Atheist Morality: A Fundamental Question in the Atheist-Religious Debate

When discussing the concept of morality, individuals often turn to philosophical questions that challenge the foundations of their beliefs. One such question that frequently emerges in the atheist-religious debate is: do atheists have a unique approach to morality, or do they simply adhere to the same moral code as everyone else?

This question is indeed a serious one, warranting a robust and thoughtful response. For atheists to effectively portray themselves as rational and morally sound, it is crucial to address the concerns and queries that arise from their worldview. However, many atheists present a stock response that, while addressing the surface-level aspect of the question, fails to delve into the deeper implications and challenges inherent in their position.

The Stock Atheist Non-answer

A common response from atheists goes something like this: "Of course we have morals, what kind of horrible person does not? Why would I need a God to tell me right from wrong?" This response acknowledges that atheists do have morals in a general sense but fails to address the more fundamental questions that challenge their worldview. These questions include: What implications does atheism have on the existence and knowability of moral facts?How could we come to know moral facts if they exist?

The Ontological and Epistemological Challenges

The query about moral facts touches upon both ontology and epistemology. Ontologically, the existence of moral facts presents a significant challenge for atheists. It is logically inconsistent to believe in only physical substances and properties while also positing the existence of non-physical moral facts. Some atheists resolve this issue by treating moral facts as brute facts, which, while plausible, can lead to a messy ontological system.

From an epistemological perspective, the question is even more daunting. If objective moral facts exist, how can we, as non-religious beings, come to know them? Evolution seems to care about survival and reproduction, not morality, which complicates the idea that moral knowledge can be naturally imparted through evolutionary means. Furthermore, reality does not conform to moral facts in the same way it does to mathematical or logical facts. This makes it extremely difficult to develop a robust atheist account of moral knowledge.

Atheism and Moral Knowledge

It is true that many atheists do hold moral values and try to live by them, but this does not necessarily resolve the deeper philosophical issues. The challenge for atheists is to provide a coherent framework that not only upholds moral values but also explains how such values are derived and known. The lack of a satisfactory answer in this regard can lead to skepticism from those outside the atheist worldview. Many find it difficult to reconcile the existence of moral facts with the atheistic belief in a fundamentally materialistic reality.

The Theistic Perspective

Theistic worldviews, on the other hand, offer a different approach to the problem of moral knowledge. The Christian worldview, in particular, posits that the source and ground of all reality is an infinite, morally perfect, and omniscient creator. This perspective suggests that moral knowledge is fundamental to reality and that God provides various means for communicating these moral facts to humanity.

For instance, according to the Bible, God has written the moral law on the hearts of people (Romans 2:15-16) and can communicate directly with individuals through His Spirit. Additionally, God has provided the written word in the form of the Bible, which contains moral guidance for humanity. This ontological and epistemological framework allows theists to account for the existence and knowability of moral facts in a way that is consistent with their belief system.

Conclusion

The question of whether atheists have a unique approach to morality or simply adhere to the same moral code as everyone else is a complex one. While many atheists do hold moral values, the challenge lies in providing a coherent explanation for the existence and knowability of these values within an atheistic framework. Theistic worldviews offer a more straightforward solution to these challenges, which raises the possibility that the existence of moral facts may indeed be better explained within a theistic context.

For atheists, the path to a robust moral framework requires a more in-depth exploration of both ontological and epistemological issues. Until this is achieved, the question of atheist morality remains a significant area of inquiry in the broader philosophical landscape.