One of the most prominent and pernicious claims that theists (and indeed some atheists) are
currently making is that “Western civilisation is based on Judaeo-Christian values: “The
values that resonate most with human beings are eternal; not changeable, and not relativistic.
They’re universal, not group specific.
And most of all, they apply to individual human beings, not group labels.
And those values were first embedded clearly and precisely in the Ten Commandments”,
“Our moral values (certainly in Western Culture) come from Christianity”; “Judaeo-Christian
values are predicated on the existence of a god of morality […] the entire Western
world (what we call Western civilisation) is based on this understanding”; “To make
a rational argument you have to start with an initial proposition.
Well, the proposition that underlies Western culture is that there’s a transcendent morality”;
“European and American culture (which is based on Judaeo-Christian values) is better
than other cultures – I think it’s uncontroversial to say so”; “That was the basic foundation
of America.
It was a Judaeo-Christian ethic, it was a Judaeo-Christian reasoning”; “The Catholic
church built Western civilization”; “Western Civilization at large was build on Christianity
- that's a fact!”
And yet, this claim is absolute nonsense… and what’s worse, it’s often not even
an argument… it’s just an assertion – a statement, that straight-out ignores history
and science.
This is “Western Civilization is Based on Judaeo-Christian Values – Debunked”.
Now it tends to be quite easy to take on this claim, because, as just said, that’s all
it often is… a claim – and so refuting it tends to merely require a swift motion
from Hitchen’s razor: “That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed
without evidence.”
But in the few cases in which an argument is actually given it tends to be in reference
to morality, which in effect is the assertion that “Western morality is based on the assumption
that the Abrahamic god exists.”
“Most people in this room act out a Judaeo-Christian ethic”; “Judaeo-Christian values are predicated
on the existence of a god of morality […] the entire Western world (what we call Western
civilisation) is based on this understanding”; “Our moral values (certainly in Western
Culture) come from Christianity”; “I’m arguing that the ethic that drives our culture
is predicated on the existence of god.”
Now the first thing to be said about most of those who make this assertion is that they’re
utterly ignoring history before Judaism, and in so doing they’re just expecting us to
assume that before its inception people somehow didn’t know that it’s wrong to kill, exploit
and steal; that before the Ten Commandments life was nasty, brutish and short… but this
simply isn’t true.
Evidence shows that official laws against murder and theft date back at least 4,400
years to Lagash, Mesopotamia (which, of course, is 600 years before the birth of Judaism);
and that official laws abolishing slavery only date back 200 years (which, of course,
is 3,600 years after Judaism)… but since these facts don’t fit the Judaeo-Christian
narrative let’s just ignore them, right?
I mean, it’s not like Abrahamic religion hasn’t ignored (and still ignores) facts
that contradict it, is it?
“Those values were first embedded clearly and precisely in the Ten Commandments.”
“Facts don’t care about your feelings.”
Or to put this all another way, most of those who make this assertion just expect us to
believe that an evolved social species somehow didn’t evolve social norms.
That despite all of the evidence telling us otherwise (such as the fact that wolves, elephants,
chimpanzees, rats, bats and whales have all have been proven to exhibit moral behaviour),
humans for some reason required divine intervention.
You know, I think it’s worth me doubling down here, because for whatever reason many
seem to have a hard time understanding how human morality could’ve emerged naturally,
when it’s really quite simple.
We are sentient beings that have evolved the capacity to feel pain and the desire to avoid
it, and our recognition that the best way to achieve this is by cooperating and establishing
rules is morality.
It’s that simple.
Morality isn’t this mysterious, unfathomable thing; the religious just need to be, because,
to paraphrase the founding father and second U.S president John Adams, mystery is a convenient
excuse for absurdity.
Anyhow, with the question of “where do moral values come from” answered, I’m convinced
that the best way to succinctly address the primary assertion is to first identify Western
values, and to then trace back when, where and why they emerged.
And so, let’s start with freedom of speech – the very bedrock of a free society, and
the right that allows us to enact and defend all other rights – is this Western value
of Judaeo-Christian origin?
No.
Both the Old and New Testament proclaim strict limitation on free speech (through primarily
blasphemy laws), and until very recently Jewish and Christian governments declared exactly
the same.
Hell, the Inquisition was the antithesis of free speech, as they literally incinerated
anyone who didn’t share their barbaric, un-enlightened beliefs.
