On a number of threads and various other places on the internet, there are discussions about offers from creationists to have public debates about the theories that they offer up.
One recent example on here has been the offer of Walt Brown to debate his theories with the scientific community (NOTE: THIS IS AN EXAMPLE NOT AN OFFER TO DISCUSS THAT CASE FURTHER).
For those who support such public debates:
1) why do you feel those debates are useful?
2) In terms of scientific progress, what function do such debates perform?
3) why do you feel the peer-review process is not the most suitable venue for the SCIENTIFIC evidence that those people bring to the table?
™ Version 4.2