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Research Term: Ethics

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Summit Lecture Series

Tolerance
"That's true for you, but not for me" "You can't legislate morality" "People should be able to decide for themselves" "You shouldn't force your views on other people" Statements like these are very prevalent in Western culture today, and it seems that there are no legitimate responses to such assertions. But Greg Koukl believes otherwise, and in this lecture he gives a logical refutation of such circular reasoning. In addition, he provides listeners with accurate and fair analyses of what he calls the “Myth of Neutrality” and the “Myth of Tolerance.” He then turns his attention to practical ways of dealing with these myths and then concludes by looking at and contrasting the current usage of the term “tolerance” with its actual meaning.

The Challenge of Biotechnology 1
Cloning, stem cells, artificial intelligence, abortion, euthanasia. Biotechnology is the social issue of our times, and is moving at pace that leaves any ethical consideration way behind. Christians simply must address this issue, but many have no idea what is even going on. These sessions provide an introduction to the emerging technologies, and clear concise teaching on the key foundational issue of personhood and what makes humans valuable.

The Challenge of Biotechnology 2
Cloning, stem cells, artificial intelligence, abortion, euthanasia. Biotechnology is the social issue of our times, and is moving at pace that leaves any ethical consideration way behind. Christians simply must address this issue, but many have no idea what is even going on. These sessions provide an introduction to the emerging technologies, and clear concise teaching on the key foundational issue of personhood and what makes humans valuable.

Stem Cells
Well versed in the field, Dr. Michael Buratovich of Spring Arbor University addresses the ethics and problems surrounding embryonic stem cell research. After outlining the more technical aspects of embryonic and fetal development, Dr. Buratovich then explains the different types of embryonic stem cells and how they can be used. This leads him into eight major problems that are associated with this field of therapeutic medicine, which he follows with scientists’ responses (or lack thereof) to these problems. Finally he points to the uses of adult/somatic stem cells and their track record, concluding that science needs to focus on what has already been proven to work.

Relativism
Have you ever been asked, who are you to judge? Responding to arguments of moral relativism, Francis Beckwith discusses the difference between moral claims and preference claims, how relativists defend their position using the two main arguments, disagreement and tolerance, and offers suggestions on how to respond to these claims.

Physician Assisted Suicide
A paragon of health, you go to the doctor with unusual symptoms, only to be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Within six months, your health has deteriorated so quickly that you cannot even dress yourself. Is your life worth living anymore? Dr. Michael Buratovich of Spring Arbor University poses this question, asking whether one should be allowed access to physician-assisted suicide (PAS) in order to die peacefully and with dignity. In order to help students fully understand the issue, he explains the history of the concept, beginning with Jack Kevorkian, “Dr. Death” himself, and then recalls the history of suicide in many cultures and the early church’s response to it. After drawing on Scripture for a correct perspective of human life, he then reflects on modern societies that have embraced PAS and the effects it is continuing to have. Dr. Buratovich spends the rest of the time delineating the arguments for and against PAS, as well as a correct definition of “dignity.” He concludes by admonishing Christians to treat life with the same respect used in the Bible, to consider every effect PAS will have on a society that embraces it, and to look for ways to treat the root issues behind PAS.

Essays

The Ethics of Ayn Rand
In popular usage, the word "selfishness" is a synonym of evil; the image it conjures is of a murderous brute who tramples over piles of corpses to achieve his own ends, who care for no living being and pursues nothing but the gratification of the mindless whims of any immediate moment. Yet the exact meaning and dictionary definition of the word "selfishness" is: concern for one's own interests.[7] One certainly can appreciate this clarification of "selfishness" as "concern for one's own interests." Rand advocates rational self-interest, a particular brand of ethical egoism. But she rejects psychological egoism, the position that asserts that we always act in our own self-interest anyway, whether consciously or not.[8] The egoism Rand advocates is neither automatic nor instinctual; rather, it is rational and must be chosen. Just as man cannot survive by any random means, but must discover and practice the principles which his survival requires, so man's self-interest cannot be determined by blind desires or random whims, but must be discovered and achieved by the guidance of rational principles. This is why the Objectivist ethics is a morality of rational self-interest — or of rational selfishness.[9] Rand's ethics of rational self-interest is an ethics of choice, guided by reason, with human survival as its goal. Standing diametrically opposed to her ethical system is what she refers to as "altruism." Altruism is an ethical system...

