Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

How to Think Biblically about Morality and Ethics (with Dave Horner)

Nov 12, 2024

In this insightful discussion, Dave Horner, a Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, explores how to think biblically about morality. He addresses the challenge of moral relativism and presents the moral argument for God's existence. Horner delves into moral realism, emphasizing that objective moral standards exist beyond cultural opinions. He also shares his transformative journey of faith, and the importance of understanding metaethics in today’s world, especially for complex issues like abortion and immigration.

37:20

Episode guests

Dave Horner

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Belief in God is essential for a coherent moral framework, providing the foundation for objective moral values beyond personal opinions.

Engaging in metaethical discussions can enrich conversations about contentious issues, leading to more productive dialogues on morality within society.

Deep dives

Understanding Metaethics

Metaethics examines the foundational nature of morality and ethical judgments, distinguishing it from normative ethics, which focuses on specific moral questions. It raises critical questions about the existence of objective moral values and whether morality is a social construct rooted in human preferences or grounded in an objective moral order. The conversation highlights the importance of engaging in metaethical discussions, particularly when addressing contentious issues like abortion, as understanding the underlying assumptions about morality can lead to more productive dialogues. Ultimately, metaethics encourages a deeper exploration of the philosophical and theological commitments that shape our moral perspectives.

Intro

4min

A Journey Through Faith, Ethics, and Resilience

5min

Exploring Moral Apologetics and the Search for God

3min

Exploring Moral Realism and Objectivity

19min

Foundations of Christian Metaethics

7min

How should we think biblically about morality in today’s culture? What do we way to the skeptic who insists that morality is nothing more than a matter of one’s opinion? What is the moral argument for God’s existence? Why is God critical for a coherent view of morality? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest, our colleague Dr Dave Horner around his new book with JP Moreland, (don’t let the title throw you) Metaethics—or how to think about morality and ethics.

Dr. Dave Horner is Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Talbot. He has a D.Phil. from Oxford and is the author of several books, including Mind Your Faith: A Student's Guide for Thinking and Living Well, and numerous journal articles, book chapters, blog posts and conference presentations. He's a specialist in Aristotle and Aquinas in addition to ancient and medieval philosophy.

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Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.

Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.
Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video.

To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

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