Moral Relativism and Absurdity

I have a real problem with the whole “what’s true for you isn’t true for me” gang.  It’s not that I want to impose my ways on anyone, I don’t want to make everyone see things my way, I just want everyone to think logically for a moment.  I want everyone who goes for the whole moral relativism deal to stop for a moment, be intellectual honest with yourselves, and say “Really, I know it makes no sense, I just claim moral relativism because it give me license to do what I want with my life.”

Consider for a moment this succinct little statement: There are no absolute truths.  Now, let’s think that through.  If that statement is true, then there are no absolute truths…EXCEPT THAT THERE ARE NO TRUTHS.  Therefore, there is an absolute truth, which makes that statement false. Therefore, logically, there at least exist absolute truths.  They may be few and far between, but there are absolute truths.

The way people argue for the lack of absolute truths is usually by qualitatively changing the issues.  The qualifications end up becoming feelings, so that rather than talking about what is true, we instead discuss our perceptions.  For example, I could see the sky and think it is blue.  My dad is colorblind, so he may not see the same thing.  If we determine truth solely off of the two of us, we may never reach consensus.  Regardless, however, of our perception, there is an absolute truth behind what color the sky is.  One could use a spectroscope to determine a value that corresponds to a color, and we therefore have an absolute truth regarding the color of the sky, regardless of what me or my colorblind dad say.

Arguing that truth is relative and that truth is what we feel it is is like saying I am sick because I feel like a have a cold.  No, you are sick because of the presence of bacteria or viruses.  Otherwise, you are speaking of perceptions, which are different from truth.

I have a great idea.  I think maybe everyone who feels that they can define their own truth should take  a step back and think for a moment about why they believe such a flawed system.  I think it has more to do with the fact that we are a godless culture that seeks nothing more than independence from our Creator, and moral relativism is just the escape hatch to do so.  Through the wonder of perception, we can then remove truth from the equation, dash accountability to the ground, and live as senseless, primal beasts who just happen to occupy the top of the food chain.  This, then, is the true aim of moral relativism- give me the maximum freedom I can have coupled with the minimum responsibility toward myself and others.

Eckhart Tolle, Oprah Winfrey, and feel-good religion

There is something about Oprah that just annoys me.  Perhaps it is the fact that she does all of this “good” while slamming Christians who believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God.  Oprah likes to spin some new syncretic religion with New Age Spritual Gurus like Eckhart Tolle.  Tolle makes me laugh because he says that people who hold to absolute truths are wrong.  Why is that funny to me?  Perhaps because it is what usually happens with these types of do-it-yourself religions-  nothing is absolute, except what I believe.  Oddly enough, that is exactly what these syncretists say about Christians.  Why is it that Christians are the only ones who can’t be exclusivistic?

I have a good hunch as to why.  When you create your own feel-good religion, you can leave out the stuff that bothers you.  Don’t like Hell?  Toss it OUT! Don’t like being selfless?  Toss it OUT?  Don’t like the idea of accountability to God?  Throw it out!!  When you subscribe to syncretism, you can pick what makes you feel good and there is no accountability for you.  It’s the perfect designer religion.  The only problem is that it is wrong.

I have a difficult time with people who make statements like “you are god,” or “experience your own divinity.”  We are not gods.  We are creations by God.  The bottom line is this:  No matter what you WANT to be true, it doesn’t change truth.  God is the author of truth, and the truth is that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven.  I don’t care how many Pontiac G6’s you give away to your audience.  Our good deeds are like dirty rags before the Lord.  No matter what we have done, it doesn’t make us good.  We are declared good (righteous) only through a saving faith in Christ.

If you are reading this and your church is involved in Oprah’s book club, I implore you to stop.  The wares that she peddles are deadly spiritual poison, and will cripple your walk with God.  Avoid at ALL COSTS!!