Christianity and Homosexuality (via Equip)
Adulterer? Fornicator? Swindler? Gossip? The apostle Paul clearly said people who habitually and impenitently behave in such a manner “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9–10). These are actions that we all can get caught up in at one time or another in our lives; nevertheless, if we are living a life dominated by any one of these or even several of them, God says it is possible for us to be sanctified by the washing of the blood of Jesus Christ. Our lives can become dramatically different. This requires first and foremost a born-again relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ and a willingness to submit to the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, which comes through a process of conviction, repentance, and seeking forgiveness from God and others whom we have offended along the way — for God who is faithful will forgive us our sins (see 1 John 1:9). If we know the truth about these matters, then why do we accept the cultural definition of homosexuality? When non-Christians and Christians use the term “homosexual,” they often think of a person who is...

Philosophical Problems with Moral Relativism (via Equip)
In moral debate in the United States today, many people resort to moral relativism. They argue that there are no objective moral values which help us to determine what is right or wrong. They claim "everything is relative." In order to defend this position, the relativist puts forth two arguments: (1) Since people and cultures disagree about morality, there are no objective moral values; (2) Moral relativism leads to tolerance of practices we may find different or odd. These two arguments are seriously flawed. In addition, the moral relativist has a difficult time explaining moral progress, moral reformation, and clear-cut cases of moral saints and moral devils.

This is the Way God Made Me (via Apologetics Press)
The trumpets were left at home and the parades were canceled. The press releases and campaign signs were quietly forgotten. The news was big, but it did not contain what some had hoped for. On April 14, 2003, the International Human Genome Consortium announced the successful completion of the Human Genome Project—two years ahead of schedule. The press report read: “The human genome is complete and the Human Genome Project is over” (see “Human Genome Report...,” 2003, emp. added). Most of the major science journals reported on the progress in the field of genetics, but also speculated on how the information would now be used. The one piece of information that never materialized from the Human Genome Project was the identification of the so-called “gay gene.”

Responding to Pro-gay Theology (via Focus)
A recent poll showed 66 percent (two-thirds) of Americans no longer believe there is such a thing as "absolute truth." More disturbing, though, was the fact that 53% of those not believing in absolute truth identified themselves as born-again Christians; 75 percent of whom were mainline Protestants. If "absolute truth" no longer exists, even in the minds of half the "born-again" population, it logically follows that doctrine, and the Bible itself, is given less credence. Pollster George Gallup Jr. noticed this in The People's Religion: American Faith in the 90s. "While religion is highly popular in America," he states, "it is to a large extent superficial.

Responding to Pro-gay Social Arguments (Part 2) (via Focus)
Social justice arguments are effective because they sound so good. They demand an end to homophobia and insensitivity; who wants to say they are against such goals? But just as the question “When did you stop beating your wife, Mr. Jones?” assumes (without proof) that Mr. Jones has been beating his wife, so the pro-gay social justice arguments assume (without proof) that gays are victims, and that the conservative church is largely responsible for their victimhood. These arguments are most effective in secular discussions (talk shows, interviews, university debates) where listeners are unlikely to judge them by Biblical standards. Instead of discerning which side is theologically correct, non-Christian audiences tend to side with...

Responding to Pro-gay Social Arguments (Part 1) (via Focus)
Social justice arguments are effective because they sound so good. They demand an end to homophobia and insensitivity; who wants to say they are against such goals? But just as the question “When did you stop beating your wife, Mr. Jones?” assumes (without proof) that Mr. Jones has been beating his wife, so the pro-gay social justice arguments assume (without proof) that gays are victims, and that the conservative church is largely responsible for their victimhood. These arguments are most effective in secular discussions (talk shows, interviews, university debates) where listeners are unlikely to judge them by Biblical standards. Instead of discerning which side is theologically correct, non-Christian audiences tend to side with...

Pro-gay Revisionist Theology (via Focus)
Major denominations ordaining homosexuals, priests and clergy presiding over same-sex weddings, sanctuaries invaded by boisterous gay activists, debates over homosexuality ripping congregations apart, who would have guessed we’d ever reach such a point in church history?

