In the Thursday, June 26 edition of the Chicago Tribune, Eric Zorn wrote a column headed, “A majority places faith in one another.” He cites a Pew poll that reported 70% of religious Americans agreeing that “Many religions[1] can lead to eternal life.” From this Zorn rejoices that a “Humble Majority” agrees that “the great riddles of life are, in fact, riddles.” This is great for avoiding religious conflict, exults Zorn. He says, “But, inevitably, the belief that only you … understand God’s wishes tends to polarize people into us and them; the good and the wicked.”
Welcome to post-modernist America.
For all his declaration that we shouldn’t claim that we know an absolute truth, Zorn quite handily assumes some absolutes of his own.
First is the assumption that religion has to do only with morality, “the good and the wicked.” While that is true of the man-made religions, made in the image of the law, the fact is that Christianity is radically different, being the revelation of how God has redeemed the world (ALL of us wicked!) to reconcile us to Himself through faith.
Second is the assumption that the Bible (or any other book) is not in fact God’s revelation of Himself to the world. He doesn’t seek to disprove this; he only assumes it and then uses his assumption to proclaim that God remains a riddle. That is a classic of circular reasoning.
Third is his assumption that somehow a majority in a poll matters. Yes, that is what post-modernists believe, that reality and truth are just what we construct ourselves, so that the truth that most of us construct has some shared meaning. But there is an objective reality, whatever the majority may believe. The moons of Jupiter existed whether anybody knew about it or not.
Of course, nobody can live in other important aspects of life as Zorn wants us to live where religion is concerned. Objective reality cannot be ignored with impunity. Go ahead and cling to your opinion that the fast-growing black mole on your leg is benign – and die of Melanoma. Be secure in your belief that “trains don’t go that fast” as you pull around the crossing gate – and pay the consequences.
Jesus declared, (John 14:6) “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He declared Himself to be the only Savior of the world, but He also commissioned his disciples to proclaim this objective reality to the world for their salvation.
There is only one Hope, and we show true love in saying so.
[1] Zorn doesn’t say what he means by a “religion.” Properly speaking “religion” refers to bodies such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc., rather than denominations like Lutheran or Roman Catholic.