By Mark W. Christy, PhD

In this contemporary age of relativism, many argue that truth either does not exist or is at least unknowable. With this philosophical stance being firmly established, these relativists boldly spurn exclusive notions of truth in general and religious declarations of the preeminence of exclusive truth in particular (especially those espoused by Christians who are deriving their truths directly from Scripture). In such an age of freedom from the constraints of religious dogma, many boldly declare the inherent rightness of any contemporary prevailing culturally acceptable position.

Today, these positions which are deemed politically and socially correct include the pro-choice movement (which affirms seemingly any and all abortion options), gay marriage (and any other mainline LBGTQ agenda), the BLM movement, etc. Those who take these positions typically do so either in the name of their religion (usually Christianity) or despite their lack of any religious affirmation (e.g. atheists, agnostics, etc.). While the self-declared religiously faithful among these cultural astute people can be quizzed on their positive stances on these matters by examining their views in light of clear biblical precepts, those who advocate these views while proclaiming to be free of the chains of any religion present a textbook example of what can be described as the philosophical retardation of American culture. The retardation of anything resembling sound thinking was, according to Paul the Apostle, a direct result of giving one’s self over to sin (cf. Rom 1:18-23).

While Paul correctly understood that any right position had to be grounded in inspired revelation that is divine in origin, contemporary relativists see no problem with promoting their “right” position, sometimes even with violence, even while they disown any divine source to support their claim to being right. In such a way, their rightness emanates directly from their own person. Such a rightness demands no less faith than rightness proclaimed by those who seek to be faithful to a particular religion. Both claim to be right (and most claim to be exclusively right when they are being honest with themselves), and both believe that their rightness is foundational. Given this, those who believe themselves to be right by default venture into the religious realm because they are making truth proclamations that extend beyond themselves and envelop all of humanity. Furthermore, when these proclaimers demand that others submit to their truths, they are arrogantly advocating that they, in and of themselves, have knowledge of universal truth and therefore all others should bow to their whims. In such a way, these relativists demonstrate not only that they are indeed religious, but also that their religion involves the worship of self and the dissemination of truth which has its origin in the self. In the public forum, these self-worshipping zealots proclaim the exclusivity of their self-derived truths while chastising those who hold different views. Even worse, they claim that religiously faithful members of society are arrogant themselves for championing positions based on religiously affirmed exclusive truth claims. Without knowing it, their retardation at this point reaches a new height. Specifically, one who claims a truth position based on a religiously held belief is simply manifesting humility to the God being worshiped. On the other hand, one who claims a truth position derived solely from one’s own self and then sets out to chastise others who think differently is most certainly the very picture of arrogance.