Evidence for God in Morality Archives

April 15, 2026April 13, 2026

Social Darwinism at Work

The African country of Nigeria is an interesting test case for examining the effects of social Darwinism at work. The root of Nigeria’s problems dates back to the late 19th century, when European countries met and divided up Africa. They were interested in the natural resources available on that continent and in the market opportunities for European products.

Great Britain gained control of what is now Nigeria, created by the amalgamation of some Islamic states into what became northern Nigeria. Some parts of the country were put under the control of Christians, but northern Nigeria was handed over to agnostics who believed in Darwinian evolution. The British government appointed Sir Frederick Lugard as governor of northern Nigeria in 1912. Lugard placed the leadership in the hands of radical and violent Islamists known as the Fulani, who were known for terrorizing and pillaging the peaceful Christian villages.

Frederick Lugard was not a fan of Islam, but with his Darwinian view, he felt that the Fulani were more evolved than the darker-skinned natives. He considered their lighter skin color to indicate they were farther up the ladder of evolution and therefore closer to the white race. This attitude was in keeping with that of Charles Darwin. Lugard’s wife, Flora, shared his opinion and compared black people to animals that needed to be managed as livestock.

While social Darwinism at work was destroying northern Nigeria, areas of Nigeria under Christian control prospered. In those areas, Africans held key positions in the administration not because of the shade of their skin but because of their skills. Christian missionaries had free access to establish schools and to promote modern agricultural and business practices.

In Nigeria, we have seen over many years the results of social Darwinism at work. Religious violence and persecution have resulted in more Christians being killed in Nigeria than in all other countries combined. A radical Islamic group called Boko Haram aims to establish Nigeria as an Islamic state. Since 1999, the Muslim-dominated northern Nigerian states have implemented strict Sharia law.

We can place the blame for Nigeria’s disorder on religious conflict between Muslims and Christians, but it really goes back to social Darwinism at work. As Christians, we believe, as the Bible teaches, that all people are created in God’s image and therefore equal and deserving of our respect. Evolution teaches the struggle for survival in which the strong dominate and even destroy the weak. Those who follow the teaching of Christ protect the weak, defend the oppressed, and care for the sick. Which of those philosophies creates a better country and a better world?

Reference: “The Nigerian Experiment” by Amanda Witt on salvomag.com

For more on this, read Darwin Comes to Africa by Olufemi Oluniyi

April 13, 2026April 11, 2026

Purpose in Life and Euthanasia

One of the greatest challenges in life is to know why we exist. For Christians, our existence has a clear purpose. The book of Job offers a clear picture of the war between good and evil, and Jesus Christ taught His followers that they would be active soldiers in that war. Ephesians 6:12 tells Christians, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 3:10 tells us that championing this struggle is the Church’s purpose. As a Christian, I can tell you that I have a purpose in life, and that makes my life full of meaning.

So, how do atheists explain their purpose for existing? For the young college student who is at the top of their game, the answer may be to enjoy the “survival of the fittest.” What is the answer for those who are not the “fittest”?

Noelia Castillo was a 25-year-old woman who ended her life against the wishes of her family, the Catholic Church, and the Spanish government. She spent her teenage years in a state-run foster care facility. She was sexually assaulted multiple times, including a gang rape, after which she jumped from a 5th-floor window, leaving her a paraplegic. She ended her life under a Spanish law that was intended for the elderly. Intellectuals are now debating what purpose in life she could have had.

Philosophers and psychologists can argue all they want, but the fact is, as a Christian, Noelia COULD have had a great purpose in life. How many young women in Spain have been raped or gang raped, and need to know that they can recover from that horror by someone who has been there? What influence could she have had on the Catholic Church?

In America, the debate is centered on “death with dignity.” Unless we present a purpose for living in the debate, we will never reach a real consensus. Your author is 88 years old and has his share of pain. To end my life prematurely would destroy a time in my life when I can uniquely speak to younger people about why their lives can be full of meaning. The key is to use the tools God has given all humans to make this world a better place in which to live.

Reference: The Week magazine, April 10, 2026, page 15.

