But then again, that wasn't the point, despite the program's title: "Does God exist?"

More than 150 people gathered to view a videotaped debate between two philosophers, an evangelical Christian and an atheist.

The event, sponsored by the N.C. Society for Ethical Culture, concluded with a question-and-answer session led by two panelists, one representing each viewpoint.

The questions were firm and at times fiery -- one participant called the belief in God "rubbish" -- but the panelists kept the discourse civil.

"The function of this wasn't to change anybody's mind," said Randy Best, the humanist representative and a clergyman in Ethical Culture. "I think they came here more to hear the other side."

Ethical Culture is a religious movement based on moral beliefs but not on the existence of a god. The North Carolina society is one of 24 nationwide, all of which belong to the American Ethical Union, founded in 1876.

Mark Acuff, the theist panelist and the pastor at the Bible Church of Chapel Hill, admitted he initially feared an overly skeptical audience because of the event's sponsors.

"There was more than a little trepidation," he said. "But you don't treat people as if they're ideologies -- you treat them as if they're people."

Both panelists agreed that the debate was more for education than for evangelism. Many people came out of curiosity of the opposing viewpoint, they said.

"Very few people are open-minded about the existence of God," said Ethical Society member James Coley, who moderated the question-and-answer session. "A lot of people believe in God on faith, and that precludes rational discussion."

Audience members of both persuasions filled the conference room to hear views different from their own.

"I wanted to feel out the opposite side of the ballpark," said Beau Weiss, a Christian and a student at Sand Hills Community College. He heard about the event from Acuff at church.

Weiss' friend, Susanna Quaile, attended for the same reason, but having studied philosophy at Gordon College, she said much of the rhetoric was familiar.

"I really felt like I'd heard everything before. I've heard compelling arguments for both sides," she said.

Meanwhile, some attendees left the discussion nonplussed. Esther Flaschner, a member of the Ethical Society, went to support her organization's event but said the debate was useless.

"Who cares if there's a God or not?" she said. "Can we not build a humanistic, ethical society without it? Because you can't k