Dennis Prager, the Bible, and Western Civilisation

Solid answers from the great Dennis Prager:

Some of you, like me, have been following Dennis Prager for many decades now. Over his lengthy career the American Jewish conservative intellectual has authored around a dozen books, numerous columns, plenty of podcasts, been a sought-after international speaker, and a popular radio talk show host – among other things.

One invaluable part of his ministry is his website PragerU. It was founded in 2009, and it is loaded with so much excellent material. You can check it out here: https://www.prageru.com/

Sadly, late in 2024, he fell and suffered a serious spinal cord injury, leaving him paralysed below the shoulders. He is still turning out some podcasts and the like, but it is wondered how many more books he might pen. The 77-year-old’s latest book (done with the help of his wife) is If There Is No God (Broadside Books, 2026).

The book consists of answers given to various public questioners on a range of topics. In the Preface he discusses where the bulk of the discussion lies:

Most adults who have rejected God or the Bible as the source of objective morality did so when they were young. They received no rational responses to their questions, only faith-based responses. This book is for them as much as it is for the believers.

 

It is not a coincidence that the most secular century in history was also the bloodiest in history. Between Nazism and Communism – two secular doctrines – approximately 150 million non-combatants were killed. The death of God has led to massive deaths of men, women, and children. It also appears to be leading to the death of Western civilization.

 

Europe has lost its Judeo-Christian origins. As the British prime minister Margaret Thatcher said in 1998, “The moral foundation of this system is the Judeo-Christian outlook – the message of the Old and New Testament, that each and every person matters.” (x)

Let me share just one of these exchanges between a questioner and Prager:

Audience member: I don’t see how you can stand up there and say that people who don’t have Jewish values are wrong.

 

Dennis Prager: Did anybody hear me say that people who don’t have Jewish values are wrong?

 

Audience member: No.

 

Audience member: It sounds like you’re saying if values aren’t from Judaism, they’re wrong.

 

Dennis Prager: To be precise, I am not saying that anyone who differs with any of the Torah’s laws that only apply to Jews is wrong. What I say is that the best values ever created come from the Bible. Therefore, anyone – a Jew, a Christian, or just a Bible-based individual who practices neither Judaism nor Christianity – can and should live by them.

 

I’ll go further. I acknowledge that there are people who never read the Bible, who have essentially the same moral values as the Bible. I also recognise that there had been Jews and Christians who have not lived according to the Bible’s values.

 

But the most moral civilization that ever existed – Western civilization – was produced by people who believed in the Bible. Western civilization has had its share of bad people. But no other civilization, to cite one example, abolished slavery before Western civilization did. And the people who abolished it were overwhelmingly Bible-based Christians. The abolitionist movement was a Christian movement that began in England.

 

Western civilization gave the world democracy, women’s rights, universal human rights, guarantees of free speech, virtually all its medical and scientific advances, uniquely great art and music, and the most prosperous nations that ever existed. It was the Judeo-Christian value system’s emphasis on individual rights and liberty that made these accomplishments possible. There are fine attributes of virtually every other religion, but none of them produced what Western civilization did. (pp. 33-34)

Prager went on to say this:

I fully acknowledge that there is a danger in my position. There is no belief system that is certain to make good individuals and good societies. Just to cite one example we’ve been discussing, more than a few people who believed in the Bible defended slavery. So I want to remind you that, while practised all over the world, it was the Judeo-Christian West that first abolished it.

 

Yes some people who claim their values are Bible-based will do evil, and some will even misuse the Bible in doing so. But this is true about every noble thing. Some people abuse medicine: The Nazi and Japanese physicians who, during World War II, performed grotesque experiments on human beings are the two most terrible examples. Should we therefore stop taking medicine or visiting physicians when we are ill? There are people who abuse art and music, using their talents to make art and music on behalf of cruel regimes. Should we therefore abandon art and cease painting and composing?

 

I know that religion can be abused. I know that values can be abused. But without them, we’re left with feelings. And then we’re doomed.

 

By and large, American Jews and American Christians have very similar values. We have different theologies, but very similar values. Jews and Christians share the entire Hebrew Bible, the Ten Commandments, and the same belief that they were given by God.

 

We are working through two issues: One, feelings and values are not the same. Values override feelings. And, two, values must be rooted in a God who is higher than we are. Those are the only two issues for now, and believe me, they’re the toughest part of the discussion, except for the upcoming one on human nature. (pp. 34-35)

The rest of the book continues in this same vein. Prager carefully and artfully deals with various questions, arguments and objections. Just as not every audience member agreed with Prager, not everyone reading this book will either. But having rational and incisive answers to life’s big questions is always useful.

As the very least, it will get you thinking. So I encourage you to get a hold of this volume – and his other books as well. See for example my review of one of his earlier books: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2012/06/15/a-review-of-still-the-best-hope-by-dennis-prager/

And while you are at it, have a visit to PragerU. One thing I highly recommend are his slightly older Fireside Chats. There are 366 episodes of these, each one usually containing around four key topics. Visit that page here: https://www.prageru.com/shows/fireside-chats  

Keep Dennis in your prayers. It is hoped that he will still be around for some years to come.

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