DEBATE: The Roots of Morality - Divine or Biological? Ben Bayer vs. Adam Lloyd Johnson

On April 17, 2024, Dr. Adam Lloyd Johnson debated Dr. Ben Bayer on the question of the roots of morality: where does it come from? Dr. Johnson argued that morality has its roots in God, while Dr. Bayer argued that it has a biological origin. The debate took place at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Bayer is fellow and director of content at the Ayn Rand Institute (ARI). He teaches at the Ayn Rand University, lectures, and gives interviews for ARI. He writes for and is a managing editor of ARI’s online publication, New Ideal. Dr. Bayer holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and his writing focuses primarily on the application of philosophy to contemporary cultural and political controversies.

Adam's article on free will and emergence can be found here:
https://convincingproof.org/emergence-of-consciousness-friend-or-foe/

The series of videos Adam mentioned about Bart Ehrman's work can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTEkXbr4qlVPGF3Qa2td7jZtRQhhIkcha

Click here https://linktr.ee/convincingproof/ for articles, podcasts, and other resources from Convincing Proof that give good reasons and evidence to believe that Christianity is true. You can find resources on apologetics, theology, philosophy, ethics, and more.

You can order a copy of Adam's book, "Divine Love Theory: How the Trinity is the Source and Foundation of Morality," from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Love-Theory-Foundation-Morality/dp/0825447577/.

Like nearly all ministries, including Jesus’ ministry (Luke 8:3), Convincing Proof is funded by a large team of people, most of whom are investing a small amount on a monthly basis. If God leads, you can donate to Convincing Proof Ministries by visiting this link: https://convincingproof.org/donate/. Thank you!

0:00 Ben Bayer Opening Statement
21:39 Adam Johnson Opening Statement
44:11 Ben Bayer Response #1
57:40 Adam Johnson Response #1
1:09:41 Ben Bayer Response #2
1:20:43 Adam Johnson Response #2
1:28:54 Ben Bayer Closing Statement
1:34:03 Adam Johnson Closing Statement
1:39:25 To Bayer: Virtuous Reason to Sacrifice Your Life to Something Greater?
1:41:34 To Johnson: Was Abraham Moral to Kill His Son Isaac?
1:45:40 To Bayer: How to We Know the Woman is Courageous and Not the Elders?
1:49:25 To Johnson: How Is Your Standard of Divine Love Not Just Assumed Good?
1:52:44 To Bayer: How Do Atheists Like Dawkins Differ from Ayn Rand?
1:55:36 To Bayer: How To You Explain Free Will from an Atheist Perspective?
1:58:59 To Johnson: What About the Christian God vs. Allah?
2:04:13 To Bayer: Can You Define Faith? What Is the Role of Faith?
2:06:36 To Both: What's Good about Relationships with either Divine Love or Human Survival?
2:11:04 To Bayer: What Is Missing in Nietzsche's Philosophy of Nihilism?
2:13:10 To Johnson: Is Abraham's Being Willing to Kill His Son Moral?
2:17:21 To Johnson: Why Is Loving God a Useful Purpose Since It Seems Meaningless?