In Defense of Absolute Truth Relative Vs Absolute Truth

Objectivism vs Relativism  Moral objectivism is just the view that morality is objective: there is such a thing and it does not depend on how it is perceived.  Moral relativism is the view that there is not an objective morality: moral codes depend on the perceptions of the persons.

Relativists maintain  There are no moral rules that apply to all cultures or all people in one culture. Therefore no culture or person has the right to impose their moral rules on any other culture or person.  There are no universal moral rules that apply to everyone.

Glimpses of Truth that make Relativism look True. 1. Circumstances and intentions make a difference. (Given the complexity of evaluating moral actions, it seems easier to conclude that it is all relative.) 2. Relative truth resembles the virtue of tolerance and compassion. Even Jesus said “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Mt. 7:1) Yet, if someone is hurting themselves or others, should you do nothing?

Why Relativism is Wrong  1. Relativism is self-contradictory.  Those who would insist that there are NO absolutes are believing in an absolute. They are absolutely sure that there is nothing that is absolute. Such a philosophy is self-defeating and self- contradictory. Their statement of belief is, in itself, evidence against their belief!

Why Relativism is Wrong  2. Relativism is not practicable  No one is really a relativist. –Do we have no right to judge the actions of Hitler or the Germans? –Have you ever said, “That’s not fair!” –If things are relative, then killing is just as right as not killing. Cruelty is equal to non-cruelty.

Why Relativism is Wrong  3. The claim that different cultures have drastically different moralities is a gross exaggeration.  Evan before mass communication, cultures that grew independently tended to create and enforce the same basic moral principles.  *see universal moral principles

Absolute Truth - A Logical Necessity  You can't logically argue against the existence of absolute truth. To argue against something is to establish that a truth exists. You cannot argue against absolute truth unless an absolute truth is the basis of your argument.

Is Morality just instinct?  That depends on how you define instinct…  If instinct is acting from passions or drives, then objective moral truth is not instinct. Morality often calls us to act against our passions and drives.  If instinct is acting in the way that humans are programmed to act, then objective moral truth is instinct—or what the church calls “natural law.”

Believing in Absolutes without being an Absolutist!  All our revelations come to us with a filter attached. We see through a glass darkly (I Cor.13:12). An absolutist implies he has no filter. Infallible absolutes still exist among fallible people. We kid ourselves when we believe that we know all truth. Humility goes a long ways, especially with one's foes.

Ethical Pluralism  For each action or policy, we can place it in one of three regions: –Ideal--Center –Permitted--Middle Respected Tolerated –Prohibited--Outside