Ethics, Science, or Religion - Which Has the Answer?

"If God does not exist, anything is permitted," concludes Ivan Karamazov, a character in Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel, The Brothers Karamazov. "Anything is permitted" – leads to ethics. What is the right thing to do? How has evolution influenced our ethical behavior? Has religion influenced our behavior? Are our values defined by our culture or our biology? As emotions develop, how do they help form our morality and values?"

"Ethics, Science, or Religion – Which Has the Answer?" These questions will be addressed in this program. This is a follow up to the talk Grant gave to the Minnesota Atheists meeting last November 20, 2011.

Grant is a former Board member of MNA and a past chairperson. He served as host for the Minnesota Atheists television show Atheists Talk and has been interviewed on the Minnesota Atheists radio show. He has contributed articles and reviewed books for the Minnesota Atheists newsletter. In the past, he has lectured on cults and fundamentalism. Grant has also delivered speeches at the Day of Reason. Grant holds a Doctorate in Theology, is a retired public school educator, debate coach.

The two bibliography lists below will give the listener more background and understanding of the extensive topics of ethics, science and religion.

Ethics and Morality

1. Audi, Robert Moral Value and Human Diversity 2007
2. Casebeer, William D. Natural Ethical Facts 2003
3. Churchland, Patricia Braintrust 2011
4. De Waal, Frans Primates and Philosophers 2006
5. Gazzaniga, Michael S The Ethical Brain 2006
6. Harris, Sam The Moral Landscape 2010
7. Hauser, Marc D. Moral Minds 2006
8. Hoffman, Martin Empathy and Moral Development 2000
9. Holloway, Richard Godless Morality 2002
10. James, Scott M. An Introduction to Evolutionary Ethics 2011
11. Joyce, Richard The Evolution of Morality 2006
12. Levy, Neil What Makes us Moral? 2004
13. Singer, Peter The Expanding Circle 1981
14. Sinnott-Armstrong, Walter Morality 2009
15. Thompson, Paul Issues in Evolutionary Ethics 1995
16. Wielenber, Erik J. Value and Virtue in a Godless Universe 2005

Religion

1. Atran, Scott In Gods We Trust 2002
2. Bellah, Robert Religion in Human Evolution 2011
3. Boyer, Pascal Religion Explained 2001
4. De Vries, Jan The Study of Religion 1967
5. Eller, Jack David Introducing Anthropology of Religion 2007
6. Guthrie, Stewart Faces in the Clouds 1993
7. Kirkpatrick, Lee Attachment, Evolution, and the Psychology of Religion 2005
8. Pals, Daniel L. Eight Theories of Religion 2006
9. Pyysiainen, Ilkka How Religion Works 2003
10. Saler, Benson Conceptualizing Religion 2000
11. Stark,Rodeny and Roger Finke Acts of Faith 2000
12. Wallace, Anthony Religion: An Anthropological View 1966
13. Wilson, David Sloan Darwin's Cathedral 2003

Atheists Talk is produced with funding from the Minnesota Atheists and the Humanists of Minnesota. We also wish to thank Q. Cumbers restaurant for purchasing on-air advertising and for providing a great place to eat and gather. This radio program is put together by dedicated volunteers and the generous donations of listeners. If you are able to help with a donation please consider doing so at our Radio Fund page. 

SUBSCRIBE TO THE iTunes PODCAST
SUBSCRIBE TO THE STANDARD RSS FEED
Write a review of Atheists Talk

Listen to AM 950 KTNF on Sunday at 9 a.m. Central to hear Atheists Talk, produced by Minnesota Atheists. Stream live online. Call in to the studio: 952-946-6205, or send an e-mail to radio@mnatheists.org during the live show.