1. Humans possess objective moral knowledge.

Moral Knowledge: Knowledge of Right and Wrong, Principals, Mandates of God.

Differing from: Legal obligations, financial obligation, obligations of etiquette and other
obligations of virtue.
An awareness of moral obligations is in fact an awareness of God's commands or divine
laws.

2. Probably, if God does not exist, humans would not possess objective moral
knowledge.

3. Probably, God exists.

4. Human persons have a special kind of intrinsic value that we call dignity.

5. The only (or best) explanation of the fact that humans possess dignity is that they are
created by a supremely good God in God's own image.

6. There is a supremely good God.

Student​:​ A question has been weighing on my mind recently and I was wondering if you
could help me answer it?

Teacher​: ​Absolutely! What is your question?

Student​: ​Well I’ve been thinking, how did we get here? Were we created?

Teacher​:​ That is a very broad and difficult question to answer.

Student​:I imagine that any discussion on the nature of our start must begin with on the topic
of Morality.

Teacher​:​ Excellent, this discourse will be fascinating to me.

Student​: ​Let's begin the discussion. What is your first question?

Teacher​:​ Let’s begin with this question so I may better understand your thinking and
theology: Do you believe that there are things that are moral and things that are not moral?

Student​: ​Yes, I believe so.

Teacher​:​ Do you believe that humans have an internal ability to distinguish the moral from
the immoral?

Student​:​ Yes, I would agree to that.

Teacher​:​ From where does this ability originate?

Student​:​ Why, from from ourselves of course!

Teacher​:​ Would a person who is never exposed to Moral Truth have the ability to distinguish
the Moral from the immoral?

Student​:​ I suppose that exposure to Moral truth is necessary to internally develop the ability
to discern Moral truth.

Teacher​:​ Therefore the ability to distinguish the moral from the immoral could not come
from just ourselves. What would be the source of this ability if not from ourselves? It would
have to be a source with a higher capacity for Moral Knowledge, would it not?

Student​: ​That is true. Only creatures with a sufficient capacity for intelligence have Moral
Knowledge. Therefore, this higher source must have a higher Moral Knowledge and in
parallel a higher intelligence than ourselves.

Teacher​:​ So, with our Moral Knowledge, would you say that gives us in turn a Moral
Dignity?

Student​:​ I suppose so, those with more responsibilities and power often have an inflated
sense of arrogance and self-importance.

Teacher​:​ That may be so in some instances, but we are talking about Moral Dignity. It is
different from common dignity which has no value in this discussion if only to highlight the
difference between it and Moral Dignity.

Student​: If you don’t mean dignity as in ​self-importance, what do you mean by Moral
Dignity?
Teacher​: By ​Moral Dignity I mean having moral respect or worth.

Student​: I see. So you’re saying that if we have moral knowledge, then we have moral
dignity. Or a knowledge of morals gives us a moral worth?

Teacher​: Exactly! Wouldn't you agree that since our moral dignity comes from moral
knowledge, and that comes from a being with even greater moral knowledge than us, than
that being would also have moral dignity?

Student​:​ ​I suppose that would logically follow, yes. Our Moral Knowledge must come from
some outside source, one that has revealed understanding we did not already possess.

Teacher​: So you would say this Source must be intelligent, and have a sense of Moral Truth.
Isn’t it true that, if we are created by a superior being, which we must be as we discussed
earlier, then we possess Moral Knowledge?

Student​: I suppose so, that seems like it would logically follow.

Teacher​: Additionally, wouldn't you agree if this being has a greater moral knowledge than
us, then they would also have a higher moral dignity?

Student​:Yes I agree.

Teacher​: Then doesn’t it seem like we are almost lesser copies of this being? Or rather
designed in its image?

Student​: It would seem so since we have less but similar qualities that we are made in this
being’s image.
Teacher​: Since we’ve established that we have these moral qualities because they were given
to us by an intelligent, moral source, then doesn’t it follow that giver of the moral character
of humans is thus their Creator?

Student​: ​That seems clear enough to me at this time, but I still have more questions on what
morality is and the scope of its application. This talk with you has also raised some questions
for me on the nature of the a Creator as a moral authority. For example, does the Creator
command something because it is right or is it right because he commands it? And if the
Creator commands something because it is right, then is it the rightness of the thing in
question that contains the moral authority and not the Creator who commands? For those
who command or do something because it is right are not appealing to their own authority,
but submitting themselves to the authority of the rightness of that, which they value.
Unfortunately, I have more questions than answers.

Teacher​: Perhaps we can pursue more questions on the Source of Morality some other day?

Student​: I look forward to it.

Other notes:
Student: What is Moral Knowledge? Does it help me to know which ice cream flavor to
choose?
Teacher: No, Moral Knowledge is that which is pertaining to the Moral Obligations we
possess as beings of higher knowledge. Moral Obligations are the foundations of Moral
Knowledge that concern the dichotomy of the burden of giving into basic temptation vs. the
way of Morality.

Is required to have a belief in God to be a moral person?

God gives us the capacity to be moral. You must first have faith in God in order to have a
capacity for morality. Without faith in God, no human can be moral at all. An atheist cannot be a
moral person.

