Atheism, Morality, and Meaning
(Prometheus Lecture Series) by
Michael Martin
A Sustained Case Well Argued
Despite the pluralism of contemporary American culture, the Judaeo-
Christian legacy still has a great deal of influence on the popular
imagination. Thus it is not surprising that in this context atheism has a
slightly scandalous ring, and unbelief is often associated with the lack of
morality and a meaningless existence. Distinguished philosopher and
committed atheist Michael Martin sets out to refute such notions in this
thorough defense of atheism as both a moral and a meaningful philosophy
of life. Martin shows not only that objective morality and a purposeful life
are possible without belief in God but also that the predominantly Christian
worldview of American society is seriously flawed as the basis of morality
and meaning. Divided into four parts, this cogent and tightly argued
treatise begins with a refutation of well-known criticisms of nonreligious
ethics and then develops an atheistic metaethics. In part 2, Martin criticizes

the Christian foundation of ethics, specifically the Divine Command Theory
and the idea of imitating the life of Jesus as the basis of Christian morality.
Part 3 demonstrates that life can be meaningful in the absence of religious
belief. Part 4 evaluates the theistic point of view in general terms as well as
the specific Christian doctrines of Atonement, Salvation, and the
Resurrection. This highly informed and sophisticated defense of atheism
is a stimulating challenge to religious believers and a serious contribution
to ethical theory.
Personal Review: Atheism, Morality, and Meaning (Prometheus
Lecture Series) by Michael Martin
Martin undermines the Christian case for morality and meaning in life, and
he also shows how an atheistic view can support an ethical theory and a
meaningful life. Martin's sustained case for showing how life can have
meaning without god, and how objective morality is possible without god, is
must reading for both atheists and believers--especially the believers,
since they often suffer from the mistaken stereotype that belief in god is a
necessary condition for both ethics and meaning in life. One may,
perhaps, fault Martin for not devoting much space to alternative atheistic
ethical theories other than the one he develops in the book, but details on
those theories are readily available elsewhere, and Martin's book suffers
from few other shortcomings. (Although, unfortunately, he does devote
some space to refuting the absurd presuppositionalist claims of Bahnsen,
a view that is not taken seriously in contemporary ethical theory anyway.
But I guess someone has to refute it.) This book should be on the shelf of
anyone interested in the relationship between theism, morality, and
meaning in life. Readable, informative, accurate, and powerful. Buy it.
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