Students, faculty members and Gainesville residents flocked to witness a debate over Adam and Eve and chimpanzees Monday night.
Douglas Jacoby, Christian speaker and writer who holds a doctorate in ministry, and Michael Shermer, historian of science and publisher of Skeptic magazine, debated the issue of creation versus evolution in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom.
About 1,000 people attended the event, which was called "Science, Man, God: A Creation vs. Evolution Debate," said Andrew Guglielmo, chairman of Accent Speakers Bureau.
Beth Waltrip, director of student activities for the Reitz Union, said Accent paid $15,000 for both speakers.
Jacoby, who believes in creationism, said in his opening argument that he believes there is an intelligent designer but admitted it's not the only option to believe.
There is a conflict model between creationism and evolution, he said.
"Why can't it be both?"
Jacoby said a person can be a scientist and believe in God.
In contrast, Shermer, who believes in evolutionary theory, said in his argument that all design is natural design.
People want to believe they are created by God because it bothers them to think that they are related to apes, Shermer said. However, humans share 98 percent of their genetics with chimpanzees.
Shermer said he cannot prove there is no God but believes that everything from planets to plants to people was created through evolution and not intelligent design.
The event was sponsored by Accent, the Christian Student Association and Gator Freethought, a group that promotes open religious discussion.
"We chose these speakers because they are two academics that are very prominent in the field," Guglielmo said.
The two had previously e-mailed Guglielmo to speak at UF, but he made the decision to combine them for the debate, he said.