Morality: human behavior based on the knowledge of right and wrong.

Reasons for Morality from God

1. Information from the Bible.

2. Sacrifice of Christ.

Trolley Problem

There is a runaway ​trolley​ barreling down the ​railway tracks​. Ahead, on the tracks, there are five
people tied up and unable to move. The trolley is headed straight for them. You are standing
some distance off in the train yard, next to a lever. If you pull this lever, the trolley will switch to a
different set of tracks. However, you notice that there is one person tied up on the side track.
You have two options:
1. Do nothing, and the trolley kills the five people on the main track.
2. Pull the lever, diverting the trolley onto the side track where it will kill one person.
Which is the most ethical choice?

1. Does God have free will?

1. If you say yes, can He choose to do evil? ​No, God cannot choose to do
evil. God cannot act in a manner that is contradictory to his own nature.
His nature is holy, and he is not capable of doing that which is contrary to
his own nature, namely, sin and/or evil. However, evil would need to be
defined here as well. Within Christianity, evil has at least two different
distinctions. There is ontological evil which would be, for example, the
person of Satan who is evil by nature. There would also be what's called
natural evil which is referenced in ​Isaiah 45:7​. The latter is different than
the former because the latter deals with disasters where the former deals
with an evil individual whose will and purposes are to do harm without
just cause.
2. Furthermore, an atheist would have no objective grounds by which evil
could be determined and a standard established. Without a standard,
nothing more than opinions can be offered as to what is good or bad, right
or wrong, and evil or not evil. There may be things that are unpleasant or
not preferred, but this does not constitute evil in the ontological sense.
3. If you say no, why not? ​The answer has already been explained. God
cannot act in a manner contrary to his own nature. Evil is contrary to his
holiness, so God cannot choose to do evil.
4. If you say yes, then doesn't that mean that your God's actions are
questionable? ​Since God cannot do evil, his actions are not questionable.
5. If you say yes, then can he have a state of uncertainty? (See the free will
argument against God's existence). ​See above.
2. When having discussions like this, it is first necessary to define terms. Free will
is the ability to make choices. However, our choices can only be made within the
confines of a person's nature. For example, though I am free to conceive of
many things I might want to accomplish, I'm not always able to accomplish what
I desire. I could conceive of the idea of flapping my arms to fly to the moon, but
I'm not able to do it. Likewise, I cannot conceive of something that I cannot
conceive of. If I cannot conceive of something, I cannot make a free will choice
to want it, accept it, reject it, or whatever. So, free will does not mean that a
person has the ability to do anything. Instead, it is the ability to make choices
within the constraints of our nature and not in a manner that contradicts it.
3. What crime deserves an eternity of punishment? ​ Any crime against an infinitely
holy God deserves an eternity of punishment. It is not an issue of any particular
crime that deserves an eternal punishment but who the crime is against. Let me
illustrate. If a man were to slap another man in the face, the result might be an
argument or even a fist fight. However, if that same man were to slap the
President of the United States in the face, the result would be quite different.
The person would go to jail and face felony charges. So, why does the exact
same act get such different results? The answer simple. It is not the act that
deserves a higher punishment. Instead, the different result is determined by
who it is against. So, if we move up the chain of command to the infinite God of
the universe, when we break his law, there is an eternal consequence because of
who the crime (sin such as lying, etc.) is against.
4. What does it mean to you when you say that Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit are
one God? ​ This is not an issue of "what does it mean to me." The question is
what is the biblical doctrine of God? The answer is simple. The Bible teaches
that there is only one God in all existence (​Isaiah 43:10​; ​44:6​, ​8​; ​45:5​).
Furthermore, the Bible teaches that God is comprised of the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit who are each called God, who each have a will, each recognize
the existence of others, and even speak to each other. This is not illogical, but it
is paradoxical. So, the biblical doctrine of God is known as the Trinity. This is
the teaching that there is only one God in all existence who is comprised of the
person of the Father, the person of the Son, and the person of the Holy Spirit.
For more information see (​What is the Trinity?​).
5. For Christians who pray to Jesus in hope he will intercede with God, does this
make sense if Jesus and God are one and the same? ​This question reveals a
lack of understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity. When we say that Jesus and
God are one and the same, clarification is necessary. In Christian theology,
there is what is called the ontological Trinity and the economic Trinity. The
ontological Trinity states that each member of the Godhead (Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit) share the same divine nature. The economic Trinity states that each
of them has a different role. For example, the Father elects, the Son redeems,
and the Holy Spirit convicts of sin. The Father sent the Son, but the Son did not
send the Father. The Holy Spirit is sent, but did not send the Son. So they are
the same in their divine nature, but they are not the same in that they are
distinct persons and exhibit different roles.
6. So, Jesus the Son is praying to God the Father. Also, Jesus is both divine
and human (hypostatic union). As man, he is able to die for people, and as
divine in nature, he is able to appease the person of God the Father.
