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Secular Humanism

Moral values derive their source from human experience.

Christianity says that we need to apply God's wisdom to solving problems. But, in this case let's apply some human logic to the question of moral values and see what we get.

If our moral values derive from our experience, that means morals are situational. They are based on the situations we experience.

But, we all know we have some moral values that are not based on our personal experiences.

For example, we all agree that killing children is not right. And torturing children before killing them is, without a question, morally wrong. Where does this moral value come from? Some might say it is built into our human nature, or we may have gotten some of our moral values from our parents.

...and our parents may have gotten their moral values from their own experiences or from their parents.

Now we have our personal experiences and the goodness of human nature as the source of moral values. Let's take these one at a time.

Personal experience: If human moral values are determined by personal experience, then since we each have our own unique set experiences, we'll each have our own set of moral values. There is no objective basis for calling something right or wrong. What's wrong for you might be right for me based on my experiences.

For example, we know that it is wrong to take something that belongs to someone else. That's stealing, and it's wrong.

In some cultures however, (for example, some Native American cultures in early America) things are not owned by any one individual, but by the entire group. Since I am from one of those cultures, if I walk into your home and take your TV, I have done nothing wrong.

Based on my morals, taking your TV so I can watch USC football not wrong. Based on my experience and what my parents have taught me, I have done nothing wrong. And who are you to tell me that my moral values are wrong?

Goodness of human nature: The following is a true, historical fact.

Molech was the God of the Ammonite people. Molech was represented by a large hollow brass image having the body of a human and the head of an ox. This huge idol sat on a bronze throne with its hands extended.

A sacrifice was required in order to enter the seventh chapel of Molech. To prepare for the sacrifice a fire was built inside the idol, heating it to red hot temperatures. Those who wished to enter the seventh temple brought their small children, placing them in the heated arms of the idol. Drums pounded and cymbals crashed to cover the cries of the little children as they were burnt and died.

The Ammonite people existed about 1400 BC. They thought they were doing the correct moral thing to sacrifice their children this way. Nazi Germany thought it was doing something good by getting rid of Jews and gypsies. It's is repeated over and over, people are willing to do the most horrible things to each other -- in their efforts to do what everyone agrees is "morally right".

Morality is not something that is determined by a consensus of like-minded people. This makes morality subjective and variable. You can never know for sure what is right or wrong--unless you force your moral values on others.

The truth is, morality comes from God. He has set the absolute standards. They are standards that have never changed and are the same for everyone.

What can be more fair? Instead of being based on an agreement among individuals about what is right or wrong -- God has given us a set of standards that are patterned after the nature and attributes of our creator that apply to everyone, for all time, based on loving one another.

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