8/18/2003
[i]Whenever you find a man who says that he does not believe in a real Right and Wrong, you will find the same man going back on this a moment later. He may break his promise to you, but if you try breaking one to him, he will be complaining, ‘its not fair’ before you can say Jack Robinson.[/i]
[b]C.S. Lewis
Mere Christianity[/b]
I need to say something controversial. First, let me explain why.
Whenever I write an email message, or post a message to a bulletin board, or even post an article to my personal weblog, I almost always take a considerable amount of time beforehand in order to consider the words I’ll use. Even after I’m finished writing, I’ll often go and do an extensive rewrite. I do this because words matter, and words, properly assembled, can express thoughts that have the ability to build up or tear down other human beings.
On the other hand, there are times when things must be said plainly, in the simplest possible terms, so that there is no confusion as to the meaning of what is being said. On that note, then, I’ve decided that in honor of those with whom I’ve debated on the subject of absolute truth, a dissapointingly large number of whom call themselves “Republicans,” or worse, “conservatives,” I will craft this special message: If you call yourself a Republican, or a conservative, yet you don’t believe in the concept of [b]right[/b] and [b]wrong[/b], then please do us all a favor and go be a Democrat. If this is you, then please get out of the Republican Party!
You know, if it weren’t so funny, I might not have any hair left in my head from the frustration of it. I’m on a message board, or even talking to someone face-to-face about the concept of “right” and “wrong,” that is, a discussion around the existence, or not, of real, objective truth.
From so many I get the reply, “well, that might be wrong for you, but its not wrong for me;” or I might also get this classic line: “Well, I believe that morality is situational.” All of these arguments center around a concept which has become dangerously popular in this country lately, the concept that there is no fixed, objective standard of truth and, therefore, no absolute standard for right and wrong.
As I have already said, I get these arguments from liberals and conservatives alike, Democrats and Republicans. I even hear this from devout Christians whose own Bible exhorts them continually from beginning to end to seek “the Truth!” They stand fast determinedly, insisting that my standards, or anyone else’s for that matter, cannot be universally applied.
Today, however, it suddenly hit me… If you don’t believe in right or wrong or in the existence of a universal set of standards, then why bother speaking with me at all? If what I say is meaningless, then why do you work so hard to make your case? If there is [b]no[/b] absolute standard for right and wrong, then it doesn’t matter what I say, does it?
Perhaps, though, as C.S. Lewis has said, you do understand that there is a universal standard. Perhaps you don’t understand it consciously, but deep down inside, you instinctively know, in which case, you are arguing with me for one of two reasons:
1) You are trying to show that it is [b]your[/b] standard which applies, not mine
2) You are trying to explain why you are the special exception to the standard.
The point is, if there are no set standards then there are no reasons why you should insist that there are no standards. Only a person deeply convinced of the [b]truth[/b] of their argument would bother speaking with me at all.
This is why, if you call yourself a Republican, you should leave the party immediately and join another party. The fact is, as you become increasingly in tune with your philosophy, you and your party will increasingly fail in everything you do. Why? Because those who do believe in a set standard will act to live by that standard and to create conditions to bring their society in line with that same standard.
All of which should not matter to you, right? If there are no absolute standards of right and wrong, then it is okay for us believe what we believe and also to impose those standards on you as well.
If any standard is just as good as another, then those of us who believe that it is as important as life or death to force your cooperation are just doing what comes natural to us. We are applying our standard, which is good, because that is what we believe.
For those of you who don’t believe in absolute right and wrong but are seeking to argue with me, why bother? No standards mean that all standards are equally good. If my way of life tells me that I must make sure that others have fixed standards, then its all good!
You know what? My standards tell me this… If you are a Republican but don’t believe in right and wrong, then its time for you to join the Democratic Party. Believe me, they’ll love you there!
David Flanagan
[url=http://www.viewpointjournal.com]http://www.viewpointjournal.com[/url]
3 Comments
David,
That absolute standard of right and wrong is the Law of God! Read my comments on Ann Coulter’s forum. Appreciate it if you keep my email private.
Tex
Comment by Tim Henry — 8/20/2003 @ 10:05 pm
Agreed. Thanks for your comments and I’ll be sure to keep your email private.
Thanks.
David
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