In the interview, Peter Robinson takes on Christopher Robinson, an atheist, in a series of lively debate on the morals of an atheist. Hitchens claims that God is not necessary for morality. In the interview, he formulated one of his best-known challenges: “Name me an ethical action taken or a moral statement made by a believer that could not have been made or performed by a non-believer” (Tom, 2012). The point that Hitchin is trying to make is that anyone with normal mental faculties can practice moral principle, regardless of whether he is religious or not. This paper will explore the arguments from Hitchens about atheism and morality that makes sense and the ones that don’t. The paper will further outline whether morality is possible for atheist and give foundations for atheistic morals.
I agree with Hitchens’ point that it is not necessarily for anyone with normal mental faculties to be religious to practice moral principle. This is quite true as some believers and non-believers practice moral principles. This is supported by the fact that some monstrous organizations feed the needy or poor. Also, some religious organizations provide valuable humanitarian services like Catholic charities, Goodwill Industries, Habitat for Humanity and many others. Though Hitchens’ argument was focussing on whether morality is objective or subjective and was leading to a debate on the existence of God, he is right, and I, therefore, agree with him when he stated that you don’t have to be religious to practice moral principle.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
I disagree with Hitchens when he says that believers are feebleminded. He argues that all religions are evil and some religions like those in the Arab nations, by sheer coincidence, are worse than others. Hitchens blames religion virtually for every problem and overlooks the fact that religion can change for the better. He mentions but downplays the harm caused in the past century by secular regimes like Stalin’s Russia which is a serious blind spot.
Religion and morality do not have definitional connections and thus are to be defined differently. Morality does not require religious tenets, but some faiths give guides to moral life. Therefore, I believe that morality is possible for atheists. Their morality is founded in the aspect of secular morality. Secular morality is a philosophical aspect which deals with morality outside religious customs. Some of the principles I consider are the foundations for atheistic morals are humanism, most versions of consequentialism, and freethinking.
Reference
Tom, T. (2012). Christopher Hitchens~ The Morals of an Atheist. [Online]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwGkTA7Spls . Accessed 8th Dec 2018.
