Can Giving 10% of Your Income Save Lives? Effective Altruism and Jesus
Summary
Host John Nelson interviews effective altruists Matthew Adelstein and Jonathan Bauman to explore how the movement intersects with Christian and non-Christian worldviews. They discuss the philosophical foundations of EA, debating whether Jesus’s teachings align with maximizing good and addressing objections regarding the relative moral weight of human versus animal suffering.
Topics discussed
Introduction and Christmas Uncovered series promo
Defining Effective Altruism and the core question
Matthew's journey to EA and the 10% pledge
Utilitarianism vs. the modest core of EA
JD's Christian perspective and the drowning child analogy
Reason, evidence, and calculating moral decisions
Stewardship and the fit of EA with Christian faith
Maximizing good and biblical injunctions for foreigners
Was Jesus an effective altruist? Historical analysis
The anointing of Jesus and the alabaster jar objection
Tension between heart posture and EA calculations
Revisiting the alabaster jar as an exception
Utilitarianism as a stumbling block for Christians
Disagreement on what constitutes 'doing good'
Christian charitable efforts and the 'big tent' of EA
Priorities: Humanitarian aid vs. missionary work
The Kingdom of God and care for all creation
Advent series promotion
Matthew's viral article: Insects matter more than people
The scale of insect suffering and moral relevance
Cognitive biases regarding size and large numbers
Christian objections to insect suffering claims
Eternal stakes and effective evangelism priorities
Arguments from silence: Why Jesus didn't mention insects
Weighing infinite stakes of afterlife vs. present suffering
Eternal relationships and existential risk reduction
Sympathy for animal welfare vs. prioritization concerns
Biblical evidence for caring for animals and insects
Factory farming statistics and cost-effectiveness
Common ground on opposing factory farming cruelty
Theological challenge: Misguided moral intuitions
The problem of evil and defective moral faculties
Practical barriers: Cost of living and generosity
Jesus' call to radical sacrifice and enduring hope
The moral suspicion of not giving 10% of income
C.S. Lewis on giving more than we can spare
Matthew's utilitarian view on strength of reasons
The drowning child analogy and limiting obligations
Taking a pay cut to save lives
Happiness benefits of charitable giving
Special preferences for family and friends in EA
Being a maximizing utilitarian vs. being a good person
Tension between extreme giving and personal well-being
Christian emphasis on heart posture and character
EA as a goad for the church to give more
Christian vocation vs. calculating career choices
Witnessing the Kingdom and strategic career choices
The 80,000 hours career guide and impact
Efficiency concerns with aging populations
National obligations vs. global effective giving
Comparing end-of-life care costs to saving children
EA as a modest position of good sense
Recommended resources: GiveWell and Genspel Area
Further questions on Christian charitable priorities
Career advice for Christians and 80,000 Hours
Christians for Impact and one-on-one advising
Christian mission resources and church planting costs
Closing remarks and final recommendations
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