Does Religion Hinder Morality?
Does religion make people more moral—or does it actually stand in the way of true ethics? This is the question we’re tackling this week in Confronting Christianity as we explore whether faith helps or hinders morality.
Physicist Steven Weinberg once claimed, “Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.” ” It’s a bold statement, and at first glance, it seems compelling. But Rebecca McLaughlin challenges this claim by identifying three major flaws:
1️⃣ Lack of Specificity – Which religion? What kind of belief system? Are all faiths the same in shaping morality?
2️⃣ Contradicting Data – Research shows religious people often live more ethically, volunteering and giving more generously than their secular counterparts.
3️⃣ A Flawed Moral Measuring Stick – If we claim morality exists apart from religion, what is our universal standard? Who decides what is "right" or "wrong"?
A Story of Transformation
Sarah, an atheist-turned-Christian, didn’t find faith through scripture or tradition—but through the idea of human equality.As an academic, she wrestled with the realization that her belief in universal human dignity wasn’t as self-evident as she once thought. If morality is socially constructed, what guarantees its truth? Her journey led her to Christianity, where she discovered a deeper, more transformative foundation for justice and human worth.
What does that mean for us?
If morality isn’t self-sustaining, if justice and human rights aren't just social constructs, then what is their foundation? Could it be that the radical love of Jesus—who sacrificed Himself for the sake of others—is actually the truest expression of morality?
Let’s talk:
Do you think morality can exist apart from God? Why or why not?
Have you ever wrestled with the idea that religion could be harmful to morality?
How does Sarah’s story challenge or affirm your own beliefs?
