“10 Commandments for Atheists” - Really?

It’s been over a decade since Alain de Botton’s bestseller ‘Religion for Atheists’ where he introduced his so-called “10 Commandments for Atheists” (he prefers to call them “virtues”). De Botton’s set of virtues—resilience, empathy, patience, sacrifice, politeness, humour, self-awareness, forgiveness, hope, and confidence—seeks to offer a guide for how to live a meaningful life without the need for religious belief. Today - in a world grappling with questions of morality, purpose, and values - these ideals still speak to universal human experiences and encourage positive behaviour. It’s hard to argue against the notion that we could all use more empathy, patience, or hope at this point in time, especially as we face global challenges like climate change, political polarisation, and inequality. De Botton’s updated "commandments" are still timely to many, offering a moral framework that emphasises personal responsibility and communal harmony without invoking a deity. But do these values make sense without God, or do they actually point to something deeper?

The Question of Morality Without God

The challenge arises when we ask: where do these virtues come from in an atheistic framework? If there is no higher power, no ultimate purpose, and no afterlife, what grounds such morality? For those of us with a Christian worldview, de Botton’s commandments seem to reflect values deeply rooted in biblical teachings. For example:

• Empathy and self-awareness are akin to the biblical call to love one’s neighbour as oneself (cf. Mark 12:31).

• Forgiveness is central to Christian teachings, with Jesus emphasising it in the Lord's Prayer (cf. Matthew 6:12)

• Hope is a fundamental Christian virtue, especially in the promise of eternal life (cf. Titus 1:2).

It’s interesting to see atheists adopt these virtues, which have been central to religious teachings for millennia. But what’s the basis for them in a worldview that denies the existence of God?

Nietzsche’s Critique: A Universe Without Purpose?

Atheism, when logically followed through, doesn’t offer much in terms of objective morality or ultimate meaning. Friedrich Nietzsche, the atheistic German philosopher, understood this. In a godless universe, there’s no inherent meaning, no objective right or wrong; we are, in his words, left with a “will to power”, a stark recognition that values are human-made constructs rather than universal truths.

This raises profound questions about the consistency of setting any kind of moral code. If we are the product of random evolutionary processes in an indifferent, godless universe, as modern atheism posits, then where do we get the ideas of justice, goodness, or sacrifice? Are they just social constructs, useful for survival? And if so, what makes one set of values better than another?

Without God, morality becomes subjective, shaped by cultural norms, personal preferences, or pragmatic concerns. As Christian apologist William Lane Craig has said, “If life ends at the grave, then it makes no difference whether one has lived as a Stalin or as a saint”. Without a divine lawgiver, the very foundation of right and wrong seems to disappear, leaving only subjective judgments influenced by cultural norms and personal preferences. There is no divine accountability, no cosmic justice, and no ultimate meaning behind moral choices. In that case, why bother following any commandments, atheistic or otherwise?

Are These Virtues Subconsciously Pointing to God?

Despite de Botton’s atheistic stance, it’s possible that his list of virtues hints at a deeper, universal moral law—one that aligns with the biblical idea that God has imprinted His moral code on human hearts (cf. Romans 2:14-15). Even without consciously acknowledging it, many of the values de Botton champions reflect an innate recognition of the moral order that, from a Christian viewpoint, only God can provide. Again, these secular commandments have strong precedents in religious thought, particularly in Christianity. For example:

• Resilience can be seen as the perseverance that Christians are called to in times of suffering (e.g. Romans 5:3-5).

• Sacrifice mirrors the ultimate Christian example of Jesus laying down His life for humanity (e.g. John 15:13).

• Confidence resonates with the biblical call to trust in God, recognising the brevity of life and the importance of living courageously in the face of our mortality (e.g. Psalm 90:12).

Perhaps these shared values point to something deep down within all of us - a divine fingerprint, so to speak. Even without explicit belief in God, humans seem to be drawn to principles of kindness, selflessness, and justice—things that transcend mere survival or personal gain.

The Modern Dilemma

In today’s secular age, where fewer people identify with organised religion, frameworks like de Botton’s commandments may help fill a gap. They provide moral guidance for a generation that is increasingly spiritual but not religious. However, they leave some big questions unanswered. Without a transcendent source of morality, these virtues seem to rest on shifting sand. What happens when societal norms change? What if future generations decide that some of these virtues—like politeness or forgiveness—are no longer relevant?

De Botton’s commandments might work for now, but they lack the timeless grounding that comes from a belief in a higher authority. In contrast, the Christian moral framework is not just about this life but also about eternity. It offers both a reason for living virtuously and the hope that these virtues matter beyond our short time on earth.

What Do You Think?

As we revisit Alain de Botton’s "commandments" in today’s context, we are reminded of how central such virtues are to human flourishing. But their foundations are still up for debate. Can we have real morality without God? Do values like empathy, sacrifice, and forgiveness hold the same weight in a purely secular worldview? Or are they, consciously or not, pointing us to something greater?

Alain de Botton’s attempt to introduce a moral framework for atheists is commendable for seeking to answer the same universal human questions that religion has long addressed: how should we live, and what makes life meaningful? But it also highlights the paradox at the heart of the discussion: without a divine reference point, are these virtues simply pragmatic guidelines for co-existing well in society, or do they point to something deeper that we all, knowingly or unknowingly, long for?

Whether atheist, religious, or somewhere in between, we all wrestle with these questions. So, what do you think? Are these virtues enough on their own, or do they reflect a deeper truth about the nature of humanity and the existence of God? My view is that de Botton’s virtues betray an innate longing for something transcendent.