Before looking at this question, what do I mean by an objective moral value? I mean something that can be considered good or bad throughout time and space. An objective moral value doesn't change. So where do they come from? Assuming they exist.
Let's assume there's a God. That He is the creator of the universe. Are morals external to Him? Something for Him to obey and be judged against? Or are they His arbitrary rules to which we must conform?
Can there be an evil God?
The first question suggests that there is something that God is not sovereign over, so can He really be God? And the second is hardly satisfactory: morals just become some crazy test for us to pass. So here's a better proposal: that morality reflects God's character. An action is good in so far as it conforms to how God would act. Lets see how this leads to objective morals.
If there is a creator then He transcends the universe and time.
Therefore His character does not change in space or time.
Morals reflect God's character.
Therefore morals transcend space and time.
Therefore morality is objective.
So morals are neither arbitrary nor some external rule which God must obey. So to talk of God as evil makes no sense. Because if God was different then what we refer to as good or evil would be different. God is good by definition.
Let's look at some examples.
Why is adultery wrong? Because God is faithful and loving, existing as a Trinity.
Why is lying wrong? Because God is truthful.
Why is murder wrong? Because God is the giver of life, and to take a life is His prerogative.
So how can we know objectively what is right or wrong? We need to look at how God has revealed Himself. We need to look to Christ.
This then raises a final question:
If there is no God, can there be objective moral values?
No comments:
Post a Comment