That Which Is Unnatural (via Equip)
The gay rights movement does not just want the right to privacy and to be left alone. Attempting to promote their cause as a civil rights instead of as a moral issue, they want special legal protection for, and cultural acceptance of, their lifestyle. Even many Christian churches have condoned or are sympathetic to homosexuality, ignoring the Bible's teachings concerning our sexuality. In the Old Testament we find heterosexuality to be proclaimed as God's natural order of creation, a teaching Jesus upheld in the New Testament. Biblically, homosexuality is described as both an "abomination" and "unnatural." God calls us to reject sin, but to love and value all people.

Homosexuality Facts and Fiction (via Equip)
f homosexuality is neither a normal nor a healthy lifestyle — as I believe this article demonstrates — then the most loving thing we can do is to help homosexuals realize this and offer them our help and encouragement. But millions of people in our society believe that homosexuality is a healthy and acceptable alternative lifestyle. This debate over the acceptance of homosexuality in our culture is one that has been clouded with many misrepresentations and inaccuracies. These misrepresentations include the assertion that ten percent of all Americans are gay (the figure is actually closer to one or two percent), that all competent psychiatrists and psychologists believe homosexuality is a healthy lifestyle (the majority do not), that homosexuals are born that way (most therapists disagree) and cannot change their sexual preference (disproven by numerous accounts where gays have converted to heterosexuality). It is the Christian's task to point out that while homosexuality is a sin, we are all sinners and there is forgiveness and deliverance for all who turn to Jesus Christ.

Answering the Gay Christian Position (via Equip)
Twenty-two years ago I craved justification for my homosexuality. I had decided I was gay, and I felt utterly incapable of changing my sexual desires. Instead of conforming my actions to biblical standards, I chose to adjust biblical standards to accommodate my actions. My subsequent six-year involvement as a staff member of the pro-homosexual Metropolitan Community Church became the fruit of that compromise and remains a source of deep regret to this day. During my tenure as a self-professed “gay Christian,” I was often confronted by believers who argued the standard passages on homosexuality. Like anyone steeped in propaganda, however, I knew which Scripture passages would be thrown at me (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1 Tim. 1:9-10; all of which clearly condemn homosexuality) and could recite the pro-gay interpretation of each, leaving my Christian opponent and me at a stalemate. The problem, of course, was that we were debating my revised view of the Bible without addressing the state of heart and mind that had led me to that revision in the first place....

The Euthanasia Debate (Part 2) (via Equip)
In Part One of this series I examined two central aspects of the euthanasia debate. First, several important background concepts in ethical theory were explained. Second, the main features of the libertarian and traditional views of euthanasia were set forth. The libertarian view, advocated by philosopher James Rachels, states that there is no morally relevant difference between active and passive euthanasia. Moreover, Rachels says, it is biographical life (which includes a person's aspirations, human relationships, and interests), not biological life (being a human being), that is important from a moral point of view (see Part One, p. 13). And if passive euthanasia is morally justifiable in a given case, then so is active euthanasia, since there is no relevant distinction between them. The traditional view affirms that there is a clear, moral difference between...

The Euthanasia Debate (Part 1b) (via Equip)
The libertarian view is a minority position among current moral philosophers and theologians, but it nevertheless has a strong, articulate group of supporters. The clearest, most forceful statement of the view can be found in the writings of philosopher James Rachels. In what follows, therefore, I will focus on his position as a way of analyzing the libertarian view of euthanasia. According to Rachels, the distinctions used in the traditional view are inadequate. There is nothing sacred or morally significant about being a human being with biological life. Nor is there any moral difference between...

The Euthanasia Debate (Part 1a) (via Equip)
There are two different uses of the term "euthanasia." The first is sometimes called the "narrow construal of euthanasia." On this view euthanasia is equivalent to mercy killing. Thus, if a physician injects a patient with a drug with the intent to kill the patient, that would be an act of euthanasia, but if the physician allows the patient to die by withholding some excessively burdensome treatment, that does not count as an example of euthanasia. The second view is sometimes called the "broad construal of euthanasia" and includes within its definition of "euthanasia" both killing (active euthanasia) and allowing to die (passive euthanasia). The broad construal is more widely used, so we will adopt it in this series. The active/passive distinction amounts to this...

