Relativism?

This topic is, it seems, one that simply can't be discussed in any really coherent way. If one asserts that relativism is true, then one immediately invalidates relativism. On the other hand, the idea of "absolute truth" is something that just can't be proved. So all that's left is to discuss the historical thinking on the subject (such as this group did), or descend into the depths of philosophical gibberish.

But that doesn't mean people don't -- and haven't -- absorbed a kind of relativism in their thinking. It's all about us. The consequences of it have been, it seems to me, quite profound and quite negative. But I haven't the energy to argue about it.

The thought structure of mankind seems to be this:

• If one holds that A is truth
• Then one behaves in a certain way

For the Christian, the truth is a rather complex structure of assertions about God, Jesus, the historical reality of Jesus, and the supernatural implications of atonement and forgiveness. My point is simply this: we can't prove any of this. We simply hold it as true.

But, as I've written before, our holding it as true or not true does not change the reality of it. It either is or is not; our perspective on it is irrelevant to that particular aspect of it. (And please, don't bring quantum physics into the picture.)

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The tone of the speakers in that programme seemed to be that the idea of "God" is a quaint historical thing, but clearly not applicable anymore.