A common argument from theists is that morality requires a god to condemn immoral acts like murder sufficiently. They argue morality demands an absolute and external standard of right and wrong in the form of an infinite, invisible, conscious being, that it makes no sense to believe that the worst you can say about murder is that you don’t personally like it. This argument is initially compelling, but a closer examination reveals its flaws.

Note that theists always default to saying that god is responsible for whatever they cannot easily explain. For example, if science can’t fully explain the universe’s origin or the nature of time, the theist’s quick answer is that god did it. They apply the same logic when you ask them about morality and ethics. They claim the only way to know right and wrong is through god. However, this doesn’t solve the problem; it only substitutes a simplistic, unprovable assertion. Theists shoot an arrow into a wall and then draw the bull’s eye around it, claiming they have scored precisely.

Both theists and non-theists agree that humans have created all organized fields of knowledge: science, mathematics, literature, politics, law, philosophy, and more. While debates exist within these fields, their human origin is undisputed. Yet, theists claim an external source is necessary for ethics. Theists make no such claim for fields such as mathematics or medicine. That is, you don’t need a god to know that 2 + 2 = 4.

Ethics, like all other knowledge systems, originates from humanity. But let’s consider the theistic perspective: what do their books teach us about morality? What follows are passages from from the three most well-known “holy books”:

Old Testament
"If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads." – Leviticus 20:13

"Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey." – 1 Samuel 15:3

New Testament
"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ." – Ephesians 6:5

"For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'” – Matthew 10:35–36

Qur'an
"But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance—[first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them." – Surah An-Nisa 4:34

Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the [levy] willingly while they are humbled." Surah At-Tawbah (9:29)

Are these directives—calling for the execution of adulterers, homosexuals, non-believers and children, condoning slavery, wife-beating, and family discord—ethical? Defenders of these writings often argue that these verses are “taken out of context.”

No context justifies these commands. These verses are clear and explicit; most reasonable people find them immoral. The fact that many religious people also find them objectionable proves that morality originates from people, not from a “perfect” book authored by a “perfect” being. If theists genuinely believed these were ethical statements, there would be no instinct to question or reinterpret them. Fundamentalists who do accept these teachings without hesitation often perpetrate violence and oppression, believing they are doing god’s will. There are few, if any, secular humanist suicide bombers, but there are plenty of religious ones.

Contrast these religious teachings with the principles of humanism, as defined by Humanist Canada:

Humanism is a philosophy or life-stance based upon a profound respect for human dignity and the conviction that human beings are ultimately accountable to themselves and to society for their actions. It is a deity-free worldview that affirms our ability to lead ethical and meaningful lives without reliance upon a belief in the supernatural. Humanists are guided by reason and scientific inquiry, inspired by music and art, and motivated by ethics, compassion, and fairness.

Humanism values compassion and human dignity, in stark contrast to religious systems that divide people and cause immense suffering. Religious individuals can act ethically, but they do so not because of their religion but despite it. In contrast, ethical behaviour is intrinsic to humanism.

Humanists don’t claim to have all the answers to complex moral questions. Our strength is embracing doubt, uncertainty, inquiry, and evidence - a foundation of free and open societies and minds. Religion’s certainty, while comforting to some, enslaves the rational mind.

Finally, consider these two groups of countries:

• Group A: Religious or semi-religious countries - Examples: Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Brunei, Belarus, Mauritania, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Oman, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates

• Group B: Secular countries - Examples: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Germany, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea

Which group would you prefer to live in?

Additional articles by Andrew