The Question of Morality

This is a follow up to my recent blog post on the issue of morality. It is an interview between a Christian journalist and the prominent atheist Richard Dawkins.


“What defines your morality?” I asked with genuine curiosity. 

There was an extended pause as Dawkins considered the question carefully. “Moral philosophic reasoning and a shifting zeitgeist.” He looked off and then continued. 

“We live in a society in which, nowadays, slavery is abominated, women are respected, children can’t be abused—all of which is different from previous centuries.” 

He leaned forward as he warmed to his subject. 

“I’m actually rather interested in the shifting zeitgeist. If you travel anywhere in the Western world, you find a consensus of opinion which is recognizably different from what it was only a matter of a decade or two ago. You and I are both a part of that same zeitgeist, and [as to where] we get our moral outlook, one can almost use phrases like ‘it’s in the air.’” 

At this point, perhaps a word of explanation is necessary. Zeitgeist is a German word meaning “spirit of the age.” Dawkins here refers to the prevailing moral climate or mood of a given place or time. We may observe that what constitutes moral or ethical behavior differs from one culture to another; indeed, it may even differ within a given culture. This is not in dispute. The question, rather, is this: should moral standards be based on the societal zeitgeist or should they look beyond it to something else? 

I asked an obvious question: “As we speak of this shifting zeitgeist, how are we to determine who’s right? If we do not acknowledge some sort of external [standard], what is to prevent us from saying that the Muslim [extremists] aren’t right?” 

“Yes, absolutely fascinating.” His response was immediate. “What’s to prevent us from saying Hitler wasn’t right? I mean, that is a genuinely difficult question. But whatever [defines morality], it’s not the Bible. If it was, we’d be stoning people for breaking the Sabbath.” 

I was stupefied. He had readily conceded that his own philosophical position did not offer a rational basis for moral judgments. His intellectual honesty was refreshing, if somewhat disturbing on this point. 

Dawkins proceeded to cite the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement as examples of Western moral advancements, but would not credit Christianity in the slightest. 

“Now you have to remember where I am from,” I objected. “Birmingham, Alabama—the home of the civil rights movement. Many there would argue that the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was motivated by his Christian convictions. And what of William Wilberforce?” 

But Dawkins would have none of it.


The really interesting bit I have put in italics. It proves that if you do not believe in God, literally anything can go. There is no morality except what someone decides personally. But then that means things such as genocide, murder and rape are not wrong because it's all down to personal preference. But we know these things are wrong and the one true level of morality for all mankind, from God, declares them wrong. No matter what Joe Bloggs thinks.


This interview also shows Dawkins irrational opinions on Christianity, which makes a mockery of his credibility on this issue.

1st May, a infamous day

I was thinking about posting yesterday about the 17th anniversary of the untimely death one of my favourite all time F1 drivers, Ayrton Senna, but decided against it.

Since then, we have probably all heard the news about the death of Osama Bin Laden. What is strange is that both his and Hitler's death were announced on 1st May, 66 years apart (although Hitler actually died on the 30th April).

When I first heard the news I was shocked but pleased, as we all knew what an evil man he was and there is a strong feeling that he deserved it for what he did. I saw the pictures of the Americans celebrating in New York and Washington and understood.

But then a great friend of mine (who I just realised in getting the link, didn't blog once in April :P) posted this on Facebook and I have changed my stance:-

Proverbs 24:17
"Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,"


We cannot rejoice in this as the Lord has commanded otherwise. I believe it is because we should not focus our mind on celebrating death. Let's make it a challenge of ours today not to celebrate death but to celebrate the good things we have in our lives, let's celebrate life and remember how blessed we are to be alive. Let's thank God for such things :)


Some will say that justice or revenge has been done and we should celebrate that. But revenge is never something to be celebrated as we are just going down to their level, and justice hasn't been done and never will be done for the people on this earth for those who died that terrible day on 11/09/01. Justice WILL be done however when Bin Laden and those responsible met God and had to account for their actions. God punishes people justly for what they have done (unless you are in Christ and your sin is paid for already :D). God is so passionate about justice that He sent His Son Christ to die so that we can go to Heaven. 


If all you want to say to God to account for life is, 'I messed up tonnes but Christ paid for it all' then let Jesus into your life today :)



Romans 14:12
It is written:
   “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
   every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.