Does This Prove We Can’t Ground Objective Morality in God?
Jan 25, 2024
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In the podcast, Amy and Greg discuss the atheist challenge to grounding objective morality in God. They explore topics such as the definition of genocide, God's actions in the Old Testament, and the concept of slavery in Hebrew Scriptures. They emphasize the importance of evaluating God based on context and justice.
Without God as the foundation for morality, terms like genocide, torture, and slavery lose their moral meaning in an atheistic worldview.
God's moral standards are not necessarily applicable to humans, proving the distinction between God's actions and human actions in the context of morality.
Deep dives
Objective morality grounded in God's nature
The podcast discusses the challenge posed by atheists regarding grounding objective morality in God. The speaker argues that without God as the foundation for morality, terms like genocide, torture, and slavery lose their moral meaning in an atheistic worldview. The moral argument for God involves the concept that morality is grounded in God's unchanging, morally perfect nature. The podcast highlights the need to consider where atheists derive their moral standard when judging God's actions in the Old Testament.
God's justification for judgement and authority
The speaker emphasizes that God, as a transcendent person, is the appropriate authority to establish moral obligations. The moral argument for God establishes the only adequate foundation for any morality. God's authority differs from human authority, allowing for the justifiable punishment of evil. The podcast also addresses objections regarding genocide, slavery, and torture in the Old Testament, highlighting that God used judgement as a form of punishment and to create a place for his chosen people to flourish. God's moral standards are not necessarily applicable to humans, proving the distinction between God's actions and human actions in the context of morality.
Understanding slavery and the big picture
The podcast delves into the issue of slavery in the Bible, clarifying that the Hebrew word 'Abed' often translated as 'slave' actually refers to indentured servitude. The speaker explains that the biblical context of servanthood was a protective provision rather than an endorsement of people owning other human beings. The podcast highlights that the entire story of the Bible, including the Exodus and God's plan for redemption, affirms the opposition to slavery. Moreover, in addressing the morality of God, the speaker argues that critics must evaluate God's actions and intentions within the biblical narrative rather than imposing their own assumptions and charged terms.
Question about an objection to grounding objective morality in God that states that if God has a morally perfect nature, and he either engaged in or directly allowed genocide, slavery, and torture, then that means genocide, slavery, and torture are objectively good.
How would you address this atheist challenge to grounding objective morality in God: If God has an unchanging, morally perfect nature, and he either engaged in or directly allowed genocide, slavery, and torture, then doesn’t that mean genocide, slavery, and torture are objectively good?
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