Here's my question, though: where does morality come from, if not from God? Who is to say that his action was "wrong" or "immoral," if there is no higher power, no creator, no deity? In the atheistic economy, who defines the standards of morality? Who defines "right" and "wrong?" Why was my friend even concerned that he had done something "wrong?" Who does he answer to (in his worldview, I mean)?
This it not to sound flippant, or critical of my friend (I'd be fine with him reading these thoughts), but I really have no idea how the concept of "guilt" can exist apart from deity declaring a right and a wrong. I'm reminded of the words of Sally Beth Roe, a character who journeys from atheism to faith in Frank Peretti's Piercing The Darkness:
Now, for the wrench in the works, first thrown in this morning: the possibility of guilt as a fact and not just a feeling. If--and I emphasize the word if--there is a fixed standard of right and wrong--a fence, as I've said--then it is possible to be guilty of an offense, all feelings of guilt aside. I can be on the wrong side of the fence and in the wrong no matter how I feel about it...Let's say I rob a bank. That makes me guilty of robbery. Let's say I don't feel guilty about it. If robbery can be established as wrong, then I'm still guilty of robbery, regardless of how I feelSo what's the take-away from this entry? To be honest, I don't really know. Most (all?) of the people reading blog would declare firmly that they believe that there is a deity who defines morality, and that deity is the God of the Bible. So what's the purpose here?
The feeling--or lack of feeling--does not change the fact.
I don't really know, but it's what was on my heart when I sat down to write. Not so much Israel-trip-related or typical "quiet time" type meditative thoughts, but just thoughts after a conversation with a friend.
--Ben
2 comments:
"Here's my question, though: where does morality come from, if not from God? Who is to say that his action was "wrong" or "immoral," if there is no higher power, no creator, no deity? In the atheistic economy, who defines the standards of morality? Who defines "right" and "wrong?" Why was my friend even concerned that he had done something "wrong?" Who does he answer to (in his worldview, I mean)?"
I think what is confusing you is that you are forgetting about the way your friend was raised; in his immediate family, within his culture and as a human being.
Morality comes from humans. We created it, we support it, and we differ in it. Just look at the changing morals through history, and the different morals of the multiple cultures on our planet today. Some things are universal, many are not.
Your friend is concerned because he was probably raised to view things a certain way. And even though he may have different feelings about it now, that can't change the underlying feelings that were almost programmed (metaphorically) into him at a young age.
If, for example, your parents were to tell you from birth until the age of 18 that eating ketchup on hot dogs was a horrible, abominable practice that only murderers and rapists participated in, even learning the truth (that you can eat hot dogs with ketchup and still be a good person) you would almost certainly still feel guilty about it.
Does that help?
I agree with you completely, Ben. I have a coworker who "claims" not to be a believer, but the more I try to get through to him the more he is becoming open to the thought that there at least is a God. I think that is a breakthrough in and of itself. If you can get them to believe that God exists or at least open to the thought of it, it opens the door to talks about the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. A couple of weeks ago, his wife was able to talk him into going to a "mega-church" that wasn't too "preachy" in his words. He liked it. We've led the horse to water, let's hope he keeps drinking.
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