Ethics & Faith – Class 2 Pluralism & Postmodern Thought 9/14/2019 Ethics & Faith – Class 2 Pluralism & Postmodern Thought Tolerate people, not false doctrine Pastor Brett Peterson

1) Background of Pluralism Ethical Theism: Belief that right & wrong are absolute, unchanging, and are decided by God American Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…”

Modernism Renaissance (1300-1600): Exalt man through literature, art, learning, etc.  Humanism: human ability; man toward the center; reject “external authorities” Enlightenment (1600-1700): Push God out & depend on human reason to discern truth Industrial Revolution (1700-1800): Human productivity & advancement; no need for God  push God out, put man in

Modernists’ foundations Rationality: Man can understand the world Empiricism: Knowledge only through senses Implications for truth: Scientific truth became absolute “Unobservable” spiritual / moral truths became relative

Postmodernism pushed it further 9/14/2019 Postmodernism pushed it further Objective Truth does not exist Even scientific truth is “true” only for that time & culture (Kuhn’s paradigms) Even words don’t have original meaning (“reader above the writer”)  Individuals are products of their culture Arbitrary beliefs shaped by cultural biases e.g. suicide bombers are heroes 37 if one cannot talk about the objective truth of the matter, then the interpretations are merely personal or at best culturally conditioned options. No interpretation can be dismissed, and no interpretation can be allowed the status of objective truth (Carson 20)

Encouraged by choices Today’s society offers many choices 9/14/2019 Encouraged by choices Today’s society offers many choices Classes, career, cell phones, etc. “You choose…” Outside world is “changeable” Outside world is doubtful Disdain for fixed standards & absolutes  leads to Pluralism

Pluralism Definition of Pluralism: Theory that there are more than one or more than two kinds of ultimate reality Varieties of ultimate truths available No one absolute truth Exercised in the form of… …Tolerance !

2) Tolerance TRADITIONAL definition of “Tolerate”: 9/14/2019 2) Tolerance TRADITIONAL definition of “Tolerate”: to recognize and respect others’ beliefs, practices, etc. without sharing them to bear or put up with someone or something not especially liked “Values, respects, and accepts the individual without necessarily approving of or participating in his/her belief or behavior.” 18

NEW tolerance under pluralism 9/14/2019 NEW tolerance under pluralism Since pluralism says there are no absolute truths… …NEW tolerance states, “All values, beliefs, lifestyles, and truth claims are equal” 19

3) Implications of new tolerance 9/14/2019 3) Implications of new tolerance Not just “Live and let live”… Now must agree that another person’s position is just as valid as your own Now must give approval, endorsement, sincere support to their beliefs and behaviors Even demand full participation 22, 26

Dangerous Fallouts Consequences of doing away with absolute truth… The masses decide what is right and wrong There is no universal standard to measure right and wrong Chaos ultimately results

Impact on morality & justice 9/14/2019 Impact on morality & justice Can’t make moral judgments “If there is no absolute moral standard, then one cannot say in a final sense that anything is right or wrong.” [Francis Schaeffer] We must approve Hitler’s actions  No justice possible without truth 55, 65

4) Case against pluralism Pluralism demands, “Tolerance for all” But who gave that authority to pluralism? Is it absolutely? Pluralism says, “Equal footing and hearing” Then Christianity should be given a fair and equal hearing without being called “exclusive”

Reasons for Absolutes Presence of universal sentiments Love & goodness (regardless of culture) C. S. Lewis: universal desire for something is a good reason to believe the existence of that thing “Choices” must be measured by some apriori truth e.g. Mathematics 2+2 always = 4

Emptiness of pluralism 9/14/2019 Emptiness of pluralism Discourages critical thinking Brainless in accepting everything blindly “Tolerance is a virtue of a man without convictions” [G.K. Chesterton] Cravings for an absolute moral Judge When injustice comes upon you Hunger of the heart Epidemic of emptiness & loneliness 58

Incompatibility with religions Many religions seem to say same things “Be good to others” But quite different in major doctrines i.e. sin, nature of God, salvation Law of Non-Contradiction: Two contradictory ideas cannot both be true

5) Uniqueness of Christ Historical figure (not myth) He claimed to be God Gave real evidence and proof Ultimate proof: Resurrection “Show your cards” Other religious leaders did not resurrect  Jesus’ claims to truths are validated

Also, Jesus’ loving tolerance Loved everyone the same Tax collector, prostitute, leper Distinguishes person from behavior “Hates the sin but loves the sinner” People have intrinsic worth & value because wonderfully made in image of God [Gen. 1 & Psalm 139] e.g. people are to be valued, not false belief systems Fills our need for love, justice, & truth

Rejection of moral absolutes “It is hard to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to people who believe that, since morality is relative, they have no sins to forgive.” Gene Veith, Postmodern Times, p.16

We must proclaim Truth! It’s not easy to do this in our post-postmodern culture! If good men stand by and say or do nothing, evil will prevail God uses us to accomplish His plan