March 23, 2026March 22, 2026

Knee Joint Design in Humans

One common criticism used by atheists against the existence of God is the so-called “poor design” of the human body. They criticize many areas, with the knee joint often being a focal point. In reality, a healthy knee joint has an impressive range of motion and can last for decades without significant wear. No human-engineered prosthetic knee can match this longevity. Even with the best available materials, all prosthetic knees tend to show signs of wear after just a few years.

One of the leading critics of the human body’s design is Nathan H. Lents, a scientist, author, and professor affiliated with the City University of New York (CUNY). He is especially critical of the knee joint. As an advocate for human evolution, he claims, “The problem is due to incomplete adaptation.” He states, “The anatomical adaptation to upright walking never quite finished in humans. We have several defects that are the result of the failure to complete the process… The ACL is vulnerable to tearing in humans because our upright bipedal posture forces it to endure much more strain than it is designed to.” It’s interesting that he used the word “designed,” even though he does not believe it was designed. He believes it simply evolved through natural selection acting on random mutations.

The truth is, the human knee functions as what engineers call a floating joint because it has no fixed center of rotation — it is free to rotate and roll. It is stabilized by ligaments, including the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). These ligaments work together with the femur and tibia to form a four-bar linkage mechanism. Professor Lents refers to people tearing the ACLs. However, the ACL is not a bad design. Injuries to it are uncommon in everyday life but are more frequent in high-impact sports such as soccer and ski jumping. Sports like tennis or skating generally do not pose a significant risk to the ACL.

Being overweight is another common factor contributing to knee problems. In the United States, more than two-thirds of adults are overweight, and one in three is obese. Just ten extra pounds of weight can add approximately sixty pounds of force to each knee during running. Obese individuals are twenty times more likely to require a knee replacement than those who are not overweight.

In reality, the knee joint is an ingenious design, as you can see in the illustration. Engineer Stuart Burgess explores this in detail in his excellent book, Ultimate Engineering. Many who view the human body as a product of evolution assume it is poorly designed without understanding the facts. God has created the human body with many remarkable engineering features, including our knee joints. Truly, ultimate engineering requires an Ultimate Engineer.

March 19, 2026March 18, 2026

Impact of Marijuana on Neurological Development

Widespread marijuana use in the Western world has not been around long enough for its effects to be fully understood. Alcohol has been used much longer, and its destructive effects are well-documented. We are concerned about the impact of marijuana on neurological development in youth. Your author lives in a marijuana hub. Currently, in Buchanan and Niles, Michigan, there are 26 marijuana shops of various kinds. We see license plates from Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin belonging to those purchasing marijuana and vape products.

Scientific data on the long-term effects of marijuana are starting to emerge. A recent study tracked the marijuana use of 460,000 young people in California from early adolescence until age 25. It revealed a significant impact of marijuana on neurological development. Thirty-three percent of users developed depression, and twenty-five percent needed treatment for anxiety. Compared to non-users, teens who used marijuana had much higher rates of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Dr. Lynn Silver, a pediatrician at the Public Health Institute, explains that marijuana significantly affects brain receptors, and she hopes their study will encourage kids to think twice before they vape or eat a gummy. She states, “With legalization, we’ve had a tremendous wave of the perception of marijuana as a safe, natural product to treat your stress with. That is simply not true.”

First Corinthians 3:16 says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God has His home in you? If anybody desecrates the temple of God, God will bring them to ruin, for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” We see this principle playing out today in the impact of marijuana on neurological development in young people.

References: The Week for March 20, 2026, page 21, cedclinic.com, and healthday.com

March 13, 2026March 11, 2026

Birding and the Brain

An article in New Scientist suggests that birdwatching may change brain structure and help protect against brain aging. Researchers at Canada’s York University studied 48 people whose hobby was birdwatching. Although they all shared an interest in birding, half were experts, and half were novices. The researchers found an interesting link between birding and the brain.

For the test, the researchers selected 18 bird species that looked somewhat similar. They showed each birder a picture of a bird for less than four seconds. Ten seconds later, they asked them to identify that bird species from four images of similar-looking birds.

