God, Science, Morality

“If God does not exist, then everything is permitted.”

- Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

“If science is true, then God does not exist.”

- the conclusion of the militant atheist, a lá Richard Dawkins, Victor Stenger, Taner Edis, Emile Zuckerkandl, Peter Atkins, Steven Weinberg, et. al.

Ergo:

“If science is true, then everything is permitted.”

(argument found in The Devil’s Delusion, by David Berlinksi, pg. 20)


Hence, our culture’s moral befuddlement over the abortion of Down syndrome babies, in vitro fertilization and designer children, embryonic stem cell research, cloning, genetic tinkering with the food supply, genetic experimentation with animal DNA, and euthanasia.

After a period of time in the wastelands, I’m entrenched in the camp of Catholic teaching regarding these issues. Though I sincerely hope neither you nor I be put to the test.