Speaker discusses the dangers of relativism

What is truth? This is a question that has plagued many minds throughout history.

Chris Stefanick, Director of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry for the Archdiocese of Denver, visited Southeast Missouri State University on Thursday to talk about truth and the negative effects relativism can have on it.

Relativism is the ideology that someone can believe something and someone else can believe something completely different, but they will both be right.

"Relativism is the philosophy that there is no truth," Stefanick said. "There is no reality outside of us. Most people today are relativist with just about everything besides math and science. Everything that is scientifically verifiable is true for everyone. No one is going to say 2 plus 2 is 4, but it might be 5 for you."

Stefanick said the idea that there is objective truth should be realized.

"When we take things like ethics, questions of right or wrong, questions of who God is, and we break it down to the level of personal preference, it's subjective," Stefanick said. "Pope Benedict said that relativism is the greatest problem of our time. We can't get away from it. It's hard to even step outside of the frame work that society holds, and if you dare say something like I'm right about x, y or z it will send a chill up people's spines."

Stefanick said that people who believe in relativism aren't foolish but that the philosophy itself is.

Stefanick discussed several reasons why he believes relativism is so damaging and why it has become a problem in our society. He said it takes the meaning out of life and faith, makes morality a matter of personal taste and makes people easy to manipulate.

Stefanick also said relativism can be disproved because it doesn't work with who you are, it doesn't work in real life and it doesn't work as a philosophy.

To fight relativism, Stefanick suggests sharing truth with surety and love and adopting a holy lifestyle.

Over 100 people were in attendance as Stefanick spoke in Rose Theatre. Southeast sophomore Wayne Dierker said he developed more knowledge and learned more about the relativism perspective.

"As a Christian, I learned that it is important to stand up for my beliefs and it is okay to disagree with people," Dierker said. "Through relativism you lose love and care for others. I think that it is important to convey the truth to people."

Southeast senior Anna Leboeuf said the event had a very profound effect on her.

"Everything that I've wanted to say or hear was spoken," Leboeuf said. "Truth cannot be denied, so when you hear it you cannot help but listen. I like how he explained where we are today and talked about the falsities of life and how we as Christians can combat that."

Stefanick said he hopes people will share the message with others and that they walk away from this event with a greater understanding of relativism and its harmful effects.

"Relativism is so widespread and most people who are relativist don't even know that they are," Stefanick said. "My hope is to give them practical tools to recognize it, practical tools to help them refute it and most of all help ensure that they don't fall into it themselves."

For more information about relativism or Chris Stefanick visit reallifecatholic.com or email him at Chris.Stefanick@gmail.com.