Of course, the experts outperformed the novices at identifying the birds. They also showed increased brain activity in three areas. These areas of the brain are involved in object identification, visual processing, and attention/working memory. Birding involves all of those brain functions. The researchers concluded that “building expertise in birding reshapes the brain.” The test group ranged in age from 22 to 79. With age, our brain’s structural complexity and organization tend to decline, and the study showed that the decline was less pronounced in the expert birders.

What can we learn from this research on birding and the brain? It could be that those expert birdwatchers already had structural brain differences before they started birding. However, it supports the idea that maintaining brain activity helps to reduce the effects of aging on the brain. It also suggests that other activities or hobbies that use similar skills might also slow brain aging. The skills required for birding involve attention, memory, and sensory integration. Other activities involving similar skills could have the same positive effect on our brains.

We have often heard it said that if you don’t use it, you will lose it. That is true for physical abilities, and it is also true for brain-related activities. Being physically and mentally active helps to keep us healthy and sharp. I believe this principle can also apply morally. Living a life of good moral behavior and following the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 5-7 and elsewhere in the New Testament can make us morally strong and prepared to face the temptations of daily life. Reading and meditating on the Bible, like birding, involves attention, memory, and sensory integration.

Reference: New Scientist magazine, February 2026, and online.

March 9, 2026March 8, 2026

Euthanasia Is Not the Answer

One of the difficult questions facing all of us who are getting older is how we will die. CBN published an article on December 5, 2025, reporting that in Canada, 16,499 people have died through medical assistance. Canada’s Minister of Health, Marjorie Michel, released the Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying, claiming it “protected those who are vulnerable, while supporting freedom of choice and personal autonomy.” Especially interesting are the reasons the report lists for why people received a government-provided terminal injection. These include loneliness, isolation, and feeling like a burden to family, friends, or caregivers. Euthanasia is not the answer, in Canada or anywhere else.

The Bible is very clear that God considers the body sacred. First Corinthians 3:16-17 states: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” One of the Church’s responsibilities is to address the causes that lead people to want to end their lives. In Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus taught that His followers should care for those who are hungry, thirsty, without clothes, sick, or in prison. Acts 2:42-47 shows that the first-century Church met regularly and attended to one another’s needs.

I write this as a man who would be a candidate for euthanasia if I lived in Canada. I am 88 years old, have diabetes, severe arthritis that makes walking difficult, am in constant pain, and all my blood relatives, including my two younger brothers, have passed away. My wife of 49 years has also died, and I have remarried. Now I worry about being a burden to my second wife. I wear a “Do Not Resuscitate” necklace because I do not want to be revived if God is willing to take me home. I find joy in the ministry I have dedicated myself to for 60 years. I try to minimize the burden I place on my wife and friends, and I seek to ease their burden when I can, but euthanasia is not the answer.

The medical establishment can eliminate pain, and the Church can address everything else, allowing all of us to die with dignity. Those who reject God often have no purpose in life, and they seek answers to their mental, physical, and spiritual pain by destroying themselves. Euthanasia is not the answer. A much better solution would be to look at the evidence for God, become a Christian, and look forward to what He has prepared for us beyond this life.

Reference: cbn.com

February 25, 2026February 22, 2026

The Public School’s Job

The February 13, 2026, issue of Time magazine featured an article titled “Censored in the Classroom,” which told the story of Summer Boismier. She was dismissed from her position as a librarian and English teacher in Oklahoma public schools after she made controversial books available to her students. The article is quite biased, portraying Boismier as a victim and implying that the public school’s job is to have every book on every subject in its library.

As a retired public school teacher who spent 41 years at James Whitcomb Riley High School in South Bend, Indiana, I understand the struggles faced by teachers and parents raising teenagers into responsible adults. Oklahoma has tried to prevent easy access to pornographic material for adolescents, which was the cause of Boismier’s issues.

The question is, what is the public school’s job? I would suggest that public schools serve several key functions. One is to teach young people vital skills. Learning to read, write, do math, and understand science, history, and health should be their main priorities. Promoting knowledge of every LGBTQ sexual activity is not the job of the public school’s duty.

