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The Dangers of Relativism
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June 16, 2023In the late 19th century, William James authored a book titled "The Principles of Psychology," which explores various principles that can help answer the question of why there is so much anger, radicalism, and lostness in our world today.
Action and Conviction
One of the principles discussed by James is the concept of "Action and Conviction." According to James, we can arrive at a conviction in a sudden moment of insight, but more often, our willpower can lead us to the same conviction by consistently moving in a specific direction. By continuously acting as if something were true, it eventually becomes deeply connected to our lives and manifests as reality. This principle applies not only to positive convictions but also to negative ones. If we engage in certain actions for a prolonged period, our convictions may align with those actions.
Principled Past
Personally, I experienced a sudden conviction of the reality of Jesus at the age of 19, which completely transformed me. However, this immediate conviction is not the norm for everyone. In my parent's generation, their attitudes and convictions developed gradually over time as they moved in a specific direction. Their experiences during times of war and scarcity shaped their worldview. Attending church was a societal norm that influenced the direction of their lives. As per James's principle, their convictions evolved over time, and their movement towards God changed their beliefs.
In the past, our country and world were shaped by a common vision and guided by specific principles. However, today we find ourselves in a society where billions of voices strive to define truth based on their own feelings or intuition. This pluralism, though prevalent, is not aligned with God's intentions, the scriptures warn us against it because it is the path to darkness. It always leads us away from God.
Relativism is Shaping Action
Relativism has become the prevailing belief system in our world today. It is the god of our world and shapes the actions of our culture at every strata of society. It asserts that there is no absolute truth, only subjective(personal) truths that individuals or cultures happen to believe. This ideology has permeated various aspects of our lives, including morality and religion. Our faith communities often lag behind societal norms, and we are witnessing the emergence of a hybrid form of relativism within religious traditions, blending Christianity with secularism. In such a dark world, we are called to be separate yet loving, to live as vessels of God while not losing our unique position as heralds of God's message.
The Dangers of Pluralism
Relativism inevitably leads to pluralism and disorder, contributing to the prevailing angst in our society. This phenomenon is particularly evident among our youth, who are exposed to societal agendas through social media and the entertainment industry. The resulting confusion, disorder, and pluralism have led to record rates of suicide among our children.
God is one, always leading us towards oneness and wholeness. He desires that our thoughts and actions be single-minded, not driven by pluralism.
Jesus encountered a man possessed by demons in the Gospel of Luke, and when asked his name, the man replied, "Legion, for we are many." This illustrates the dualism and confusion present in both that situation and our world today. The distorted messages we hear from our culture do not align with God's truth. They are part of the dark inner spaces of our own minds which are tainted by sin. We become susceptible to influences that seek our destruction not our wellbeing.
In the Gospel of John, there is a story of Martha and Mary. Martha was busy with serving while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Martha's mind was preoccupied with many matters, while Mary was centered and focused. Mary's singularity of purpose contrasted with Martha's pluralistic mindset. Numerous scriptures warn us about having divided minds. Jesus emphasized the oneness between himself and his Father and prayed for our unity. As followers of Christ, we are called to think and act with singularity, as God is one and leads us accordingly. A cluttered and divided mind is not of God.
The sin of adultery goes beyond simply breaking covenant vows with a spouse and God. Its greater consequence lies in the fact that it leads to a pluralistic mindset. We lose our singularity and unity with our spouse, our family, and with God, opening ourselves up to the influence of darkness. Our relationships become fragmented, and a wide chasm separates us from God. In losing our singularity, we have lost our way.
Our Message to the World
As Christians, how should we navigate our interactions with a world that opposes Christ and His church? Should we simply love and accept others as they are? How do we address relativism?
I recently witnessed a group of LGBTQ+ activists protesting, while across the street, a man used a megaphone to read passages from the Bible to them. Is this the answer? Both sides shouting at each other?
Personally, I believe there are better ways to bridge the divide between differing viewpoints. Friendship and mercy are difficult to reject once they are genuinely offered and nurtured.
Jesus never rejected anyone who approached Him with questions, and He often embraced the marginalized, while still remaining faithful to His mission and His identity as God's Son. He was equally willing to urge people to turn away from sin. He did not merely enter into friendship with no purpose whatsoever. We cannot be passive in our response to the world. The problem lies in our uncertainty about how to respond in a manner befitting our calling. I cannot imagine our Lord shouting at protestors; instead, He would have invited them to dinner. Engaging in a meal with Jesus always led to stimulating discussions. Some were transformed by the interaction, while others were not. Jesus did not create barriers to change; those were imposed by the religious community. We must be cautious not to make the same mistake. Respect, however goes both ways. We are not called to be doormats.
As a parent of a gay son, I can speak from experience about relationships under stress. After a few years, I realized that it is not my job, nor yours, to understand why things are the way they are. I stopped asking why and instead asked God what He was trying to teach me. We do not need to "get it." God understands, and that is what truly matters.
In the end, He will judge what is right or wrong, both in my life and in the lives of those around me. Our calling is to enter into genuine relationship with others, not to point fingers, use megaphones, or constantly emphasize how wrong people are. Christianity has too many individuals wielding bullhorns and too few showing compassion. We often impose borders and conditions on Christ's message, implying, "He will love you IF." We are all sinners in need of a savior. We belong to a broken world. We possess the right message, but we frequently fail in its implementation.
My advice to zealous followers of Jesus is to demonstrate mercy at every opportunity. Be cautious about adopting a critical stance. When the opportunity arises, lovingly correct others. If we are to err, let it be on the side of mercy. When standing before God's judgment seat, He will never tell you that you were too merciful.
Above all, pray. It is not your responsibility to change lives; that prerogative belongs to God alone. In return, I expect others to respect the love I have for Jesus and my Catholic faith. This respect should flow both ways. However, I refuse to engage in arguments. Instead, let us offer civil discourse, friendship, and mercy; in the hope that we will have a postive influence on others. If such offers are rejected, we should silently move on. This is the way of Christ.