why relative truth feels so natural

 Most people can generally agree with some absolute truths about the physical world, such as the law of gravity. But, there are truths about the physical world that we can't all agree on, such as the origin of the world, climate change, when life begins, and others.

Generally, if truth about the physical world has moral implications, society begins to take sides. The debate is easily settled if we can agree truth is relative. The virtue of tolerance is just the other side of the relativism coin.

It seems only Christians put up a fight that truth is absolute. God has established order and laws of the physical and spiritual realms, and that is that. Just read His word and you have the truth.

This argument falls on deaf ears. The world does not buy in to this absolute truth thing. In fact, it is sneaky easy for Christians to be sucked into this position on truth too. Of course, many mainstream Christians need to be culturally relevant and will not fight the non Christian world on this. There are even evangelicals, while always stating the theological position of absolute truth, find they practice relativism in ways they can't explain.

The issue is that relativism flows from our human nature. Relativism is not what someone chooses to believe but is preferred and considered vitruous because relativism fits the carnal mind. Relativism is an outcome belief of core assumptions of the natural mind.

What makes relativism flow from human nature? There are at least 3 reasons.

First, the carnal core assumption about how truth is determined is as follows: the truth about an object is determined by the observer of the object. That is the basis of science. We collect observations and apply scientific inquiry to the data, drawing conclusions about the object. There are a couple of problems with this. Two people cannot make the exact same observations for several reasons. Perception is limited. Judgments are biased. If truth is determined by an observer, then each observer can justify its conclusions. The debate is who has the best process, but all scientific inquiry is biased and limited. Science can only determine probabilistic cause and effect relationships. It is futile at determining absolute truth. Thus truth must be relative.

Second, one of the main biases of the human condition is confirmation bias. This influence controls where and what data we collect. It is human nature to first have a conclusion as to what is true and then gather evidence needed to support that predetermined conclusion. Because each of us knows deep down our version of the truth is biased, we cannot stand firm on our conclusion with any confidence and ultimately find it virtuous to accept others' conclusions as just as valid as ours. Thus truth must be relative.

Thirdly, all human relationships are maintained via social exchange. Social exchange is the norm of reciprocity - we give to get and when we receive we are obligated to return the favor. You might ask, "how does this support relativism?" Let me ask, "why is consensual sex deemed right?" "Why does the means justify the end?" The virtue of social exchange is justice. If both parties in an exchange receive what they expect or want, then the exchange is fair and if the exchange is fair, then it doesn't matter what the actions individually are. If both parties mutually agree to have sex, then the principles of sexual relationships outside of marriage between a man and a woman are not necessary to determine if the actions are right. If they are right, based on social exchange, then the actions are true. Since there are many ways to make an exchange fair, truth must be relative to the nature of the exchange.

All of these reasons that relativism feels right is deep ingrained in human nature. A person's core assumptions are attached to or flow from a person's identity. If absolute truth is to feel right, not just endorsed through theological rigor, we must have a new identity. Only when we are transformed by the renewing of our mind do we take on the mind of Christ. Until then, Christians, no matter how committed to their beliefs, they are controlled by their core assumptions. Christians will find that while they endorse absolute truth, they embrace relativism.

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