References:

(1) William Lane Craig’s Moral argument.

(2) 2 basic attitudes: the first is naturalism, and the second is supernaturalism.

(3) I give a list of 12 potential natural sources of moral truths: A. Science. B. The natural universe. C. Culture or society. D. The individual person (the self). E. Chance or evolution. F. Impersonal force. G. Human reason/ Platonic values. H. Humanism. I. Politics. J. Emotion. K. Pluralism. L. Religion.

(4) The source of moral truths must be personal.

(5) And the source of moral truths must be some standard external to the person.

(6) If reason is offered as an option for the source of moral values and duties, then I ask: Whose reason?

(7) For the refutation that Platonic values as the source of moral truths, consult William Lane Craig’s chapter 6 of the book “on Guard” or chapter 14 of Trent Horn’s book “Answering Atheism.”

(8) Humanism is limited by what limits a human. Humans can be limited by their own personal agendas.

(9) Politics involves people whose interests in power and not in morality.

(10) People have different emotions. How can the sum total of these preferences be objective?

(11) Pluralism is an appeal to more than one thing. So Pluralism would hold that there are multiple sources of morality. But different moralities would have some things moral in one band not in another. Thus, where they disagree depends on opinions and not on objectivity.

(12) Religion is viewed by some scholars as within an evolutionary framework.

(13) Not all scholars have reached this evolutionary conclusion.

(14) “The Origin and Growth of Religion” by Wilhelm Schmidt.

(15) His basic thesis is that monotheistic faith was the first religion practiced by men.

(16) See the article online “Wilhelm Schmidt and the Origin of Religion” by Greg Hanington.

This is episode 98.