Atheist Bible Launched

There’s a new “Bible”… for atheists. Which, it strikes me, is a contradiction in terms.

Humanist philosopher AC Grayling has written “The Good Book” as a blend of Greek philosophy, Confucian sages and the discoveries of modern science.

He’s replaced the Ten Commandments with some atheist principles. All of which a Christian will agree with, and all of which are riddled with problems if there is no God:

• “Love well” (what is love? How do I love well? What if I disagree with what Prof Grayling says about how to love well?)
• “Seek the good in all things” (What is good? This is a moral category—who decides what it is?)
• “Harm no others” (Unless I know the future, how can I know that what I do today won’t be harmful to someone in the future?)
• “Think for yourself” (How do I know my thinking is right? What if it clashes with what someone else thinks?)
• “Take responsibility. Be kind. Be courageous” (Why should I? Who is Prof Grayling to say I should live like this?)
• “Respect nature” (It’s just a bunch of atoms. Why should I?)
• “Do your utmost” (What does this mean? Do you want me to do my utmost to take drugs?)
• “Be informed” (Who by? What by?)

On balance, I think I’d rather listen to someone who has the authority to say how to live; who has the ability to communicate as clearly as he wants; who loves me enough to make up for my failures; and who dwells in me so that I can live his way.

I’d rather not have to make up a moral code which I don’t know is right, and which I have no right to tell anyone else to abide by. Ultimately, you can’t have atheist ethics.

I’d rather have God.