The Problem of Human Dignity in Atheism

Atheism, as a philosophical position, seeks to explain reality without reference to God or a higher power. However, this rejection of the divine raises significant questions about the nature of human dignity and worth. Can we coherently assert that humans possess inherent dignity and worth without a divine basis?

The Challenge of Grounding Human Value

Atheistic thinkers often appeal to human dignity and worth as fundamental values, but they struggle to provide a logical foundation for these concepts. Without a transcendent reference point, it becomes difficult to justify why human beings possess inherent value.

The Problem of Moral Arbitrariness

In the absence of a divine authority, moral values and principles become arbitrary and subjective. As Richard Dawkins notes, “The universe has no purpose, and we must make our own” (Dawkins, 2006). However, this perspective leads to a moral relativism where human dignity and worth are reduced to individual preferences or cultural norms.

The Failure of Humanist Appeals

Some atheists attempt to ground human dignity in humanistic principles, such as the inherent value of consciousness or the capacity for rational thought. However, these appeals are ultimately unsatisfying because they:

• Presuppose a moral framework: Humanists assume that consciousness and rationality are inherently valuable, but this assumption relies on an unexplained moral intuition.
• Lack objective justification: Without a transcendent foundation, humanistic values remain subjective and vulnerable to revision or rejection.

The Inconsistency of Atheist Moralizing

Atheists often engage in moral critiques of religious beliefs and practices, yet they fail to provide a coherent basis for their own moral judgments. This inconsistency is evident in the works of Christopher Hitchens, who argues that “religion poisons everything” (Hitchens, 2007), but provides no objective standard for evaluating moral claims.

The Incoherence of Moral Outrage

Atheists like Hitchens and Dawkins express moral outrage over religiously motivated atrocities, but their criticism relies on an unexplained assumption that certain actions are objectively wrong. Without a divine basis, their moral judgments become arbitrary and lack persuasive power.

The Alternative: A Divine Basis for Human Dignity

In contrast to atheism, theistic worldviews provide a coherent foundation for human dignity and worth. The concept of imago Dei (the image of God) in Christianity, for example, grounds human value in the divine nature:

• Objective moral framework: The existence of God provides an objective standard for morality, ensuring that human dignity and worth are not reduced to individual preferences or cultural norms.
• Transcendent justification: The divine basis for human dignity offers a transcendent justification for moral values, providing an unshakeable foundation for human rights and dignity.

Conclusion

The atheistic worldview struggles to provide a coherent explanation for human dignity and worth. Without a divine basis, moral values become arbitrary, and humanist appeals to consciousness or rationality are insufficient. In contrast, theistic worldviews offer a logical foundation for human dignity, grounded in the existence of God.

References

Dawkins, R. (2006). The God Delusion. Bantam Press.

Hitchens, C. (2007). God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Twelve Books.

Russell, B. (1953). Human Society in Ethics and Politics. Routledge.