Atheist Morality
Posted by Cory Tucholski on November 27, 2007
I was glancing at this post from the Diary of a Teenage Atheist. The combox discussion had what amounts as an admission that nature is designed rather than evolved.
Matt Svoboda posed the following question to TA: “. . . ‘Where does the moral code come from?’ Why do our moral codes automatically tell us it is wrong for a person to kill another person in cold blood?”
Dave, who I assume is an atheist, answers the question this way:
Because humans are designed to be social creatures that thrive when arranged in communities. Those communities break down when murder in cold blood is allowed. Our “moral code” comes from our natural instinct to encourage behavior which leads to orderly societies. (emphasis added)
Dave is on the right track. Remember Psalm 40:6 and Jeremiah 31:33? The law of God, our moral code, is written within us by God. We are, therefore, designed by God to be social creatures, and we thrive best within a society.
I really don’t see another answer to the question of morality’s source other than someone greater than ourselves who places it into our hearts. He then becomes the standard by which we judge ourselves. He cannot also be a part of creation; you can’t judge someone by his own standards, for that is not judging. When you judge, you necessarily use someone else’s standard.
Dave said it himself. Humans are “designed.” Designed by whom? I submit that we are designed by God.
Josh Charles said
And because you can’t see any other answer, the one you’ve decided on must correct!
Congratulations!
Cory Tucholski said
Hey Josh,
Instead of taking a swipe at me, why don’t you show me another answer? I’ve looked for one, but never found an answer other than God. If you can show me another one, go for it.
Thanks for your time!
Jon said
It’s clear from the way you wrote your post that you know this Dave person isn’t agreeing with you.
I can’t believe that I have to tell you this, but okay. Intentionally misunderstanding someone’s words to make an argument is stuff four-year-olds do.
“Na na na na, I can’t hear you! What did you say? Eat as much candy as I want? Okay!”
I mean, that’s essentially your argument in this post, isn’t it?
Or were you trying to be cute? If that’s the case, well, you just come off as smarmy and dishonest, not cute.
Murphy Klasing said
Wow! Tough crowd. I think (Jon) that he was highlighting the point that even an athiest was forced to recognize that we are “designed.” Turning someone’s argument back on themselves is creative and intelligent, name-calling, on the other hand, is what 4-year olds do.