Nationalism And Moral Relativism Discussion Paper

Wilkins, Steve and Mark L. Sanford. Hidden Worldviews. IVP, 2009. ISBN: 978-0830838547
Wilkins and Sanford: [38 pages]
Chapter 4: “Nationalism: My Nation, Under God”
Chapter 5: “Moral Relativism: Absolute Truth about Relativism and Something Like Relativism”

Give specific examples of how Nationalism and Moral Relativism are present in your own life and the life of your local church. Describe or propose ways to minimize these influences, or propose a theologically appropriate way to properly direct these tendencies. Nationalism And Moral Relativism Discussion Paper

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Worldviews play a critical role in shaping individuals and communities. Nationalism and moral relativism are part of the worldviews that influence my life and that of my local church (Wilkens & Sanford, 2009). In my personal life, nationalism manifests through the unquestioning loyalty to national symbols and pride in the achievements of a country. During international events and sports competition, a sense of national identity can overshadow broad perspectives, which is a sentiment that could influence decisions such as consumer choices and political ideologies. Within my local church, signs of nationalism could be observed during public gatherings. Patriotic displays, although negative, could lead to an exclusive sense of identity. For example, nationalistic claims influence the selection of prayers, sermons, or hymns sang in church and this could potentially affect people from diverse backgrounds. Nationalism And Moral Relativism Discussion Paper

Moral relativism has also had a profound effect on my personal and church life. Often, moral relativism seeps to my personal life by accepting the subjective morality. Where ethical dilemmas arise, one can be tempted to prioritize personal preferences over objective moral standards. As a consequence, this could lead to the lack of moral accountability and a situation where people justify their actions from an individual viewpoint other than from the universally accepted standards. Within my local church, moral relativism can affect the process of making decisions. For instance, debate on different issues could prioritize popular opinion over biblically grounded ethics leading to a diluted understanding of truth and compromises the ability of the Church to provide a moral framework based on a sound theological understanding Nationalism And Moral Relativism Discussion Paper.

Countering the influences of moral relativism and nationalism in my personal life can be aided by engaging with diverse perspectives and learning to adopt a global worldview. Mainly, this could be initiated through self-reflection and learning to integrate different perspectives. Churches can consider inclusivity and embracing cultural diversity. Sermons and community events held by churches should be designs in the unity found in Christ instead of nationalistic distinctions. A theologically appropriate approach for ending the influences of nationalism and moral relativism in churches is acknowledging that every individual, a citizen or non0-citizen, belongs to the kingdom of God. Nationalism And Moral Relativism Discussion Paper

Reference

Wilkens, S., & Sanford, M. L. (2009). Hidden worldviews: Eight cultural stories that shape our lives. InterVarsity Press. Nationalism And Moral Relativism Discussion Paper