Absolute Relativism

by Chris Stefanick

Catholic-ometer: 4.5 of 5

Enjoyability: 4.5 of 5

Relativism is the bain of rational thought.  Every time; in the modern western world, that rational thought is suppressed, you can be sure some form of relativism was behind it, and this sixty-page, very short book explains why from several angles.  Here is the reason why Christianity is a better environment for clear thinking that relativism.  Here is why relativism crushes more freedoms and belief systems than any other method of thinking.  Chris Stefanick's explanations of these difficult truths are well-researched, and for the most part, right on target.  He doesn't mince words or mess around, nor ask readers to bear with him until he's already said enough on topic to earn their trust, which is a plus.  Mastery of the topic at hand is key when writing a nonfiction book like this one.

However, I can't give it a perfect grade, because at about the book's midpoint, Mr. Stefanick begins using questionable phrases to describe certain things.  For example, on page 31, he says that in addition to challenging people, Jesus also "accepted people as they were."

This alone would earn a half-star down in my book.  "Accept you as you are" is an -exceedingly- loaded phrase in the modern world.  It means essentially "being perfectly satisfied with person X, to the point of believing they're perfect, or at least, wanting nothing further out of them, and certainly never asking them to change anything about themselves or their actions."  None of this applies to Jesus in the least.  He was very clear and direct about all human beings being sinners and needing repentance and humility to get back into any kind of decent relationship with God.  He also says that Jesus welcomed all sorts of people back, regardless of their sin, but the thing is; the sin wasn't the point.  Jesus welcomed people back, not on the basis of their sin, but on the basis of their penitence.  In other words, in order to be "accepted" by Jesus, we need to be sincerely sorry for our sins.

There are a few other historical and theological missteps, but the only other serious one is this; making light of the importance of being Catholic, and implying that other religions, in their way, can "lead others to God."

Sure, people sincerely trying to follow the tenets of a religion turn their thoughts to God, and maybe, if they knew that the Catholic Church was right, they'd join in a heartbeat, but that doesn't mean that the religion itself (the Baptist religion, for example) lead them to God.  It encouraged them to go a certain distance, perhaps, but...

I don't know.  I'd have been a bit clearer about what it means to "lead" or at least mentioned once in this book that only Catholicism is completely right and can lead you all the way, but maybe I'm just nitpicking.

There were bumps in this particular road sign, but on the whole, I enjoyed it, and I thought it covered the subject very well.  If you don't have much time or cash, and want to understand the subject a little better, you might do well to pick up a copy.  I was pleased with it, and I'll readily admit to being a very tough audience.