Thinking Matters

The Atheist Morality Bait-and-Switch

By: Bnonn|22 October, 2011|Categories: Ethics|Tags: Divine Command Theory . moral ontology . morality . Naturalism

I’m reposting a reply to a non-theist friend on Facebook, where he tried to defend a view of morality without God: What grounds my morality is the human condition, and that is all that is required to ground it. But that’s just an assertion that flies in the face of what we know morality is. If moral values have no…

Why Morality Must Be Grounded in God

By: Jason|06 August, 2011|Categories: Philosophy of Religion|Tags: God . metaethics . morality

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Uncommon Descent has posted a great response to Jerry Coyne’s recent opinion piece at USA Today, defending the supernatural foundations of morality. [HT: MandM]

Ethics: What Does God have to do with it?

By: Jason|11 July, 2011|Categories: Local|Tags: Ethics . Glenn Pettigrove . John Hare . Mark Murphy . matthew flannagan . moral life . moral obligation . morality . theism

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This July, those of us in Auckland will have the opportunity to hear some of the worlds leading Christian thinkers discuss the relationship between religion and morality. This issue is one that has long been the subject of debate in western culture. Some philosophers and social commentators argue that morality is entirely independent of religion and that faith is in fact…

New Atheist Scientists: “Lane Craig is a fool, you can get an ought from an is, up is down, arguments be damned”

By: Bnonn|20 April, 2011|Categories: Debates|Tags: Ken Perrott . moral epistemology . moral ontology . morality . new atheists . pz myers

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Bnonn points out several flaws in the thinking of New Atheists PZ Myers and Ken Perrott in regards to the grounds of morality, and the recent debate between Wiliam Lane Craig and Sam Harris.

Scientist talks morality, slips on banana peel

By: Bnonn|20 April, 2011|Categories: Ethics|Tags: evolution . moral ontology . moral realism . morality . new atheism . Sam Harris . science . william lane craig

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Bnonn takes New Zealand’s Village Atheist, Ken Perrott, to task for ineptly handling the foundations of human morality.

Further Commentary on the Craig vs Harris Debate

By: Jason|14 April, 2011|Categories: Debates|Tags: Divine Command Theory . metaethics . morality . Sam Harris . william lane craig

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There has been some good analysis of the recent debate between William Lane Craig and Sam Harris and I thought it might be useful to collect some of that commentary here into one post.

Is the Foundation of Morality Natural or Supernatural? Watch Craig v Harris Live

By: Jason|08 April, 2011|Categories: Debates|Tags: Divine Command Theory . metaethics . morality . Sam Harris . william lane craig

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Just a reminder that today’s debate between William Lane Craig and Sam Harris at the University of Notre Dame will be streamed live at 7pm local time (11am for those of us in New Zealand). You will be able to watch the feed here. UPDATE: Brian Auten at Apologetics315 has posted the audio from the debate. UPDATE: The video of…

Ten Reasons for Pro-Life Optimism

By: Jason|03 March, 2011|Categories: Ethics|Tags: abortion . evil . human rights . morality . Trevin Wax . unborn

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If you want to see the rights of unborn children protected, here are several reasons why you can be encouraged about the cause.

“Bad things shouldn’t happen to good people”—why this argument fails against Christianity

By: Bnonn|22 November, 2010|Categories: Ethics|Tags: moral argument . morality . problem of evil

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A reply to ‘Upandatom’ on why the idea that bad things shouldn’t happen to good people actually supports God’s existence, rather than undermining it.

Video from the Bradley v Flannagan Debate

By: Stuart|20 September, 2010|Categories: Debates|Tags: atheism . Bible . Christianity . Conquest of Canaan . debate . Divine Command Theory . Ethics . God . matthew flannagan . morality . Raymond Bradley . theism

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Footage of the debate between Raymond Bradley and Matt Flannagan.

Moral Truth Matters

By: Jason|02 September, 2010|Categories: Quotes|Tags: Glenn Peoples . morality . objective morality . Sam Harris . science

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Sam Harris defends the importance of objective moral truth at his lecture at the Edge Conference.

Dallas Willard On the Disappearance of Moral Knowledge

By: Jason|31 May, 2010|Categories: Media . Video|Tags: Dallas Willard . empirical knowledge . knowledge . metaethics . moral knowledge . morality . Skepticism

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In this video from a lecture delivered last month, philosopher Dallas Willard explores whether the moral life can be the subject of knowledge in an age that is skeptical about non-empirical claims.