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Line 27: − [[Image:115523-004-FA619CA3.jpg|thumb|right|251px| The perverse and cruel atheist [[Marquis de Sade]] in prison, 18th century line engraving.]]+ Line 48:
Line 48: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − The [[Barna Group]] found that atheists and [[agnostics]] in America were more likely, than [[theist]]s in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: illegal drug use; excessive drinking; sexual relationships outside of marriage; [[abortion]]; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; obscene language; gambling; [[pornography]] and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in [[homosexuality]]/bisexuality.<ref>http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard</ref> Given the [[Homosexuality and Health|many diseases associated with homosexuality]], the [[Bible|biblical]] prohibition against homosexuality is quite arguably one of the many examples where the Bible exhibited [http://creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge knowledge that was ahead of its time]. See also: [[Atheism and sexual immorality]]+ − − For more information, please examine the articles below:
→Objective morality and the existence of God
''See also:'' [[Religion and morality]] and [[Atheism and the Problem of Evil|Atheism and the problem of evil]]
''See also:'' [[Religion and morality]] and [[Atheism and the Problem of Evil|Atheism and the problem of evil]]
and [[Atheism and morality]]
and [[Atheism and morality]]
Christian apologists commonly argue that objective morality exists and that objective morality is dependent on the existence of God.<ref>
Christian apologists commonly argue that objective morality exists and that objective morality is dependent on the existence of God.<ref>
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-moral-argument-for-god The moral argument for God] by William Lane Craig
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-moral-argument-for-god The moral argument for God] by William Lane Craig
*[http://www.equip.org/articles/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality/ Atheists and the Quest for Objective Morality] by Chad Meister
*[http://www.equip.org/articles/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality/ Atheists and the Quest for Objective Morality] by Chad Meister
*[http://carm.org/failure-of-atheism-to-account-for-morality The failure of atheism to account for morality]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and morality]]
*[http://carm.org/failure-of-atheism-to-account-for-morality The failure of atheism to account for morality]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and morality]]
=== New Atheism and objective morality ===
''See also:'' [[New Atheism and morality]] and [[New Atheism]]
[[File:Christopher Hitchens.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Christopher Hitchens]] ]]
[[Craig Hazen]] wrote:
{{Cquote|It’s been fascinating to watch the very vocal and prolific [[New Atheism|new atheists]], such as [[Christopher Hitchens]], [[Sam Harris]], [[Daniel Dennett]] and [[Richard Dawkins]], make a case for objective morality. The phrase “objective morality” is a way of indicating that some behaviors are right (truth telling, kindness, tolerance) and some behaviors are wrong (rape, murder, racism) — for real. Morality is not just a matter of personal preference and choice (akin to liking peanuts better than almonds), but rather laws that are real and true and binding no matter what one thinks about them or whether one chooses to follow them.
The reason it has been fun to watch the new atheists defend this idea is because atheists of an earlier generation (such as J.L. Mackie and [[Bertrand Russell]]) thought it folly to do so. Classic atheists from the mid-20th century were very reluctant to grant that there was an objective moral law because they saw that it was just too compelling for believers to take the easy step from the moral law to God who was the “moral law giver.” Accepting a real objective moral law would be giving far, far too much ground to the Christians and other theists.
In my view, this shift in attitude toward moral values among the new atheists is an indicator that our work in [[Christian apologetics]] and philosophy has had an impact. I can’t count the times when in forums on various college campuses more traditional atheists and agnostics have had to squirm under the questioning from me or my colleagues about basic moral questions.
“Is it wrong to torture babies for fun?” “Is it wrong to treat a person as subhuman because she has darker skin?” As you can imagine, if an atheist were to answer “no,” or “well, it depends,” or “I prefer not to do these things, but how can I judge others,” to these questions he would be running into some real trouble with the audience. Whether the audience is filled with conservative Christians or radical unbelievers, people in our culture have an aversion to those who waffle or dodge on such fundamental and obvious moral values.
I think the new atheists got tired of being in such a public relations conundrum, so they began embracing basic morality as some sort of natural feature of the physical universe. They now tend to maintain that there are objective morals, but that these morals did not come from God. Is it wrong to torture babies for fun? Of course it’s wrong, says the new atheist. Goal accomplished. No more looking like an uncaring monster on stage in debates with Christians.
On the one hand, I think the new atheists have been helped in public discourse by their recent adoption of rudimentary moral values. One rarely feels now like one is being addressed by an amoral scoundrel when a new atheist is speaking in public. On the other hand, the new atheist now suffers from a problem that the old atheists would have quickly warned them about: How in the world are we going to explain where these objective moral values came from?
...the daunting problem for the new atheist is the nature and source (ontology) of the moral law. Here are some questions you can ask Richard Dawkins the next time you sit next to him on a bus:
• If everything ultimately must be explained by the laws of physics and chemistry, help me understand what a moral value is (does it have mass, occupy space, hold a charge, have wavelength)?
• How did matter, energy, time and chance result in a set of objective moral values? Did the big bang really spew forth “love your enemy?” If so, you have to help me understand that.
• What makes your moral standard more than a subjective opinion or personal preference? What makes it truly binding or obligatory? Why can’t I just ignore it? Won’t our end be the same (death and the grave) either way?<ref>[http://magazine.biola.edu/article/11-summer/can-we-be-good-without-god/ Can We Be Good Without God?] by Craig J. Hazen, Biola University</ref>}}
For example, atheists have been the biggest mass murderers in history (see: [[Atheism and mass murder]]). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate regarding the loss of life due to atheistic [[communism]] is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987.<ref>Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"] University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War. Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref>
For example, atheists have been the biggest mass murderers in history (see: [[Atheism and mass murder]]). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate regarding the loss of life due to atheistic [[communism]] is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987.<ref>Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"] University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War. Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref>
== External links ==
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-moral-argument-for-god The moral argument for God] by William Lane Craig
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-moral-argument-for-god The moral argument for God] by William Lane Craig