Question at Waterloo U in a Ravi Q&A:
If absolutes are esteemed in the Middle East, why is there so much taking of life? In a culture of relativism here in the states, life appears to be valued more.
What does a culture do to make sure that the absolutes believed in are defendable and rationally tenable? Every absolute is based on a worldview.
Relativism cannot be held onto without a cost.
Ravi asked a leading philosopher about his statement, "There is no compulsion in in religion". He then asked the philosopher "if your daughter was to become a Christian, what would you do?"
The philosopher simply responded, "I'd kill her".
Freedom to believe must go hand-in-hand with freedom to disbelieve. If one's absolutes are defendable, it should never be defended by the taking of a life, rather it should be defended by reasoning and sharing why you believe what you believe is truth.
A worldview answers for important questions: Origin, Meaning, Morality, and Destiny. Christianity answers those four questions coherently while also allowing for those that choose to disbelieve, to disbelieve.
Absolutes have to be grounded.
Examine the world view behind the absolute and then you will find the cause, and perhaps the problem.
Absolutes unanchored in a coherent worldview is the problem.
Question: "Where do you draw the line between pluralism and relativism?"
Shifting priorities of the way we made decisions. Enlightenment/ Empiricism / Rationalism / Existentialism.
All trying to define the ultimate reality.
One defining decision made: Has to be a moral framework. Kant: reason can take us there. Moral parameters can be arrived at by reason.
Kai Neilson, renowned Canadian writer and atheist, said this: "We have been unable to show that reason requires the moral point of view or that really rational persons need not be egalitarian or classical amoralists-reason doesn't decide here. The picture I have painted for you is not a pleasant one for me, and reflection on this actually depresses me. Pure, practical reason even with the good knowledge of the facts, will not take you to morality".
Morality is a titanic question for a pluralistic society to answer.
There must be an anchor, transcendent reference for right & wrong.
Seven principles needed for a society to thrive-
1. Sacredness of life
2. Sacredness of the human body
The western culture is the first culture to try and build an ethos without a moral framework.
Nietzsche said two things will happen with the philosophical murdering of God: It will be the bloodiest century ever recorded and madness will be preeminent.
3. Sanctity of your word
4. Sanctity of property
5. Sanctity of your neighbor
6. Sanctity of time
7. Sanctity of worship
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