Show Notes for Episode 4: https://catholiccafebookclub.com/ Today is part 2 of the 4-part series we are doing on the book review of: Who Am I to Judge? Responding to Relativism with Logic and Love by Edward Sri. I apologize to you listeners for getting this episode out so late, I’ve been sick this past week. I also had to care for my daughter, she’s a toddler and it’s not easy taking care of sick toddler. Fortunately, we are both better now and I’m ready to get on with this week’s book club. Today, we are discussing chapters 1 and 2 of the book. __________________________ Chapter one is titled, “A New Kind of Intolerance.” It’s starts up by setting up a character named, Kara, who is in college. She goes through her first experience with relativism and doesn’t know how to deal with being called intolerant and a bigot. Ultimately, she becomes a relativist herself and begins making moral compromises despite knowing right from wrong herself. Honestly, I know that Kara is a fictional, hypothetical character but she describes me so well, it felt as if Dr. Sri was talking about me personally. There are two short quotes that stood out to me from Chapter 1: “if I stand up for what I believe, I would suffer a lot for it," The second quote that stood out to me was: “Over time, Kara found herself making compromises in her own moral life, doing things she never imagined herself doing. She started skipping Mass on Sunday, and, by the end of her freshman year, she had stopped practicing her faith altogether and had fully espoused moral relativism.” I’m at a loss for words here. Honestly, if my parents are listening, let me say that this is 100% true. Parents of young adults, please pay close attention to this chapter. If it’s the only chapter you read, please take it to heart. This is an accurate representation of what’s going on in colleges and universities in the United States. __________________________________ Here is how chapter 1 defined relativism and I quote: “the idea that there is no truth, that each individual decides for himself what is true and what Is right or wrong. A relativist would say that all truth claims are subjective, merely reflecting one’s personal feelings, opinions, or desires. You can have your truth, and I can have my truth, but there is no the truth to which we are all accountable.” Pope Benedict, formerly Cardinal Ratzinger was referenced in this chapter, and I quote: “As Ratzinger noted, relativism is emerging as a new king of totalitarianism - one which seeks to push the Christian belief in truth further out of the mainstream. In his words, ""We are building a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one's own ego and desires."" I pulled up an article from NPR discussing what Pope Benedict said about relativism. It’s titled, “Pope Benedict Warns Against Moral Relativism,” and states, “The new leader of the Roman Catholic Church has denounced moral relativism, the idea that moral principles have no objective standards. Pope Benedict XVI has characterized it as the major evil facing the church. Some observers believe he is taking a stance in the tense cultural wars in the United States.” _______________________________________ Chapter 2 Goes on to emphasize the clash between Christian worldview vs. Relativism. Stating that, “merely debating a relativist does not work.” Relativism is not a consistent argument. It’s a has a big hole or flaw in its logic. By stating that there is no truth as well as claiming that its statement is true, it’s an inconsistent argument. Nothing can claim to be true and claim it’s truth. Edward Sri claims that debating a relativist and pointing out the flaw in their worldview isn’t going to work. Instead, he recommends offering an alternative worldview that is consistent and true – a classical morality. He says, “as Homer, Aristotle, and Plato understood the good life, and it is shaped by what Jesus, the Bible, and the Church have taught throughout the centuries.” ___________________________________ Now, I want to point out that there is a significant but subtle theme between chapters 1 and 2 that could easily be overlooked. And that is the connection between the mind and the heart. In chapter 1, Sri states, “Kara started becoming a relativist – at least in her heart. And in chapter 2, he states, “inner coherence... when all the pieces - virtue, friendship, freedom, happiness, love - come together... they resonate with people." “"appeals not only to their minds, but also to their hearts - to their felt need for love" So, I’d like to share my thoughts so far, in the last episode of this podcast, I shared that I have delt with relative worldviews that conflict with my own. Especially in college but also in high school and middle school. It had a big negative impact on my faith, and it’s even ...
