I am knee-deep in relativism, a term that was roundly denounced from the pulpit in my youth, and a term that is still roundly denounced from conservative-Christian pulpits.  And I still fill a tinge of guilt for having departed so far from the fold.  But only a tinge!

I also feel very strongly that relativism, like any notion, carried to its extreme becomes absurd.   Aristotle is credited with saying, “Moderation in all things.”  I am really an extreme relativist but somehow, by the Grace of God, I realize this perspective is not for all and that it can be problematic for anyone, including myself.  I believe that the beliefs that we hold say less about what is “real” and more about how our mind operates.

Let me give an example of this aforementioned Grace at work in my heart and life.  When I pray I step away from the ether in which I dwell intellectually/spiritually and simply pray along the vein of, “My father, which art in heaven….”  In prayer there is no need to be complex and to engage in sophistry.  I simply pray to God.

Let me apply this to moral codes, say the Ten Commandments.  Though I think moral codes a relative, I don’t believe we should ever espouse to dispense with them.  Without moral codes…and the much-related guilt…we can’t function as a social body.  I do think there needs to come a time in one’s spiritual/emotional life where he/she goes beyond the “letter of the law” and recognizes as did Paul, that “all things are lawful.”  But that does not mean one should let his/her impulses run amok.

Let’s take one fundamental human impulse and fundamental component of any moral code, summarized in the Ten Commandments as, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”  I really think that at some point in adulthood one needs to exercise good judgment, or as we say, “make good decisions” in sexuality and do so not merely be clinging tenaciously to a biblical prohibition.  If, at that time, this biblical prohibition is the only thing keeping our sexuality under control, then there is a personal issue that needs to be addressed.

And I think moral codes have value for the modern world, even in a liberal society such as ours where sexual mores are in flux.  For example, I think the simple prohibition, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” should give anyone, even in our culture, pause from time to time and make him/her wonder, “Now why did they come up with this notion back then?  Why was it important then to put limits on the sexual impulse?  Does this have any relevance to me and the modern world?”  (And I realize there are some valid anthropological/sociological answers to this question.)  And many will answer their query with, “Well, no it has nothing to do with me in this modern world.”  But I still think it was, and is valid, to ask the question.  It reflects self-awareness and I fear our culture often lacks this quality.

There must be limits.  There must be “moderation in all things.”