Can We Be Good Without God? (Booklet) by

One of the things that distinguishes humankind from every other species on earth is that we have a moral dimension. A moral law seems to be programmed into our psychological ‘software’ and our awareness of it is triggered by the conscience, a mysterious monitor that pokes its nose into every nook and cranny of our lives.

Why should this be the case? does our moral sense come from nature, is it nothing more than a cultural phenomenon, or is personal preference the deciding factor? Have we any right to question another person’s moral choices? Are there consistent guidelines for deciding whether something is good or evil, right or wrong, just or unjust?

Beyond these questions lies an even greater one: can we ever find a solid and coherent basis for morality unless our world view has God at the very centre of it?

Getting the right answers may change your life…

Title

Can We Be Good Without God?
Author(s)

John Blanchard
Series

Blanchard Booklets
ISBN

9781783971473
Format

Booklet
Publisher

Evangelical Press
Audience

Adults, Enquirer / Seeker
Pages

56
Published

09/01/2016

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John Blanchard

John Blanchard was an internationally known Christian preacher, teacher, apologist and author. He wrote 30 books, including two of Britain's most widely used evangelistic presentations, Right With God and the booklet Ultimate Questions. The latter has over fourteen million copies in print in about 60 languages. His major book Does God believe in Atheists?, published in 2000, was voted 'Best Christian Book' in the 2001 UK Christian Book Awards, and immediately became a best-seller, described as 'a brilliant defense of belief in God'. Other books he authored include: Truth for Life, Whatever Happened to Hell, Meet the Real Jesus, Beatitudes for Today, Major Points from the Minor Prophets and The Hitch-hiker's Guide to Heaven.

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Overall rating

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Can We Be Good Without God?

Here is a booklet from ‘Popular Christian Apologetics’ series by John Blanchard. Here, he looks at the issue of man’s moral dimension, and confronts the readers with the question: ‘Where does such a moral dimension come from?’ Does it come from nature, and has somehow ‘found its way into our genes over a long process of evolution’ (p.9)? Is it a subjective concept, where ‘every individual is capable of setting ethical norms’ (p.13)? Or, is morality determined according to the culture in which we live? Is it a case of the majority being right? In the first half of this short book John Blanchard takes a philosophical look at these ideas and shows the flaws stemming from each one. Blanchard then shows that the requirements for finding a sound basis for the moral law within can be found in the God of the Bible. There then follows a sound and thorough exposition of the message of the Gospel, rooted in the Bible, where Blanchard smashes any notions of man’s goodness within himself, or his ability to save himself and be right with God. The first half of this brief work is rather philosophical and characteristic of much of Blanchard’s writings in recent years. Some of the issues covered (for example Kant’s ethics) may be a bit too complicated for some readers. However, the second half of the booklet contains a sound gospel message, pointing the reader away from any false ideas of being able to earn his or her own salvation, and instead, pointing to a saving faith in Christ. This book is worth getting hold of. Christians may find much of the information useful for sharpening up their own apologetic methods, and enabling them to be ready to make a stronger case for the Gospel message. Non-Christians and sceptics should find it a real challenge to their own self-righteous worldview.