Answering the Arguments for Abortion Rights (Part 4a) (via Equip)
Some bioethicists, such as Baruch Brody, believe that full humanness begins when the brain starts functioning, which can first be detected by the electroencephalogram (EEG) at about 40 to 43 days after conception. (Although Brody has moral problems with abortion on demand prior to brain functioning, this is not because he believes the unborn is fully human.) Brody maintains that in order to decide when something is fully human, "we must first see...what properties are such that their loss would mean the going out of existence (the death) of a human being." He concludes that since at brain death a human being goes out of existence (at least in this mortal realm), the presence of a functioning human brain is the property which makes one fully human. Hence, it would only follow that the start of brain functioning is the beginning of full humanness.

Answering the Arguments for Abortion Rights (Part 4b) (via Equip)
s I noted in Part Three, viability is the time at which the unborn human can live outside her mother's womb. Some have argued that prior to this time, since the unborn cannot survive independent of her mother, she is not a completely independent human life and hence not fully human. Bioethicist Andrew Varga points out a number of problems with the viability criterion. First...

Answering the Arguments for Abortion Rights (Part 4c) (via Equip)
Some ethicists argue that the unborn becomes fully human sometime after brain development has begun, when it becomes sentient: capable of experiencing sensations such as pain. The reason for choosing sentience as the criterion is that a being that cannot experience anything (i.e., a presentient unborn entity) cannot be harmed. Of course, if this position is correct, then the unborn becomes fully human probably...

Answering the Arguments for Abortion Rights (Part 4e) (via Equip)
Those who defend the gradualist thesis, such as Daniel Callahan and Robert Wennberg, argue that the unborn entity increases in value as it develops physically. Unlike the theories critiqued above, in this view there is no one decisive moment at which the unborn entity moves from nonperson to person. For example, the one-celled zygote has less value than the three-month fetus while the three-month fetus has a lesser right-to-life than the eight-month fetus...

Answering the Arguments for Abortion Rights (Part 4d) (via Equip)
Several ethicists, such as Michael Tooley,17 Mary Anne Warren, James Rachels, and Virginia Ramey Mollenkott, have put forth criteria that a being must fulfill in order to be considered fully human. For some these criteria apply to any entity, whether before or after birth. In fact, according to Tooley, birth has no bearing on the moral status of the newborn. Those who defend criteria for full humanness make a distinction between "being a human" and "being a person." They argue that although the unborn are part of the species homo sapiens, and in that sense are human, they are not truly persons since they fail to...

Dead Silence (via Equip)
Abortion advocates contend that the Bible is silent on abortion and that none of the biblical passages cited by pro-life advocates actually say the unborn are human. Are we to conclude from this alleged silence that elective abortion is morally permitted? There are good reasons to say no. First, the Bible’s lack of explicit prohibitions against abortion does not mean that it condones the practice; instead, Scripture writers did not believe prohibitions against abortion were necessary because neither the Hebrews of the Old Testament nor the Christians of the New Testament were likely to kill their unborn children. Second, the Bible need not explicitly say elective abortion is wrong before we can know that it’s wrong. The Bible affirms that all humans are valuable because they bear God’s image. Science clearly demonstrates that the unborn are unquestionably human from the earliest stages of development. Biblical commands against the unjust taking of human life, therefore, apply to the unborn as they do other human beings. Third, abortion advocates cannot account for basic human equality. If humans are valuable only because of some acquired property such as self-awareness, then it follows that since this acquired property comes in varying degrees, basic human rights also come in varying degrees. It’s far more reasonable theologically to argue that although humans differ immensely in their respective degrees of development, they are nonetheless equally valuable because they have in common a nature made in the image of God.

The Vanishing Pro-Life Apologist (via Equip)
The past few years have witnessed a stunning development in the pro-life movement. Many pro-life leaders now think we can make abortion rare by downplaying the moral question, “Does abortion take the life of a defenseless human being?” They favor a new strategy that appeals to the self-interests of women rather than moral truth. One leader asserts that an emphasis on unborn babies will only drive women of childbearing age away from the pro-life movement. But this new strategy is dangerous because it leaves the pro-abortion culture largely unchallenged. At the same time, it unilaterally strips the pro-life movement of its most powerful tools of persuasion. If pro-life advocates are to make abortion unthinkable, they must speak frankly about the nature of abortion...

