From a friendly conversation between two college students, one would never guess they are about to begin a heated debate about their beliefs.

One, with fingernails covered in chipped, black nail polish, is wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with a skull and “Rock and Roll will never die” in red ink.

“That’s right,” says the other. “Rock and roll will never die. It’ll only evolve.”

The first guy smiles.

As more people begin to wander into the small classroom, the conversation turns from rock and roll to anthrax to abstract algebra.

Despite the banter, the room is obviously divided.

As people walk in, they ask the others “So, what are you?”

Depending on the answer, they select one of the remaining desks, which have been arranged in a circle to allow people to see each other.

The conversation dies down as Will Christopher, junior in biophysics, stands.

“I wish we had more of a mixed crowd,” he says, looking at the four people who aren’t a part of his regular group. “Still, the reason why we’re here is not so much strict logic, but understanding.”

The gathering is a meeting of the ISU Atheist and Agnostic Society. Christopher is the president.

This meeting, however, is different. Four Christians have come to the meeting to discuss why the 11 club members think Christianity is “unreasonable.”

“I wanted to see where you are coming from and ask why you think Christianity is so unreasonable,” says Kevin James, senior in mechanical engineering. “It’s something I think merits a discussion.”

James’ question sparks the fiery discussion that will consume the next hour and a half.

“The main reason [for atheism] is there’s no evidence for the existence of God,” says Hector Avalos, associate professor of religious studies. “It’s not that there’s proof against, but no evidence for. The question is what sort of evidence makes the Christians believe, because I don’t see any.”

James said Christians believe their personal experiences and the Bible itself are enough evidence to support the existence of their faith.

But Scott Knight, senior in political science, says James’ argument is not enough.

He says he has read the Bible “two times over,” and found it to be full of contradictions, which he says make no sense.

“If what you continually say contradicts yourself over and over, I would call you a liar,” he said. “The Bible has proven nothing to me. I discount it.”

Both Avalos and Knight ask James for specific verses. James looks to his three comrades.

“Can I get some help here?” he says.

With every verse the four offer, Avalos says they have neither basis in fact nor actual evidence to support them. He calls the prophecies, a principal part of the Christian faith, “Christian apologetic propaganda.”

“Christian apologetics simply don’t know the Bible very well,” he says. “When you point them to original text, those arguments evaporate very quickly.”

Christopher says a major fault is that they don’t know the Bible well.

“Most Christians I know have never gone in depth with the Bible,” he says. “Yet they claim it’s all true.”

After a lot of discussion about philosophy, logic, reason, science and social influence on religion, the participants decide to go home.

James says the discussion is an important one.

“There are people who don’t think about the arguments against [Christianity],” he says. “Christians should think about it more. I do believe there are reasonable arguments against it.”

James says he finds atheism one of the most valid arguments.

“I think the thing that draws me to the atheist meeting is that over any other line of thought, this appeals to me,” he said.

Avalos, who used to be a Christian Fundamentalist, said the “generally calm, good-natured discussion” is especially good for people who don’t understand atheism.

“Some show atheists as crazy people,” he said. “But we’ve simply thought a great deal about what we believe.”

Knight, however, said the discussion is “wasteful.”

“I don’t think we get anything out of it,” he said. “They’re not going to change our minds, nor are we going to change theirs.”

Christopher said meetings are “more for understanding.”

“I’m not expecting to see the end of religion,” he said. “But, I can’t control what other people think, so I’d like to understand it.”