The atheist has an insurmountable problem in his efforts to explain the existence of humanity without the presence of a divine being. The theory of evolution, used to promote the idea of our physical development over eons of time, can in no way explain the existence the fixed moral standards that have been present throughout human history.
Below is a very interesting quote, contending that atheistic philosophy is lacking in this important area:
If you are a materialist, how do you derive a belief in a moral law that is binding on you and others? How do you get from the “is” to the “ought”? And how do you respond to a Nietzschean who tells you “your belief is fine for you, but it is not binding to me. God is dead — and I choose to follow the Will to Power”? An atheist may disagree with this Nietzschean sentiment, but he has no persuasive philosophical or moral ground on which to make his stand.
Even supposing that human beings have a moral sense based on evolution, why choose to follow it? After all, we have lots of instincts–some noble and some base. Why choose the more noble ones, like cooperation and sympathy, fidelity and fair play? Why not use your power against those you have authority over? Why not rig the game in order to advance your own self-interest?
This does not mean atheists cannot live ethical lives or advocate moral principles. Many do. It’s just that they cannot anchor it in anything durable (an appeal to “human solidarity” won’t do the trick). Another reason for this is parasitic. Certain religious precepts are now part of our social DNA. And so we take it for granted that, as the Founders said, all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. We believe, as Abraham Lincoln did, that “nothing stamped with the Divine image and likeness was sent into the world to be trodden on, and degraded, and imbruted by its fellows.” The moral atheist certainly exists, but it is because he lives in a society that takes a transcendent morality for granted. If the atheistic enterprise were to prevail, these beliefs would be unmoored–and the moral world it would create would be barren and bleak.
Peter Wehner, critiquing Dinesh D’Souza’s book,
What’s So Great About Christianity
The main theory forwarded by atheists is that morality is present because it works in man’s best interest. So, it is simply a “survival” behavior. The problem is, such a theory does not account for the fact that many, in the name of morality, do things that do not benefit them or their interests. In effect, selflessness can not be natural in origin. Selflessness is a directive that comes from the Divine. Paul wrote, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
