It has been said that, philosophically, the problem of evil is only a problem for believers. Atheism provides no coherent metaphysical explanation or account of evil.
Cordially,
Atheism provides no coherent metaphysical explanation or account of evil.
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Exactly, which is why I wrote “strangely enough”.
To answer the problem of evil, atheists discard the very basis of judging what is evil. Incoherent, as you so astutely noted.
Of course, they still believe themselves to be good. They’ll even dare say they’re better than Christians. However, once they eliminate anything higher than mankind as their moral foundation, they must choose between three different standards:
1. Personal morality - The atheist is never wrong, no matter what he/she chooses. Murder? Not a problem. Rape? Not evil if atheist says it’s not. If it feels good, do it!
2. Common morality - Whatever the majority chooses is right. As long as the majority agrees with the atheist, that is. Slavery was A-OK according to the majority at one time; it could be again, easily. As long as the slaves are considered less human than their oppressors, that is. Stupid Christians are stupid, and not as smart as REAL people! They have not evolved past superstition, perhaps they should do the grunt work REAL humans are too good and smart to waste time on!
3. Morality of the elite - A small group of people should determine what is right and wrong for everybody else. We’ve seen how this one works, way too many times, but it is an inevitable outcome of rejecting God. But it’ll work this time, we swear! We just haven’t had smart enough people try it yet!
Or an accepted transcendent moral standard by which things are judged. The supreme moral reasoning of one atheist can conditionally justify fornication, while another can argue against it and for marriage..
Both assert this is consistent with the Golden Rule, but which itself presupposes a foundational morality, in the light of which what you would have done unto you is determined. Thus in Scripture it is the second great commandment, after love for God, which entails obeying what He wrote.
The way I see it, is that atheism provides no coherent philosophical for good, which is a problem for UNbelievers.