Answering the Arguments for Abortion Rights (Part 3) (via Equip)
Throughout the history of the abortion controversy, many have put forth criteria by which to judge whether a human organism has reached the point in its development at which it is fully human. Some criteria are based on so-called "decisive" moments in fetal development. Others are based on certain conditions any entity — born or unborn — must fulfill in order to be considered "fully human." And others argue that there is no "decisive" moment but that the unborn's rights increase as its body develops. I believe that all these views are flawed. I will argue that the pro-life view that full humanness begins at conception is the most coherent and is more consistent with our basic moral intuitions. In order to defend this position adequately, I will — both in this article and in the final installment of this series — critique a number of decisive moment and gradualist theories, whose defenses contain many objections to the pro-life view.

The Shifting Focus in the Abortion Debate (via Equip)
Pro-lifers in the United States have always assumed that if they could demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that the fetus is a human person, then it would be only a matter of time before the courts and legislatures would declare nontherapeutic abortion — the willful destruction of a living fetus — unjustified homicide. Thus the pro-life view would be vindicated and nontherapeutic abortion would once again be illegal. Even pro-abortion Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, who wrote the majority opinion in Roe v. Wade (1973), agrees with this assumption: “If the suggestion of personhood [of the unborn] is established, the appellant’s case, of course, collapses, for the fetus’ right to life is then guaranteed specifically by the [Fourteenth Amendment].” The scholarly and popular literature produced by evangelicals on the issue of abortion seems to make this assumption as well. In 1985, however, evangelical philosopher Robert Wennberg4 defended a moderate pro-choice position employing an argument first presented in 1971 by M.I.T. philosopher Judith Jarvis Thomson. Thomson argued that even if the fetus is a human person, abortion — at least in the early months of pregnancy — is still morally justified...

Answering the Arguments for Abortion Rights (Part 2) (via Equip)
In the first installment of this four-part series we examined a number of arguments for abortion rights which can be classified as appeals to pity. In this article I will present and critique more appeals to pity, along with two additional kinds of argument: appeals to tolerance and ad hominem (literally, "against the person"). Of course, not every defender of abortion rights holds to all or any of the arguments presented in this article. But the truth of the matter is that a vast majority do defend at least some of these arguments. For this reason, the following critique should prove helpful to those interested in providing reasoned answers, rather than inflammatory rhetoric, to the arguments put forth by the abortion rights movement...

Answering the Arguments for Abortion Rights (Part 1) (via Equip)
When the Supreme Court ruled that the state of Missouri was within its constitutional rights to enact abortion restrictions (Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, 1989), it moved the debate from the realm of the federal judiciary into the lap of the legislative process. It is now possible for other states to enact similar and even more restrictive legislation. This, of course, makes a candidate's stance on abortion rights much more important in the electoral process, since his or her view on abortion can now make a practical difference in terms of what laws will be enacted if he or she is elected. And, since our judiciary has become more conservative, it is apparent that the abortion rights movement has the most to lose if the issue returns to the courts. Thus the arguments for abortion rights are being put forth in the political arena with greater vigor and hotter rhetoric than ever before...

What Is Human? (via Equip)
Debates over embryonic stem cell research and human cloning have forced us to address the question: What does it mean to be human? If embryos are intrinsically valuable as human beings, then embryonic stem cell research and human cloning are problematic, for both involve the instrumental use of human embryos, and if postnatal children are employed, that would be clearly immoral. The facts concerning embryology and fetal development support the argument that an individual human being, with its own genetic code, comes into existence at conception and remains the same human being throughout its lifetime to adulthood. Some object that twinning proves that an individual human being does not begin at conception. Their objection is faulty, however, because early embryonic cells function as parts of a single organism even though they are unspecialized and have the potential to become another being if separated. Others object that the preborn, while human, are not intrinsically valuable because they lack certain presently exercisable capacities. This argument, however, cannot account for clearly valuable human beings, such as those who are asleep, unconscious, or comatose and who also presently lack certain capabilities; moreover, if intrinsic value is based on the degree of capabilities, then it cannot account for equality among human beings since some have more capabilities than others (e.g., the ability to reason).

