God’s existenceDraft · awaiting advisor review

Can we be good without God?

In short

People who don’t believe in God can be very good, and the Bible says God’s law is written on every heart. The deeper question is whether anything can be truly right or wrong, binding on everyone, if there is no God. Christians argue that real moral truths are best explained by a good God.

The Objection

Atheists are as moral as believers. Morality comes from empathy, evolution and society; no one needs a God to know that murder is wrong. Religion has often made people worse, not better.

Put as its strongest advocates would put it.

The Christian Case

Scripture
Paul says people without God’s law still do what it requires by nature, because it is written on their hearts.
Philosophical argument
Knowing right from wrong is one question; what makes something truly right or wrong is another. Anyone can know the first. The Christian argument is about the second.
Philosophical argument
If morality is only the result of evolution or social agreement, it is hard to say that a society which approved of slavery or genocide was really wrong, rather than just different. Most people believe some things are wrong whatever anyone thinks.
Historical evidence
Some historians argue that the modern belief in the equal dignity of every person owes a great deal to Christianity’s teaching that all are made in God’s image.
Christians differ
Christians explain the link between God and morality in different ways: as God’s commands, as the nature he gave creation (natural law), or as God’s own good character.

Where the Evidence Is Weaker

Many philosophers defend objective morality without God, and this argument is debated. Christians have also done great evil, which weakens any claim that belief makes people good.

Arguments to Avoid

Saying atheists can’t be moral.
Ignoring the evil done by Christians.

Read for Yourself

Romans 2:14–16

¹⁴For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: ¹⁵Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) ¹⁶In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Micah 6:8

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Genesis 1:27