Secularism cannot cope with being wrong. Part 6

Secularism cannot cope with being wrong

Part 6: It is the assurance and forgiveness found in religion that our society needs

This lack of forgiveness also applies where someone is genuinely in the wrong and realises they need to change their mind. As we said, making mistakes is a part of being human, so this is a natural and unavoidable process. However, because modern ideologies do not accept that our moral judgements are based on our values, they still cannot offer forgiveness, but must, instead, aim for the destruction of “the heretic” who dared to challenge their own value system. What they fail to realise is that everyone bases their actions on good values – it’s simply that sometimes all of us select the wrong good value to take precedence in a particular situation. Hence the importance of forgiveness when we realise that we have got it wrong – but the secular mindset will not offer forgiveness because they falsely regarded their own actions as not based on a value judgement but on a scientifically proven fact.

Of course, as we have argued, “truth” in belief systems is not about being able to prove that our values and commitments are scientifically proven facts – that is impossible. However, we can discuss and debate the quality of the values that are being expressed in our belief systems, and how well those values are being implemented in actions that achieve good outcomes in society. If everyone is trying to live by good values, the key question is, “Is it true that the values I am employing in this particular situation will produce the most beneficial outcome?”. That is something that needs to be discussed – but which is precisely what modern ideologies refuse to do in their intrinsic totalitarianism. Though secularists reject religion as false and destructive, it turns out that in comparison to modern ideology, religion is an oasis of wise sanity. It is the religious believer who has access to true and deep forgiveness, and who enjoys a deep sense of assurance in the love of God, who is able to discuss, compromise and find a beneficial way forward, while the secularist is committed on a point of principle to condemn anyone who disagrees with them. It is their lack of assurance and their inability to find forgiveness for themselves or to forgive others which condemns them to a hateful and angry outlook. The more they succeed in imposing their world view on society, the more hateful and angry society becomes, incapable of anything but totalitarian condemnation of all who dare to disagree with them. The simple assurance of the religious believer and the ability to receive forgiveness and to forgive others is the antidote that our society needs.