In this special episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer responds to a PragerU video which argues that moral wisdom requires a “fear of God.” Bayer argues that a fear of God undercuts moral wisdom and is driven by a fear of the intellectual independence that moral wisdom requires.

Among the topics covered:

● The proposal that a fear of God provides the basis for an objective morality;
● How the fear of God makes objective moral guidance impossible;
● Why being motivated by fear undercuts our love of moral wisdom and virtue;
● How faith is driven by a fear of the independence that moral wisdom requires.

Mentioned in this podcast is Onkar Ghate's article “Finding Morality and Happiness Without God.” (https://newideal.aynrand.org/finding-...)

The podcast was recorded on Mar 5, 2024.

0:00:00 Introduction
0:01:42 Fear of God and objective morality
0:04:50 Moral guidance
0:09:57 Motivation by fear
0:14:13 Faith and fear of independence




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