Evolution and Ethics (via Equip)
Some people argue that morality is the result of blind evolutionary forces rather than an omnipotent Creator. This view is flawed because (1) it assumes a morality that transcends evolutionary "morality," (2) it cannot explain motive and intent, (3) it denies rather than explains morality, and (4) it cannot account for the "oughtness" of morality. Given the existence of morality as well as the nature of moral claims, the existence of God seems to be the best explanation for morality.

Can We Be Good without God? (via Boundless)
I've been asked to speak today on the question, "Can we be good without God?" To answer, I'm tempted to tell you my own story. Years ago when I rejected God, I also rejected the distinction between good and evil. Then again, I was an extreme case. Someone who asks "Can we be good without God?" isn't trying to be extreme; he's looking for a halfway house. So instead of telling you my story, I'll try to lay out the logic of the matter...

Living as if People Mattered
I remember only too well the first time I met Francis Schaeffer. In 1979 I was puttering around in one of my favorite used bookstores — on Locust Street, just a couple of blocks from the beautiful and magnificent Christ Church Cathedral in downtown St. Louis. The cathedral is a vivid reminder of the remarkable flowering of creativity and beauty that the Gospel has always provoked through the ages. Just out of sight of the great Easter pinnacle is a little row of quirky stores and businesses. There are a couple of musty antique dealers, a disreputable-looking chili restaurant, a jaunty coffee shop, a boutique specializing in platform shoes from the seventies, and, of course, the bookstore — stocking a rather eccentric jumble of old magazines, cheap paperbacks, and fine first editions arranged in no apparent order. I had just discovered a good hardback copy of Scott's Ivanhoe and a wonderful turn-of-the-century pocket edition of Ruskin's Seven Lamps of Architecture — both for less than the cost of new paperback copies — when I rounded a corner and bumped into Dr. Schaeffer. Literally...

No God, No Good
At a conference concerning the teaching of moral values in the public schools, a justifiably well-known philosopher from an eastern university asserted that the moral virtues were (1) those values without which we humans do not flourish because they are rooted in human nature, and (2) those values that enjoy a consensus that spans culture, country and century, something like the Tao described at the end of C.S. Lewis's The Abolition of Man. That moral values described or derived in either of these two ways are not truly moral and are not truly absolutes. As the following analysis will demonstrate, one must not contend that human nature and human flourishing yield moral absolutes, properly so-called, because such a theory fails to account for...

The Battle For Life
The debate over euthanasia is not a modern phenomenon. The Greeks carried on a robust debate on the subject. The Pythagoreans opposed euthanasia, while the Stoics favored it in the case of incurable disease. Plato approved of it in cases of terminal illness. But these influences lost out to Christian principles as well as the spread of acceptance of the Hippocratic Oath: "I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to that effect." In 1935 the Euthanasia Society of England was formed to promote the notion of...

Truth & Consequences

God and Government
It seems that all we hear from the campaign trail is constant bickering, blaming the other party for whatever the current national bad news happens to be, and personal attacks on political opponents. These tactics obscure the real issues and cause many Americans to grow weary of the rhetoric. To cut through the fog of political spin we need to get back to the basic ideas that are foundational to good government. To recall those basic concepts, let's start with a question. What would you say is the foundational document of the United States? It may come as a surprise, but according to a Newsweek cover story...

The New Atheists
Perhaps it goes without saying that the "new atheists" have arrived. Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens (among others) have recently published volumes capturing many intellects and imaginations. As international bestsellers, their publishing efforts are likely to produce challenges to our faith for years to come. These authors have superb rhetorical skills and deploy the English language to great effect. Dawkins and Hitchens have particular appeal with their posh British accents and witty idioms. It is not that their polemics are novel, however, nor their arguments especially successful. And they have not gone unanswered. Yet it appears they have not...