As a parent, I want my children to learn life skills that prepare them to become productive, stable, and happy adults. If they have questions about LGBTQ topics, I prefer they find answers at home. The root of this issue is that many parents wish to hand over parenting to schools and dismiss any standards based on religious beliefs. Consequently, concerned parents who can afford it send their children to private schools, while public schools tend to serve students from low-income families. Funding these schools with tax money raises additional concerns for parents. Various experiments are underway to address this, including charter schools, private school vouchers, and scholarships for students from low-income families.

Complicating the public school’s job and parental responsibility is the fact that much online material promotes harmful behaviors. The most important responsibility of parents is to raise their children to lead successful, productive lives that are pleasing to God (Ephesians 6:1-4).

Reference: Oklahomavoice.com

February 17, 2026February 11, 2026

Organ Harvesting of Assisted Suicide Victims

Today, in the Netherlands and Belgium, medically assisted euthanasia is legal, and anyone opting for assisted suicide may be contacted by an organ procurement organization. The same is happening in Canada, and some groups want to bring it to the United States. When medically assisted suicide becomes legal, it seems inevitable that it will lead to organ harvesting of assisted suicide victims.

Assisted suicide advocates suggest that if someone wants to die, their organs could be used to help others. Since they are going to die anyway, why not use their parts? When a country or state allows medically assisted suicide, it’s likely that organ harvesters will follow. When lethal injections are legalized, what stops someone from exploiting the mentally ill or disturbed, especially if there are benefits involved? What prevents abuse of the poor or vulnerable? “We will pay for medical technicians to end your life if you agree to sign your organs over to us. You won’t need them, and you won’t have any final expenses.”

So far, the trend of linking assisted suicide to organ harvesting has not gained wide acceptance in the United States, but it’s not certain that it won’t. Bioethics scholar Thaddeus Mason Pope has advocated for organ procurement organizations (OPOs) to be more aggressive in obtaining organs from patients seeking medical assistance in dying (MAiD). The thought is that people who are seeking MAiD but are not terminally ill might have better organs. Instead of letting people commit suicide on their own, do it in a hospital where the organs could be harvested immediately.

The Christian belief is that every life is sacred, and we do everything possible to save lives. When society begins to treat some human lives as worthless and human bodies as commodities to be traded, where does it end? Organ harvesting from assisted suicide victims is adding grease to a slippery slope with no bottom. The consequences are disastrous for a civilized society. Do we want to live in that kind of world?

Reference: medicalfutility.blogspot.com

January 23, 2026January 17, 2026

Marriage and Contentment

It has been said that people need three things to be content: someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to. The biblical institution of marriage dates back to God’s statement in Genesis 2:18: “It is not good for the man to be alone.” A study conducted by Dr. Brad Wilcox, professor of sociology and director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, has confirmed that statement. There is a strong link between marriage and contentment.

The number of people living alone is increasing quickly, and the study finds that this is a major reason for the decline in national happiness. One possible cause for this trend is that some people see marriage as linked to religious belief, yet over 40% of Americans claim no religious affiliation. Additionally, there has been a rise in the number of divorced individuals.

The survey indicates that happiness is closely tied to marriage and family. Married men between 18 and 55 report being about twice as happy as their unmarried counterparts, whereas unmarried fathers are the least happy. Married women with children report the highest happiness levels, while single mothers are the least happy. The research shows a 30-percentage-point gap in happiness levels between married and unmarried Americans. According to the study, marital status has a greater impact on happiness than income, education, race, or location. It also notes that those who cohabited before marriage have a significantly higher divorce rate. Marriage was defined as a legal contract between a man and a woman.

In Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus responded to a question from the Pharisees about marriage and divorce. He said that God created humans male and female and that marriage involves the two becoming one flesh. This description is not sexual but pertains to God’s plan for contentment and happiness. The studies by Wilcox and others have confirmed the validity of God’s plan and demonstrate the connection between marriage and contentment.

Reference: “Who Is Happiest?” Institute for Family Studies