The Question Atheism Struggles to Answer (It’s Not What You Think)

Gavin Ortlund examines a key question raised in a debate between Douthat and Pinker, arguing that atheism struggles to provide a sufficient foundation for moral obligation and human rights without borrowing from theistic assumptions. My new book: Why Christianity Makes Sense: A Book About Jesus, the Mysteries of the World, and the Longings in Your Heart: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Christianity-Makes-Sense-Mysteries/dp/0310182204/truthunitesbo-20 Videos Mentioned: Do We Need God? Steven Pinker vs. Ross Douthat Debate: https://youtu.be/3jWCLONu7DM?si=Rng3434QiU1ntGPh Slavery in the Bible: Answering Atheist Critiques: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZImmDmr8pxk The Moral Argument Still Works: Response to Recent Critiques: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbFXWmadid0 Stop Abandoning the Moral Argument (Do This Instead): https://youtu.be/X8IaA_tCs1s?si=YsWGEI_kC5PW3fiB Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth. Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville. SUPPORT: Tax Deductible Support: https://truthunites.org/donate/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truthunites FOLLOW: Website: https://truthunites.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truth.unites/ X: https://x.com/gavinortlund Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage/ MY ACADEMIC WORK: https://truthunites.org/mypublications/ PODCAST: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM Striving Side By Side: https://discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Christianity-Makes-Sense-Mysteries/dp/0310182204/truthunitesbo-20 https://www.amazon.com/What-Means-Be-Protestant-Always-Reforming/dp/B0CNFFP6LK/truthunitesbo-20 https://www.amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunitesbo-20 https://www.amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunitesbo-20 https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunitesbo-20 https://www.amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunitesbo-20 00:00 - Should AI Have Rights? 03:25 - The Golden Rule 05:56 - The Imago Dei 08:47 - Atheism Borrows from the Christian View of Humanity 10:54 - Can Society Live off of Atheism?