Martin Luther King and Natural Law
On the third Monday of every January our nation celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. It was King, more than any other public figure of the past century, who pricked the nation's conscience concerning the injustice of treating people differently because of the color of their skin. But while most of us recall King for his efforts as a civil rights leader, few people are aware of the specific reasons why King fought so valiantly for equality before the law. King understood that ideas about individual liberty and civil justice must come from prior assumptions concerning the law. These assumptions are grounded on considerations of what is morally right and, ultimately, on the nature of God. But sadly, we have forgotten those principles...

The Golden Compass
"The Golden Compass," a film hitting theaters December 7th, dramatizes Philip Pullman's youth novel by the same name. It is the first book in His Dark Materials trilogy originally published in 1996. The subsequent books, "The Subtle Knife" and "The Amber Spyglass," continue the fantasy tale that became a bestseller around the world. Many see the fantasy tales as harmless children's stories. One NBC weatherman has made the book his fall selection for his "Al's Book Club for Kids." A number of organizations and websites are jumping on the official support bandwagon, including Random House children's books, Scholastic, Myspace.com, Sega, and even the World Wildlife Fund. On the other hand...

Abortion and the Supreme Court
Thirty-four years ago this month something happened to a new term, and a novel idea was ushered into our national consciousness. The novel idea was "reproductive rights" and the occasion was the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, Roe v. Wade, handed down on January 22, 1973. But does a woman's "reproductive rights" supercede the unborn child's "right to life"? This issue has been the central point of contention for the past thirty-four years. To answer that question, we need to evaluate a key point raised in the original decision...

The Relativistic Fog
Consider the following well-worn slogans: What's right for you might not be right for me; Everyone has to decide for himself what's right; What's right depends on the situation; Do you agree with any of these statements? If so, you are in good company. A few years ago, pollster George Barna documented that only 22 percent of adults and 6 percent of teens affirmed...

The Influence of the Secular Humanist Worldview
Secular Humanism (SH) is a well-defined worldview. The Humanist Manifestos of 1933, 1973, and 2000 explain the details of their beliefs. Topping the list is their belief that God does not exist, or at least there is insufficient evidence for the existence of God. From that theological foundation, Secular Humanists have developed a comprehensive view on various issues, including the nature of man, moral values, the role of the state, plus other areas. Over the past 75 years, Secular Humanists have exerted significance influence over a wide range of culture shaping arenas, including...

Dangerous Assumptions
The news in recent weeks confirms, once again, that in schools across America, children are learning their lessons well. Of course, the question begging for an answer is: What lessons are they learning? Answering that question involves a little worldview analysis. But first, what was reported?

Being a Christian in the World
Dear Mr. Edwards, I was a student at Summit this summer. I'm a senior at a public high school. I'm writing for some advice in the situation I'm in. I've been a competing cheerleader for about 15 years, and am now on the school varsity cheerleading squad. We do our pep rally routines to different cuts of songs. Last week was our first pep rally. When I heard the music to our routine I was appalled. I asked who the artist was, and at once knew it was a provocative artist. That night I went home and printed off the lyrics. There were numerous cursing and sexual suggestions to say the least. I asked if I could sit out and not participate, because I didn't want to be involved with inappropriate music. I also asked this in a quiet, behind the scenes way. Basically my principal told me...

Kinsey, Sex, and Lies
The November, 2004 release of the film, "Kinsey," starring Liam Neeson, brought the issue of human sexuality to the forefront of the national consciousness . . . as if we needed the prod. Sex educator Dr. Gary Schubach praised the screenplay by commenting, " . . . we need more, not less, of the kind of straightforward sexual research that Kinsey stood for." Many cultural observers consider Alfred Kinsey the "Father" of the sexual revolution — the 1960s social tsunami that changed the way we thought about sex. Prior to that time, sex...

Is John Kerry Listening?
After graduating Summit's Summer Conference, Vickie Tarleton was able to put her training into action, authoring an editorial that appeared in the Jackson Progress Argus on October 20, 2004. Vickie has given us permission to use her article with slight emendations to all our readers...

The Stem Cell Research Debate
A week after graduating Summit's CO 4th Session Worldview Conference, Stephanie Lincoln was able to put her training into action. A lead article appearing in her local paper referred to the fetal tissue research debate as one between "science and religion." The original article appeared in Nebraska's Lincoln Star, as of yet Stephanie's reply has not been published...

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