Categories: uncategorized
Date: 09 February 2006 22:00:24
The SWP have this v. interesting article about cultural relativism. It is a clear and thought provoking article which highlights the short falls of liberalism, in that it often falls into the trap of condeming religious minorities, but then this is a trap the article itself has fallen into. They slag off Christianity as a dominant religion, but this fails to recognise in our secularised society that it is a religious minority.
In the end I think we need to listen to the point the article concludes with that we should not attempt to force minority views to integrate. However, the practical problems this presents us with should not be underestimated. Whilst "the reactionary nonsense" referred to in the article may be percieved by most of us as just that there are those for whom it is divine truth.
It is when there is a clash between what appears to be the mainstream and minority views that not only is alot of hot air produced but human beings (on all sides) find themselves being hurt by uninformed remarks, and insults. If we are to acknowledge the need for difference we need also to acknowledge that these are often not debates which relate purely to academic issues but they are often debates which relate to the very essence of who people believe themselves to be.