Q&A: Faith in Light of the Argument from Morality
Faith in Light of the Argument from Morality
Question
Hello,
I wanted to ask whether someone who accepts the argument from morality has a significantly better reason to accept the physico-theological argument. And does the Rabbi think that the argument from morality alone is enough in order to accept the tradition about the Revelation at Mount Sinai? Especially given that there are many commandments that are not moral….
Answer
I don’t see a connection between the arguments.
If the argument from morality is compelling in your eyes, then it is enough to prove that God exists. From there to the Revelation at Mount Sinai is still a long way off (see the fifth booklet).
The argument from morality says that there exists a transcendent entity. It could also demand of us things that are immoral or non-moral.
Discussion on Answer
See column 15 here on the site.
Hello Rabbi,
I read your answer to Avi, and I’d appreciate it if you could please sharpen the point: how can the argument from morality “also demand of us things that are immoral or non-moral”? After all, the argument from morality seemingly implicitly assumes that God is moral; otherwise, why would He command morality? Seemingly, according to the argument from morality, any immoral claim made in God’s name has to confront the question of how it could contradict God’s command—that is, morality.
Thanks in advance