Q: What is the Devil’s greatest trick?
A: To make us think he doesn’t exist.
But today the Devil has a greater trick: Convincing us that nothing is more ‘Christian’ than abolishing Christianity.
We hear it all the time: in order to be ‘open’, progressive, modern, even democratic, we must abandon the notion that The Truth exists and accept that postmodern view that truth is relative to persons, cultures, and of course, religions. Pope Benedict notes how this view has grown immeasurably in stature: “In a sense, relativism, in certain respects, has become the real modern religion.”
Benedict continues; “The belief that there is indeed a truth, valid and binding within history itself in the figure of Jesus Christ and in the faith of the church is referred to as Fundamentalism.” And of course, Fundamentalism is the cardinal sin of modern civilization.
Hence the Devil’s trick—to convince us that we must give up being orthodox Christians in order to be truly enlightened and peaceable persons.
But this view also takes on the most serious political connotations as Bush and Bin Laden are lumped together and portrayed as ‘proof’ of the modern mantra that Fundamentalism Kills. This is also known as the ‘John Lennon’ school of thought: Imagine no religion to die for, and the world will live as one… (that is, until the murderous barbarism of atheistic Communism debunked that fantasy). Relativism also provides the philosophical underpinnings for the abortion movement, embodied in the slogan, ‘My Body, My choice.’
But as Leonard Cohen sings, “The Dealer’s got you thinking, that it’s either black or white / Thank God it’s not that simple, in my secret life.” The choice between Relativist and Fundamentalism is of course a false choice, designed to stack the deck against Christians lacking the theological savvy to parry the blow.
The Catholic position however presents a third way, referred to by religious philosophers as Religious Inclusivism—which is the position articulated by the Second Vatican Council. It maintains that Truth indeed exists, and is present in its fullness in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, but it does not discredit that elements of truth and grace are also present in the great religions of the world, especially in Islam and Judaism, the ‘People of the Book.’ But until Catholics put in the effort to actually get to know the teachings of their faith, the currents of Relativism will continue to dwindle the ranks of the faithful.
I cannot over-emphasize the gravity of this question. And it is not just a matter for navel-gazing philosophers and theologians: hanging in the balance is not only the salvation of souls and the protection of the unborn, but also the fate of millions in the mid-east. Will we lose our nerve and abandon the region to Terrorists and Mullahs, backed by a nuclear capable Iran; or will we have faith in the universal values of freedom and human dignity and gather the conviction to bring stability, democracy and human rights to the region?
As it turns out, the fate of the Muslim world depends upon how we see ourselves:
If we succumb to the pathological currents of western self-hatred--seeing ourselves as agents of Big Oil on a Neo-Imperialist 'Crusade'--then we will pull out because we don't believe in our cause. But if we believe in the good of our way of life and see the universal value of a free and open society, then we will push ahead in this Great Transformation.
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To anyone interested in exploring this question further I recommend: WITHOUT ROOTS by Pope Benedict and Marcello Pera.
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