SAM HARRIS’ ATTACK ON GOD AS OUR MORAL BASIS

I was just watching a segment of Sam Harris’ debate with WLC. Harris argued that the God of the Bible could not possibly serve as the basis of moral law because:

1.    Thousands of young children die every day.

2.    Then they will be banished to hell if they’ve failed to in believe exactly the right way.

Not only did Harris argue that this disqualified the God of the Bible as the possible basis for moral truth; it also disqualified everyone who believes in such a God as “morally reprehensible,” not just mistaken or even logically ignorant.

Since I qualify as one of his moral reprehensibles, I thought that it might be appropriate to defend myself.

Let’s first address point number one. Admittedly, we do not comprehensively understand why God allows such evil and suffering. However, we might be able to put together a modest attempt to explain what God has not explained. For one thing, he might be allowing us to reap the consequences of both our sins and humanity’s initial rebellion which had resulted in the Fall.

I am sure that Harris will not be satisfied with this explanation. However, his argument depends upon the hidden premise that there is no possible way to explain God’s passivity in the face of such widespread suffering. I think that he will find this impossible to prove, especially in light of the next consideration.

Our lives here are just a drop in the bucket compared to a blissful eternity. In light of this possibility, Harris would have to prove that our temporal suffering outweighs anything that eternity can offer. However, he cannot do this. So let’s go on to point number two.

Will these little children be banished to hell because they failed to believe in exactly the right things? I don’t think that Harris can make this assertion about the Biblical faith. Once again, we are only given a sketchy picture of heaven and hell, especially in regards to the outcome of babies who die prematurely. For example, Jesus taught:

·       And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (Luke 12:47-48; ESV)

Babies do not know much. Therefore, according to Jesus, there remains only an uncertain basis for accountability, if any. Nor had they been entrusted with much.

Yet, I am sure that Harris understands that this perplexing question of evil does not constitute the basis of our faith let alone our morality. Nevertheless, he will take this mud and smear it in our face and call us “reprehensive” when we fail to turn this mud into diamonds.

However, Harris also lives on the same muddy road of death and suffering. In The Moral Landscape, Harris argues that reason and science show us that “human flourishing” is our absolute and objective standard is good or bad. Anything that helps humans flourish is good.

However, according to Harris, the daily death of thousands of little children argues against any just and objective moral law. Therefore, following Harris’ logic, it would be impossible to reason that this universe of suffering and death contains any objective moral laws. Consequently, we are left to merely make-believe that we are surrounded by moral universe and that “human flourishing” is its motto, rather than “termite flourishing.”

Consequently, both Harris and we reprehensibles are left to explain the problem of evil. However, for us, evil only has a very limited shelf-life, and will be swallowed up by our Savior’s eternal and glorious kingdom. Meanwhile, we have found many reasons to trust in His moral teachings and even find great delight in them.