Anyhow, so far as evidence indicates the principle of freedom of speech and expression dates
back 2,500 years to ancient Athens and the early Roman Republic, but true freedom of
speech didn’t emerge until the early Enlightenment, 1689, with first The British Bill of Rights,
and shortly after The French Revolution (3,500 after Judaism and 1,700 years after Christianity).
Moving on, what about liberty?
You know, the abolition of slavery… and with it the pursuit of happiness?
Did this value (that so characterises the West) come from Judaism or Christianity?
Again, no.
The Old and New Testament both explicitly endorse slavery, and in fact provide rules
and regulation for several categories of slaves; regulations that both Jews and Christians
enacted and upheld during the vast majority of their time in power.
The truth of the matter is that the principle of liberty dates back, again, 2,500 to Athens,
when the lawgiver Solon abolished debt slavery and freed all Athenian citizens who had formally
been enslaved.
But true abolition of slavery didn’t occur until the 19th century (3,600 years after
Judaism, and 1,800 years after Christianity).
Now some, such as Theo Hobson, would argue that since Christianity dominated the West
during the this time, the abolition of slavery was (and still is) rooted in Judaeo-Christian
values, but this is as fallacious as asserting that since animal rights first emerged in
Hindu culture, therefore animal rights was (and still is) rooted in Hindu values; it’s
a type of False Cause Fallacy.
Okay, well, what about democracy?
The ability to elect, and more importantly remove, our leaders?
Surely, the West inherited this moral from Judaeo-Christian values, right?
Again, no – absolutely not.
Both the Old and New Testament explicitly endorse theocracy (which is a system of government
in which one or more people rule in the name of a god or gods), and, surprise, surprise,
throughout history Judaism and Christianity have enforced such a government.
For example, in Medieval Europe (in which “Judaeo-Christian” values absolutely dominated)
the monarch could do whatever he wanted to whoever he wanted without justification, because
he had the Divine Right of Kings.
The principle of democracy can be traced back, again, 2,500 years to Athens, when Cleisthenes
reformed their constitution so that randomly selected citizens could assume administrative
and judicial offices.
However, it wasn’t perfect, as “citizenship” excluded women, slaves, foreigners, non-landowners,
and men under the age of 20.
Unfortunately, as just mentioned, the principle was buried during Medieval Europe, but it
saw a significant resurgence in the 18th century due to Enlightenment values, and true democracy
(as in all citizens who’re mentally capable above the age of eighteen being able to vote)
was finally established in the 20th century (3,700 years after Judaism and 1,900 years
after Christianity).
And while we’re on the topic of suffrage, what about equality in general?
You know, equal opportunity for all ethnicities, all sexes, all classes, all ages, and all
sexual preferences?
Was this beacon of freedom and equality a gift from Judaism or Christianity?
Again, no.
Judaeo-Christian edicts fervently oppose such equality, demanding the subordination of women,
the execution of homosexuals, and, as already mentioned, the endorsement of slavery, and
the execution of blasphemers – and so, again, it’s no surprise that Medieval Europe embodied
precisely just that.
Now I could go on by tracing back the foundation of all Western values and practices, such
as Easter and Christmas (which are both pagan festivals that have been appropriated by Christianity),
but I think I've more than made my point.
Western civilisation did not emerge from Judaeo-Christian values; it emerged despite them.
Western civilisation was conceived in ancient Athens, and it most flourished during the
Age of Enlightenment in direct opposition to Judaeo-Christian values.
Now don’t get me wrong, I appreciate and acknowledge that many Jews and Christians
played a significant role in shaping Western morality, but they didn’t do so because
of Judaeo-Christian values, they did so because of their own, evolved moral conscious, which
they then projected onto their religion.
And that’s why, not surprisingly, “absolute” divine laws are forever changing…
Now just before I wrap up (and on a completely different note), I’ve got a question for
you all – would you possibly be interested in a card game in which the purpose is to
debunk theistic arguments by playing the right fallacies, all while preventing your opponent
from doing the same by playing action cards such as “That’s just a theory”?
If so, please let me know, because I have a great game mechanic in mind, an awesome
art direction, and I’d simply love to kickstart the project… but first, I need to know if
you’d be interested.
Anyhow, as always, thank you kindly for the view, and an extra special thank you to my
wonderful patrons and those of you who’ve donated via PayPal.
Your support is what allows me to adequately address claims such as this one, and so you
have my sincere gratitude.
Until next time my fellow apes, until next time!