholomew is a Christian and Emeritus Professor of Statistics at the London School of Economics.  He has written a paper contesting Stenger's use of data to disprove God as invalid.

They debate the issues on whether we can detect or disprove God using scientific methods.

For Victor Stenger see http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/VWeb/Media.html

For David Bartholomew see http://www.djbartholomew.com/

For the Science and Christian Belief Journal his paper will be published in http://www.scienceandchristianbelief.org

For more Christian/non Christian debate visit http://www.premier.org.uk/unbelievable or get the podcast  http://ondemand.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/AudioFeed.aspx or Via Itunes

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Unbelievable? 26 Jun 2010 - "Is God a Failed hypothesis - philosophically?" Atheist US physicist Victor Stenger vs. Prof of Sociology Steve Fuller

Unbelievable? 14 Mar 2009 - Fine Tuning of the Universe - is it evidence of God? Nicholas Beale vs Julian Baggini

To join the discussion visit the "Unbelievable?" Group of the Premier Community http://www.premiercommunity.org.uk/group/unbelievable