Theists, why do you believe morality to be objective (not subjective)?

Question

Note that this is different question than asking how morality can be objective rather than biased. We should avoid equivocation about which meaning of "objective morality" being used.

Also, I'm not looking for "because I believe in God". If "objective/not subjective morality" is to be evidence for the existence of a god, there have to be independent reasons for believing in it apart from having a vested interest in justifying belief in a god.

Answer 1

Subjective

Answer 2

Because it is kind of both. What is true is always true, but you have to look at all the layers to get the full assessment. There are gray areas, though, when one factor is about equal to another in importance.

Answer 3

I don't believe any such thing. (And yes, I am a theist--a lifelong Protestant Christian.)



My focus is on whether morality is effective.

Answer 4

No need to believe that since reason and logic make it certain.

Answer 5

Theists probably don't all believe in objective morality. But basically I believe in a cognitivist and consequential theory of metaethics, which incidentally is not linked to my theism - I also believed that as an atheist and an agnostic - because I see ethics as similar to mathematics. That is, it exists independently of human thought. I don't see that there should be such a big problem with that idea. The problem arises when you try to interpret it. God therefore reports on what the right thing to do is via convicting our conscience. She does not make things right or wrong by fiat. That wouldn't be ethics but more like a Queen of the Universe acting as an absolute monarch.

Answer 6

I believe morality is objective because humans are all of the same species.

Answer 7

MS, simply put, Christians (I can't speak for other theists) believe that morality is as objective as God. God is an absolute: absolute truth, reality, love, wisdom, and morality. There is no greater standard. If there were, then that would be God, not the lesser standard.



Can man know this objective absolutism? Yes and no. Man can only know subjectively. Jesus came into the world that we (mankind) might give this objective absolutism a name and have a better understanding of its character.

Answer 8

Morality is objective as it is the character of God through commands to regulate man's actions towards mankind and nature.

Answer 9

I believe that morality is objective because even the most primitive of cultures still adhere to the same moral code that the most advanced nations do, so, this pretty much disproves the notion of those who are cut off from civilisation not adhering to the same moral code, in certain respects, as those who are in civilisation.



C.S Lewis, in his book, the Abolition of Man, recognised that when he looked at all of the different cultures in the world they all agreed upon basic morality, thus proving objective morality.

Answer 10

You've been misinformed, I believe morality to be largely subjective and relative.



I don't really believe objective morality exists. If it did, then morals would be completely static and universal, however we obviously have differences and changes depending on the time and place and culture.



The word 'theists' covers a pretty large group. We don't all believe the same.

Answer 11

I believe Good and Evil are forces of Nature.Humans didn't invent morality.But humans are a conscious vessel,in which Good or Evil can emerge.

Answer 12

Interestingly. We seem to have an internal preprogrammed moral compass within us. And if we violate that moral compass, it involves the use of mechanisms like denial, and it involves psychological abnormalities and pathologies. It is all quite orderly. Just as this universe comes with its own set of preprogrammed natural laws, humans also seem to be preprogrammed with psychological, sociological, and behavioral laws which can be scientifically studied and catalogued.

Answer 13

those that do say so because they have this idea that what their god says is it, never changeable. So rape under circumstances is for them still fine. As would slavery. So clearly there is a problem with their world view.



First, if objective morality does exist (something they have yet to prove), that doesn't mean it derives from a god. There could be other reasons why it is objective. Tautologies are objectively true and don't require a god.



Secondly, the objective morality argument fails because if a god created morality, then it is arbitrary, not objective. If a god says something is good because it is an objective, then it is external to that god, not created by it.



Third, the god of the OT is most definitely immoral, and following the logic of the NT and many modern day Christians, the god of the NT is also evil. If atheists don't believe because Satan has blinded us, that means not only has this god allowed this, but to punish us for all eternity for something that Satan has allegedly done is also immoral. And eternal punishment for merely not believing, how on earth is that moral?



Science tells us we are born with an evolved, innate sense of morality that allows us to live in groups. It's called empathy. This is tempered by societal norms, such as your parents, and the groups you belong to. So morality is evidence for evolution, not for a god.

Answer 14

The question hinges on WHOSE morality is taken to be either objective or subjective. Your idea of morality? Society's idea of morality? My idea of morality? None of those three could ever be OBjective! They will be prejudiced and inconsistent and open to interpretation.



On the other hand there are some moral laws set in stone and they've never changed since circa 1446 B.C. Check out the Ten Commandments in the Bible. They apply to all peoples at all times, whether they acknowledge that or not. That's how objective they are!

Answer 15

Because it's the last hope they have of defending their claims.

Answer 16

It is both, if a person is limited by knowledge and truth they won't know the real morality of a holy God

Answer 17

no its not a different question your wrong. god stated what is good and what is bad.

Answer 18

A person can better know and live according to true morality by reciting daily and with care the angelic psalter of the Blessed Virgin.

Answer 19

As a theist (LDS) I believe that we are all born with the abiltiy to recognize good and bad. We call this our conscience but I believe that it is one of the effects of God's power that fills the universe. We can become sensitive or insensitive to it by our choices.



I believe that everything that is good is true. There appears to be some kinds of morality that we can agree upon. For example, most people would believe that it is bad to beat a 2 year old child. Or that it is not good that we take things into our bodies that are not good for us. Or that we should not lie. Or that it is good to serve others. I believe that these are not subjective but are firm, unchangable truths. We can say that we know that they are true.

Answer 20

If it's subjective I could say it's moral to kill someone for making me upset. Morality is objective but that does not mean that the Bible holds the objective truth.

Answer 21

Because they are not made by, or adjudicated by us. and they do not change.



Ethics....can change or be ignored when inconvenient



not...morals