Stop Abandoning the Moral Argument (Do This Instead)

6 snips

Feb 1, 2025

The podcast dives into the significance of the moral argument for God's existence, challenging the trend of neglecting it. Gavin Ortlund discusses its historical relevance and explores its emotional complexity. Listeners are invited to reflect on morality's deep roots in transcendent principles, even within a secular worldview. Engaging examples, including references to C.S. Lewis, illustrate the intricate interplay of love and justice. The conversation not only defends the moral argument but also offers strategies for effectively presenting it in discussions about faith.

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ADVICE

Creative Moral Descriptions

Be more creative and full-orbed when describing morality.
Tap into the full range of moral experience, including values, duties, knowledge, and hope.

INSIGHT

Visceral Morality

Moral arguments draw power from deep intuitions about good and evil.
These arguments are visceral and emotional, connecting with everyday experiences.

ADVICE

Abductive Arguments

Use abductive moral arguments, focusing on the best explanation for morality.
Frame the argument as "Here's morality, how do we best explain it?"

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Divine Love Theory

Adam J. Johnson

Good God

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Jerry Walls

David Baggett

A Secular Age

Charles Taylor

In 'A Secular Age', Charles Taylor explores the transformation of Western society from a pre-modern world where belief in God was inescapable to a modern secular age where believing in God is just one option among many. Taylor argues against the 'subtraction story' of secularization, which posits that religion has been removed from society. Instead, he describes a complex historical process involving the Reform movement in Christianity, the rise of disciplinary society, and the emergence of exclusive humanism. The book examines how these changes have affected the conditions of belief and unbelief, and how they have shaped modern social forms, moral orders, and spiritual experiences[1][3][4].

Two Dozen or So Arguments for God

Alvin Plantinga

That Hideous Strength

C. S. Lewis

Published in 1945, 'That Hideous Strength' is the final book in C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy. The story takes place on Earth and follows the character Mark Studdock, a young sociology faculty member at Bracton College, as he becomes entangled with the National Institute of Co-ordinated Experiments (N.I.C.E.), a sinister organization with totalitarian ambitions. The novel delves into themes of faith, doubt, and the struggle between good and evil, featuring characters from the previous books in the trilogy, including Elwin Ransom. It critiques the dangers of logical positivism and the erosion of moral values, drawing parallels with other dystopian works like George Orwell's '1984'[1][2][5].

Mere Christianity

C.S. Lewis

In 'Mere Christianity', C.S. Lewis argues for the existence of God and defends Christian theology. The book is divided into four parts: the first argues for the existence of God based on the 'law of human nature'; the second defends Christian theology, including the 'Liar, lunatic, or Lord' trilemma regarding Jesus Christ; the third explores Christian ethics, including the cardinal and theological virtues; and the fourth discusses the Christian conception of God, particularly the Holy Trinity. Lewis also addresses topics such as free will, morality, sexual ethics, and the institution of marriage. The book is known for its clear and logical presentation of Christian apologetics and has been praised for its straightforward and humorous writing style[1][2][4].