THE FLIP SIDE OF APOLOGETICS: PUTTING THE UNBELIEVER ON THE DEFENSE

Part Sixteen: Examples of questions that challenge advocates of religious pluralism and moral relativism.

Today, the Christian worldview is no longer center stage in terms of setting the standards for moral behavior in American culture. In its place, a relatively new, politically charged, highly influential, and largely secular worldview called postmodernism has dramatically impacted contemporary culture. It is responsible for an ongoing worldview shift of such magnitude that it’s radically changing the way people think and behave in practically every area of knowledge, including science, history, law, education, sociology, psychology, entertainment, ethics—and religion. There are two key presuppositions that form the philosophical infrastructure of postmodernism: religious pluralism (all religions are equal and legitimate) and moral relativism (there are no moral absolutes that apply to all people and cultures). Many of the criticisms hurled at Christianity today are a product of one or both of these postmodern presuppositions.

The following are examples of Socratic questions that challenge advocates of religious pluralism and moral relativism to rethink and justify these postmodern assumptions. The purpose of these questions is to stimulate conversations that lead to opportunities for Christians to explain why religious pluralism and moral relativism are harmful to society and stifles religious freedom.

1. “All religions are just as true and good as Christianity!”

• “If your view is correct, wouldn’t it mean that cannibalism, headhunting, and child sacrifices should be acceptable religious practices? If you reject these practices, how can you say that all religions are as true and good as Christianity?”

• “If your view is true, on what basis can we condemn the degradation of women and the practice of slavery, which still exists in some religions ideologies?”

• “Do you think that historic Hindu’s prohibition against reaching out to the so-called “untouchables” in their society was just as virtuous as the biblical teaching to help poor and starving people?”

• “So radical Islamic terrorists murdering Christians and Muslims under the banner of their religious sects are OK?”

2. “People have no right to judge other people’s behavior!”

• “If people can’t judge other people’s behavior, how can teachers condemn students who cheat on tests?”

• “If people can’t judge other people’s behavior, how can laws be formulated to condemn people who murder and rape?”

• “If people have no right to judge other people’s behavior, why shouldn’t sexual relationships with children be permissible?”

• “If people have no right to judge other people’s behavior, why not torture people for fun be on reality television programs, if the public wants to watch it?“

3. “You Christians are a bunch of hypocrites! You have done more harm to society than benefited it!”

• “Tell me, what other religion or secular ideology has done more than Christianity to help people outside their own religion?”

• “Christians started many of America’s great universities. Many orphanages, hospitals, and charity organizations were begun and operated by Christians. Hundreds of Christian relief organizations exist around the world, and Christians are among the first to respond to natural disasters. Christian ethics eventually destroyed the intuition of slavery, established child labor laws, and promoted women’s emancipation. Biblical characters have inspired many of civilization’s greatest paintings, music, and sculptures. Mostly Christians wrote our Constitution. Explain to me why you believe Christians are hypocrites and have never done anything good for society?”

Note: My Socratic responses in the first two categories are purposely exaggerated. Few, if any, non-Christians will endorse any of these positions. The idea is to help advocates of religious pluralism and moral relativism to understand that, carried to their logical conclusion, both are unlivable worldviews. By rejecting these exaggerated responses as immoral, postmodernists are admitting that moral absolutes do exist.

In next week’s blog article, I will give additional examples of Socratic questions that challenge religious pluralism and moral relativism.

This series of blog articles is adapted from my book The Christian Combat Manual: Helps for Defending Your Faith; A Handbook for Practical Apologetics, which can be purchased at most outlets. The Combat Manual gives the Christian position on this issue and evidence to support it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *