The irony of relativism
If everyone treated their religious beliefs the same way they do their sexual fantasies this would be a much better world. The problem is that a lot of the people in the world do not. They believe that it is their moral duty to impose their belief system on the entire world. The only belief that I cannot agree to allow someone to hold without protest is the belief that they have a right to impose that belief on others. And unfortunately under Islam and Christianity that is a very common belief.
I don’t think I have the right answer. Personally, I think the question is absurd in the first place and answering it is like answering the question “what does red look like?” Then someone tells me I have to answer it and they know exactly what red looks like. And if I don’t agree with them on what red looks like their holy paint bucket is going to torture me for eternity or some other non-sensical idea.
Finding out someone does believe that way should really only affect the way I judge their character, but unfortunately they want to affect how I live my life. Relativism is a nice idea, but I’m pragmatic enough to realize that when the majority believe with absolute certainty that only they are right, you just don’t have the luxury of relativism. At least one belief is just plain wrong. And ironic though it is, it’s the certainty that you alone are right. It’s important enough to say twice: The only belief that is wrong is the absolute certainty that you alone are right.
But maybe I’m wrong…
(Originally posted as a response to my sister-in-law)













I disagree about ‘the only belief that is wrong’. One of the two beliefs (that God exists or that he does not) is necessarily wrong. One side is absolutely correct that they are right! I fully agree, though, that no one should push their beliefs on others the way religions tend to dictate.
One of them is wrong in the sense of being incorrect. I meant wrong more as in bad or evil.
Then the belief isn’t wrong, the actions are. I was reluctant to express my beliefs when I was younger, but not anymore. The reasons are:
1. I see what you are seening, religious people pushing their beliefs inapropriately, and
2. Religious beliefs often causing harm.
I still refuse to push my beliefs the way they do though. We can only hope that the atheist movement wins in the end.