1. 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

2. 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…”

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

4. 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

5. Postmodernism pushed it further
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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)

6. Encouraged by choices Today’s society offers many choices
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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

7. 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 !

8. 2) Tolerance TRADITIONAL definition of “Tolerate”:
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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

9. NEW tolerance under pluralism
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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

10. 3) Implications of new tolerance
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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

11. 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

12. Impact on morality & justice
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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

13. 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”

14. 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

15. Emptiness of pluralism
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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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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