Relativism

This program examines the concept of relativism: do the group members believe in “essential or universal truths” or is everything relative? It asks members to consider how these concepts apply both in our church and in their daily lives, and to examine the concept of relativism within the context of our UUA Principles.

Member Preparation

In preparation for this session, please read about the concept of relativism:

Relativism is sometimes identified (usually by its critics) as the thesis that all points of view are equally valid. Although there are many different kinds of relativism, they all have two features in common.

  • They all assert that one thing (e.g. moral values, beauty, knowledge, taste, or meaning) is relative to some particular framework or standpoint (e.g. the individual subject, a culture, an era, a language, or a conceptual scheme).
  • They all deny that any standpoint is uniquely privileged over all others.

Pope Benedict XVI has propounded about the dangers of relativism, of not believing that not only there is truth, but also that one can seek to understand it. As he noted in 2002, "I would say that today relativism predominates. It seems that whoever is not a relativist is someone who is intolerant. To think that one can understand the essential truth is already seen as something intolerant."

As he said as Cardinal Ratzinger, "[Relativism] is letting oneself be 'swept along by every wind of teaching.' (It) looks like the only attitude (acceptable) to today's standards. We are moving towards a dictatorship of relativism, which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one's own ego and one's own desires."

These questions provide ways you may want to approach this topic. Remember to focus on just one or two of the questions, if you choose to use them, as this will allow you to explore the topic in more depth.

  • What are your thoughts on Relativism? Do you believe there are “essential or universal truths” or is everything relative? What part does self-interest play in your determination?
  • Do you think Relativism is responsible for what some say is our failure to deal with such issues as the disruptive Homeless in our church setting? Does it matter or when does it matter? Why?
  • Do you think there are “universal truths” that should guide us all? For example, a Universal Bill of Human Rights or The Ten Commandments?
  • What part, if any, do the UU Principles play in your thought process?

Further Exploration