Apologetics
"I Don't Know What is Right"
I was listening to a debate recently in which the well-known law professor Alan Dershowitz was debating Alan Keyes about the role of religion in society. When a question arose about how they knew that something was right or wrong, Dershowitz argued strongly that he didn't "know what is right," but did know what is wrong. Then, another question came up, within minutes, regarding the separation of church and state. Mr. Dershowitz turned right around and argued that he would oppose separation of church and state, regardless of what the constitution said or did not say, because "it is the right thing to do."
I was floored. He just said he didn't know what was right, then argued that separation of church and state is "right." Now this is not about separation of church and state. Rather, what we have here is a blatant example of postmodern thinking. Mr. Dershowitz admitted that he had no real standard of what is right. He flatly rejected the Bible, the U.S. Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence as any kind of standard. What is his standard? Himself. Period.
People like Mr. Dershowitz have a serious problem at this point. How in the world can they possibly say that anything is wrong, if they don't have a standard for what is right? They constantly chide those of the "religious right" for what they call "bigotry"(e.g., because they don't believe homosexuality is a moral lifestyle), but they reject every standard that could even possibly give us an idea that anything is right or wrong. How dare he or anyone else say that certain beliefs are right or wrong, when they have no clue as to how to establish a moral standard.
Postmodern thought thrives on the concept that there are no absolutes. Besides the obvious self contradiction of such a position, those who hold to it point their fingers and condemn others who don't agree with their ideology, all the while arguing that there are no ultimate standards of what is right or wrong. If they are going to argue that there are no ultimate standards, then they need to give up their high-browed talk of what anyone "should" or "ought" to do. Consistency demands that much. They decry religious folks "pushing their morality" on them, while they themselves are forcing their view of morality on everyone else.
Atheists and skeptics are at an impasse in explaining morality. Once they deny an ultimate standard, they give up their right to tell anyone else what is good or right. And, Mr. Dershowitz, don’t tell us that you don't even know what is right, then smugly turn around and tell us to live a certain way because "it is the right thing to do." Such a position has no credibility.
Doy Moyer
Dec. 2000