7. If human evils must be allowed so that we can have free will, then why did God
also create natural evils? (i.e., floods, disease, etc) ​ This question is insufficient.
It begs the question by saying that human evils must be allowed in order to have
free will. God, who cannot commit evil, has free will. So the idea that free will
necessitates allowing evil demonstrates an insufficient understanding of the
concept of free will.
8. Is your interpretation of the Bible correct? ​ This question is insufficient. Does the
person mean the entire Bible, every single verse, major concepts, or what?
There are certain doctrines within Christianity that are not debatable
(​essentials​), but there are other ones that are debatable. ​Romans 14:1-12​ tells
us that there are debatable issues. So even within the Bible, we are told that
there are things that are debatable. To ask if a particular person's interpretation
of the Bible is correct, how is one to answer that considering that the Bible says
there are debatable issues?
1. If so, how do you know? ​A person's interpretation of Scripture is correct
only in so far as is consistent with what the Bible says.
2. If not, why do you follow it? ​Are you saying that Christians will knowingly
follow an interpretation of Scripture they believe to be wrong? I hope that
is not what you're implying. If so, it is yet another demonstration that the
question has not been properly thought through and/or expressed.
9. Why are there over 30,000 Christian denominations all claiming to be the "true
Christians"? Which one should I follow and why? ​Where is the documentation
that demonstrates there are 30,000 denominations? Please define what a
denomination is so we might check it against any documentation.
10.Christian denominations differ on debatable issues but not on the essentials. Let
me illustrate. Let's say there are 12 football teams in a division. They have
different representative colors and different strategies. If someone were to ask
which one is the "true football team" and which one should people follow, it
would demonstrate a lack of understanding of what football really is. It would be
a wrong question to ask. So, the initial question is another demonstration of a
lack of understanding of Christian theology in the essentials, in the
nonessentials, as well as what constitutes a denomination. In addition, it does
not provide any documentation to demonstrate that there are 30,000 so-called
Christian denominations.
11.If God told you to rape your mother, would you do it? ​ This is an illogical
question. It is asking to answer based on an impossibility. God would never ask
anybody to commit such a sin. It can't happen and would not happen.
Therefore, it is an invalid question and demonstrates a serious lack of
understanding of Christian theology . . .
1. If not, then aren't you conceding there are some commandments that
qualify disobedience to God? ​ See above
12.Why are modern-day miracles less impressive than those in Biblical times?
Which modern-day miracles are you talking about, and by what standard would
you judge something to be more or less impressive? Also, which individual's
standards would be the ones by which you would determine what is more
impressive or less impressive? Without answering those questions, your
question can't be answered.
13.Do you believe in any miracles that are recorded outside the Bible? ​ Yes.
1. If not, why not? ​Not applicable.
 2. If so, then why should I believe the Biblical miracles? ​ Why would my
believing that miracles occur that are not recorded in the Bible bring any
doubt upon why I should believe the Bible? This makes no sense.
14.Is ​predestination ​true? (original link to carm)--​ ​Yes, per ​Eph. 1:4-5​.
1. If yes, then what type of God will create humans to purposefully torture
people in hell? ​ If God, the real God, creates people to go to hell; what is
that to you? Does not the sovereign Lord have the right to do with his
creation as he sees fit? You may certainly not like it, but your liking it or
not is irrelevant to the reality of its occurrence. You have no standard, as
an atheist, by which you can judge that such an action is right or wrong.
At best, all you have is your opinion. Still, ​Prov. 14:6​ and ​Rom.
9:22-23​answer your question.
2. If yes, then do we truly have a say in our Salvation? ​ Predestination
teaches that God foreordains whatsoever shall come to pass (​Eph.
1:4-11​). In the context of Christians, he predestines the elect (those
chosen) into salvation. Furthermore, the question also fails to properly
understand the doctrine of total depravity which states that a sinner is
enslaved to his sin (​Romans 6:14-20​) and will only choose sinful things
because he cannot perceive spiritual truths (​1 Cor. 2:14​). Therefore,
without predestination, none would go to heaven. The "say" that we have
is that we receive Christ (​John 1:13​).
3. If yes, then what is the basis of God's foreknowledge? ​ Where does this
question come from? What do you mean by foreknowledge? How does it
relate your question? I strongly recommend that you explain terms when
you introduce them. This will avoid confusion.
15.Is there any amount of evidence that one can give that will cause you to leave
Christianity? ​ Yes.
1. If so, what is it? ​ Demonstrate that Christ did not rise from the dead. All

that would be necessary is to find an ancient tomb with sufficient archaeological

evidence in it to substantiate that it was Jesus of the New Testament who was crucified
and failed to rise from the dead. In such a case, I would give up Christianity.

2. If not, then don't you have blind faith?​ ​ Blind faith is held by atheists.
They cannot demonstrate that God does not exist. In spite of the
dilemma of trying to prove a negative, they demonstrate great faith that
their assumptions about God's nonexistence (or ​lack​ thereof) properly
represent reality.

Does God exist? How did we come to be and were we created by an eternal being?
 1) God exists because someone had to create the world. There must be an eternal being
who is in dominion over all to create.

An awareness of moral obligations is in fact an awareness of God's commands or divine

laws.