Answering Atheism: Morality

Atheism, according to Oxford Languages, is defined as “disbelief in the existence of God or gods.” I would like to suggest the Bible’s definition, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.” (Ps 14:1) Scripture gives a more refined definition, one which opens the scope and demonstrates the issues that flow from a rejection of God. David wrote Psalm 14 about some of his own countrymen, citizens of a kingdom that worshipped Jehovah as their God, but denied Him in their hearts. True atheism is a rejection of THE God of heaven. This crucial error leads to evil - evidenced in the discussion of morality.

Recently, I watched a video done by some men of a denomination (I do not agree with denominationalism) and heard an appalling story. The story goes that one of the men, unwittingly, was going to be sacrificed to a Hindu deity in a remote village, and that morning, an infant was sacrificed. If you search this, the internet would suggest this is a rare occurrence - I hope it is. However, a dive into the “supposed” peaceful religion of Hinduism demonstrates a grave occurrence of immorality. Whether it be among their gods or their adherents, immorality is rampant. This makes the correlation make sense between the devout religiousness of India and the abundance of crime, rape, child abandonment, and a host of other human offenses.

When we consider “textbook atheism”, those who believe in no form of deity, we find an apparent contradiction. There is the suggestion that we, humans, are merely animals - yet to behave as an animal still ought to be dealt with criminally. There is the suggestion of a standard for morality, yet where that morality comes from is “non-apparent.” Additionally, the standard of morality is ever-shifting: “Morality for the people, by the people” seems like an adequate slogan.

Consider the God of heaven briefly. A God who distinguished man above the animals (Gen 2:19-20). A God who then commanded the just treatment of others (Mic 6:8; Lev 19:18, 34). A God who also esteemed the worth of human life (Ex 20:13; Prov 6:16-19 —all relating to human interaction).

The contrast is disparaging. The worldview that is hinged on pseudoreligion is inhumane. The worldview that is hinged on no religion is inhumane. The only worldview that could be adopted and then lead to the humane treatment of one another is that of Christianity - the view that esteems God, conforms to His Word, and imitates His character.