Objective vs Subjective Morality

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING:

  1. Which of the following make no sense if relativism is true?
    1. Gay bashing is wrong.
    2. It is wrong for a husband to beat his wife.
    3. While I do not like it myself, I can’t say that it is wrong to murder babies.

Answer: Both a. and b. make no sense if relativism is true. Relativists can never accuse anyone of doing anything wrong. It would be like saying there’s been an illegal play in a game that has no rules. Nothing can be said to be right or wrong.

  1. Which of the following statements is an OBJECTIVE statement?
    1. My boyfriend and I think that is ok if we move in together. After all, we love each other.
    2. My boyfriend and I want to move in together but God’s Word says that it is wrong so we are going to wait until we are married.
    3. My boyfriend and I think that is ok if we move in together but we just don’t think that it would be right for us at this point in our relationship.

    Answer: Statement b. is the only objective statement. Notice that the person making this statement has used God’s Word, the Bible, as the standard by which to decide whether it is right or wrong to move in with her boyfriend. The other two answers are relative to the person. Notice that both use the phrase “I think.” This means that the person who is making the statement has set themselves up as the standard by which to measure the morality of the statement. 

  1. True or False: objective moral truth exists outside our understanding of right or wrong.

Answer: This statement is true. The word objective points to an “object” outside the person. Whereas, the word subjective points to the “subject;” the person making the claim. Thus making the claim “relative” to the person. Objective morality is a standard of morality that transcends human opinions and judgements exist. Objective morality exist apart from anyone’s beliefs, feelings, preferences and is true for all people at all times in all places. Since God is the ultimate transcendent standard, by against which everything is measured, He is the ultimate transcendent standard against which all moral thoughts or behaviors are measured. 

For further study, I suggest the following books:

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