Is Goodness without God Good Enough?

Morality and religion: intimately wed, violently opposed, or something else? Discussion of this issue appears in pop culture, the academy, and the media—often generating radically opposed views. At one end of the spectrum are those who think that unless God exists, ethics is unfounded and the moral life is unmotivated. At the other end are those who think that religious belief is unnecessary for—and even a threat to—ethical knowledge and the moral life. This volume provides an accessible, charitable discussion that represents a range of views along this spectrum. The book begins with a lively debate between Paul Kurtz and William Lane Craig on the question, Is goodness without God good enough? Kurtz defends the affirmative position and Craig the negative. Following the debate are new essays by prominent scholars. These essays comment on the debate and advance the broader discussion of religion and morality. The book closes with final responses from Kurtz and Craig.

“Written in clear and accessible prose, this book is a must-read not just for philosophers interested in ethics or the philosophy of religion but for anyone interested in the important topic of God's relationship to morality. The book includes fascinating original arguments not to be found elsewhere; even those already familiar with the views and writing of Craig and Kurtz will discover new ideas from these two important thinkers.”

Written in clear and accessible prose, this book is a must-read not just for philosophers interested in ethics or the philosophy of religion but for anyone interested in the important topic of God's relationship to morality. The book includes fascinating original arguments not to be found elsewhere; even those already familiar with the views and writing of Craig and Kurtz will discover new ideas from these two important thinkers. -- Erik J. Wielenberg, DePauw University
A nice variety of well-reasoned moral arguments are here articulates. Recommended for anyone interested in issues of God and morality. Religious Studies Review, June 2010
This is a brilliant, accessible debate and a collection of tightly reasoned essays on God and morality that should provoke stimulating, mature debate among students and scholars in philosophy of religion. -- Charles Taliaferro, St. Olaf College
I hope these brief sketches will whet the reader’s appetite...I am very glad to have read them. They are clear, engaging, and extremely provocative...Most of the real action consists in the back-and-forth between Craig and his numerous critics. This book will therefore be read with most profit by those who (like me)follow Craig’s work and have wondered just how he would respond to various obvious lines of criticism. International Journal for Philosophy of Religion

Robert K. Garcia and Nathan L. King are Ph.D. candidates in the philosophy department at the University of Notre Dame.

Morality and religion: intimately wed, violently opposed, or something else? Discussion of this issue appears in pop culture, the academy, and the media--often generating radically opposed views. At one end of the spectrum are those who think that unless God exists, ethics is unfounded and the moral life is unmotivated. At the other end are those who think that religious belief is unnecessary for--and even a threat to--ethical knowledge and the moral life. This volume provides an accessible, charitable discussion that represents a range of views along this spectrum. The book begins with a lively debate between Paul Kurtz and William Lane Craig on the question, Is goodness without God good enough? Kurtz defends the affirmative position and Craig the negative. Following the debate are new essays by prominent scholars. These essays comment on the debate and advance the broader discussion of religion and morality. The book closes with final responses from Kurtz and Craig.

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