Animated Short Answering a Common Argument

Just because you believe in an objective God-given standard of morality, it doesn't follow that you're privy to it, thus the theist isn't free from moral quandary, and remains in the same boat as the nonbeliever. That is a concept I've repeated ad nauseam to theists who think God belief is a solution to questions of moral concern. By far the most successful way to illustrate my point has been to invoke opposing God believers. This illustrates how theism doesn't get them where they think it will. Every time I've made this point, it seemed to effectively end the conversation in my favor, so I tried to think of a way to animate it in an amusing short. This is what I came up with...

*Neighbors standing in front of their houses, Jim nursing a beer, wife eating a ham sandwich, Jon is moving out of the neighborhood*

Jim - Jon, without God, you believe that if you get away with something like stealing or murder, you’ll never have to account for it.

Jon - I don’t like that, Jim, but you’re right. That’s the harsh truth of it. It’s like you always say, facts don’t care about your feelings. What we can do is properly consider that fact, and try as best we can to make people accountable in this life.

Jim - Accountable according to whom? Other people? Jon, without belief in God, you’re just following ideas about morality that were invented by other flawed individuals. Anything goes.

Jon - So, you think that belief in God saves you from moral ideas that were invented by people? Didn’t everything you learn about God come from other individuals? Who’s to say that they too didn’t invent moral ideas and then just attribute them to God? Just because you believe morality has some objectivity, it doesn’t mean you happen to be privy to that objective answer. You could be wrong, even if there is a God, and even if you have moral certitude.

Jim - But without belief in a God, it’s all just personal preference and...

Jon - Oh, hey, hate to cut you off, Jim, but the moving van is ready to go.

Jim - Oh okay, Jon. It’s been real nice having you as a neighbor and all.

Jon - Thanks, Jim. You too. Take care.

*Drives away. Jim turns to his wife*

Jim - Thank God that guy is finally gone. It just didn’t feel right having someone without a strong moral compass living next door. I hope our new neighbors believe in God.

*Family of Muslims drives up*

Muslim man - Hello, new neighbor, pleased to meet you! Allah be praised why is your woman not covered up? This is very indecent! Are you actually drinking alcohol right now? Is that pork? Do you people have no morality?

Jim - ...fuck.