It is estimated that 30% of young adults would describe themselves as moral relativists. Moral relativism is the idea that each person decides for themselves what is right or wrong. That decision is based on the current circumstances and is often influenced by the culture that the person is a part of. It is certainly true that some practices are accepted in one culture and forbidden another. Women going topless is accepted in some African cultures, but wouldn't be accepted in our western culture. In fact, it would be illegal in ours (public indecency). Laws help define right and wrong as defined by each individual culture. But there are some things that all people of sound mind would agree to be true. Things like cheating, lying, murder, rape and child abuse are never ok. That makes them absolutes in my mind. So if there are things inside of us that are the same for everyone, and weren't determined by our culture, where did those things come from? My best explanation is that it came from my Creator, and while I fall short every day, I want to do my best to discover and follow what He has designed me to be. For more thoughts on moral relativism, see what Noam Chomsky has to say here.
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