Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Gavin Ortlund examines a key question raised in a debate between Douthat and Pinker, arguing that atheism struggles to provide a sufficient foundation for moral obligation and human rights without borrowing from theistic assumptions.
My new book: Why Christianity Makes Sense: A Book About Jesus, the Mysteries of the World, and the Longings in Your Heart: amazon.com/Why-Christianity-Makes-Sense-Mysteries/dp/0310182204/truthunitesbo-20
Videos Mentioned:
Do We Need God? Steven Pinker vs. Ross Douthat Debate: youtu.be/3jWCLONu7DM?si=Rng3434QiU1ntGPh
Slavery in the Bible: Answering Atheist Critiques: youtube.com/watch?v=ZImmDmr8pxk
The Moral Argument Still Works: Response to Recent Critiques: youtube.com/watch?v=TbFXWmadid0
Stop Abandoning the Moral Argument (Do This Instead): youtu.be/X8IaA_tCs1s?si=YsWGEI_kC5PW3fiB
Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.
Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.
SUPPORT:
Tax Deductible Support: truthunites.org/donate
Patreon: patreon.com/truthunites
FOLLOW:
Website: truthunites.org
Instagram: instagram.com/truth.unites
X: https://x.com/gavinortlund
Facebook: facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage
MY ACADEMIC WORK:
truthunites.org/mypublications
PODCAST:
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites
DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM
Striving Side By Side: discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs
CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:
amazon.com/Why-Christianity-Makes-Sense-Mysteries/dp/0310182204/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/What-Means-Be-Protestant-Always-Reforming/dp/B0CNFFP6LK/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunitesbo-20
00:00 - Should AI Have Rights?
03:25 - The Golden Rule
05:56 - The Imago Dei
08:47 - Atheism Borrows from the Christian View of Humanity
10:54 - Can Society Live off of Atheism?
Gavin Ortlund examines a key question raised in a debate between Douthat and Pinker, arguing that atheism struggles to provide a sufficient foundation for moral obligation and human rights without borrowing from theistic assumptions.
My new book: Why Christianity Makes Sense: A Book About Jesus, the Mysteries of the World, and the Longings in Your Heart: amazon.com/Why-Christianity-Makes-Sense-Mysteries/dp/0310182204/truthunitesbo-20
Videos Mentioned:
Do We Need God? Steven Pinker vs. Ross Douthat Debate: youtu.be/3jWCLONu7DM?si=Rng3434QiU1ntGPh
Slavery in the Bible: Answering Atheist Critiques: youtube.com/watch?v=ZImmDmr8pxk
The Moral Argument Still Works: Response to Recent Critiques: youtube.com/watch?v=TbFXWmadid0
Stop Abandoning the Moral Argument (Do This Instead): youtu.be/X8IaA_tCs1s?si=YsWGEI_kC5PW3fiB
Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.
Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.
SUPPORT:
Tax Deductible Support: truthunites.org/donate
Patreon: patreon.com/truthunites
FOLLOW:
Website: truthunites.org
Instagram: instagram.com/truth.unites
X: https://x.com/gavinortlund
Facebook: facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage
MY ACADEMIC WORK:
truthunites.org/mypublications
PODCAST:
podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites
DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM
Striving Side By Side: discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs
CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS:
amazon.com/Why-Christianity-Makes-Sense-Mysteries/dp/0310182204/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/What-Means-Be-Protestant-Always-Reforming/dp/B0CNFFP6LK/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunitesbo-20
amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunitesbo-20
00:00 - Should AI Have Rights?
03:25 - The Golden Rule
05:56 - The Imago Dei
08:47 - Atheism Borrows from the Christian View of Humanity
10:54 - Can Society Live off of Atheism?
