Moral Relativism: The Price Our Children May Pay

Relativism is a buzz-word for those who are concerned about morality in our current society. This world-view rejects absolute truth and universal standards of moral conduct for the preferences, choices, and values of the individual. This popular trend poses great concerns for Catholics whose lives focus on the truths of Scripture and Tradition. It has the potential of being particularly problematic for the moral development and formation of our children.

When I teach my baptismal preparation course, I begin by asking the parents what their greatest hope is for their child. They mention hopes and dreams that all parents share for their children. I kindly remind them that our greatest hope for our children is that they attain eternal life. This may surprise them a bit, first of all because they aren’t used to putting questions in that context, but also for a more serious reason related to relativism.

One of the greatest lies of relativism is that we are all probably going to heaven. Relativism makes a claim that we are “all basically good people,” “I don’t do anything that really hurts anyone else,” “you live your truth, I will live my truth,” “if God is all-good, he couldn’t condemn basically good people to hell.” Due to attitudes such as these which run below the surface throughout our society, so many believe that they can take heaven for granted. Very dangerous indeed! Particularly for young minds in need of moral formation.

The fact is that Jesus spoke more about hell than he did about heaven. Even if we are one of those who disputes these figures, the fact is that Jesus makes it quite clear that hell is both a real place and a real possibility. No one can deny this. He tells us that the path to eternal life is the narrow one and he gives many warnings about those who are not prepared. Any time that we as adults fail to realize and/or share this truth we are doing a severe moral disservice to our children.

The idea of mortal sin is enigmatic to the relativist. If I am not a murderer or perhaps an adulterer or rapist, I fit into the category of “basically a good person.” When we share these attitudes with children, either directly or implicitly, we don’t prepare them for the various temptations that may lead to many other forms of serious sin.

Every generation looks at the younger generation critically as to how they raise their children. In truth, each generation has positive and negative approaches to child-rearing including discipline, politeness and social values. No generation is perfect. Relativism is such a serious challenge, however, because it cuts across our very relationship with God and our journey to eternal life.

It makes me very sad and concerned when parents come to me and tell me that they are choosing soccer, or dance, or scouts over both religious education classes and Mass. Many parents want to raise well rounded, healthy children and they see these activities as key on many different levels. In their words and attitudes I sense the thought that surely a loving God wouldn’t condemn basically good people to hell, my kids are good kids and they’ll be decent adults. Yes, they well may be. But temptations are real and they flourish like never before, right in front of us on our electronic devices.

Let us not forget that true happiness is found first and foremost in a close walk with our Savior. Let us not forget that our greatest hope for ourselves and our children is eternal life. Let us remember that there are absolute truths and they come from and lead to Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.