Relativism in youth group kids

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I am helping out with my church’s youth program and I was hoping for some advice on getting past relativism. What I’m referring to is the attitude that what you believe is right for you and what I believe is right for me. At youth group, when we discuss Catholic traditions, rules and guidelines, or “the truth,” it’s met with a lackadaisical shrug, defensive anger, or sarcastic disregard. :confused: I know this is a popular trend these days, and it’s all over the media too. Any tips on combating this??
 
Unfortunately, “popular trend” is putting it lightly. This sort of thinking is everywhere, especially among those roughly my own age (I’m 23)! I would offer a couple of thoughts to your group.
  1. The statement “what is right for you isn’t necessarily right for me” is self-defeating. In other words, you could ask, “Well, is THAT right for everyone?”
It’s equivalent to saying “there is no absolute truth.” But what about that statement? Is it true? Apparently not.
  1. It makes condemning immoral actions impossible, and justifying them unavoidable. Take the Holocaust for example. Would they really argue that, although they wouldn’t carry out mass extermination of Jews themselves, it may have been right for Hitler? Or that rape is okay for the rapist? Etc. Such examples might drive the point home.
I’m sure others will offer more. This might just be a good place to start.
Anytime Evangelize

We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life given to us in our encounter with Jesus Christ: they are meant for everyone, for every man and woman. … It is our responsibility to pass on what, by God’s grace, we ourselves have received."
  • Pope Benedict XVI
 
MattAE said:
Unfortunately, “popular trend” is putting it lightly. This sort of thinking is everywhere, especially among those roughly my own age (I’m 23)! I would offer a couple of thoughts to your group.
  1. The statement “what is right for you isn’t necessarily right for me” is self-defeating. In other words, you could ask, “Well, is THAT right for everyone?”
It’s equivalent to saying “there is no absolute truth.” But what about that statement? Is it true? Apparently not.
  1. It makes condemning immoral actions impossible, and justifying them unavoidable. Take the Holocaust for example. Would they really argue that, although they wouldn’t carry out mass extermination of Jews themselves, it may have been right for Hitler? Or that rape is okay for the rapist? Etc. Such examples might drive the point home.
I’m sure others will offer more. This might just be a good place to start.
Anytime Evangelize

We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life given to us in our encounter with Jesus Christ: they are meant for everyone, for every man and woman. … It is our responsibility to pass on what, by God’s grace, we ourselves have received."
  • Pope Benedict XVI
Click to expand...
Wow, those are very good insights. Thank you once again, MattAE! 😃
 
Great reply, especially #1! I’ve got a New Ager friend. He is a wonderful, kind, studious person, who insists that all points of view are equal and our world is going through a big change where we will all live in peace and harmony accepting of all, no one group or idea is Truth, bad intentioned people will have no support to cause war ------ I don’t know what to think of, or say to this but I would call that relativism. I’m always struggling with this.
 
RyanK said:
Wow, those are very good insights. Thank you once again, MattAE! 😃
Click to expand...
Glad it might help! 👍
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julia1234:
Great reply, especially #1! I’ve got a New Ager friend. He is a wonderful, kind, studious person, who insists that all points of view are equal and our world is going through a big change where we will all live in peace and harmony accepting of all, no one group or idea is Truth, bad intentioned people will have no support to cause war ------ I don’t know what to think of, or say to this but I would call that relativism. I’m always struggling with this.
Click to expand...
I guess I would just ask, if no one idea is true, how can you assert that what you’re saying is true? It is, after all, an idea, right? It’s as meaningful a statement as saying that all bachelors are married.
Anytime Evangelize

We cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal life given to us in our encounter with Jesus Christ: they are meant for everyone, for every man and woman. … It is our responsibility to pass on what, by God’s grace, we ourselves have received."
  • Pope Benedict XVI
 
guiltycatholic said:
I am helping out with my church’s youth program and I was hoping for some advice on getting past relativism. What I’m referring to is the attitude that what you believe is right for you and what I believe is right for me. At youth group, when we discuss Catholic traditions, rules and guidelines, or “the truth,” it’s met with a lackadaisical shrug, defensive anger, or sarcastic disregard. :confused: I know this is a popular trend these days, and it’s all over the media too. Any tips on combating this??
Click to expand...
Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft does a splendid job debunking this worldview in his essay "[Refutation of Moral Relativism](“Refutation of Moral Relativism
)”. Hope it gives you some ideas! To combat this pernicious and all-too-widespread school of thought is a truly noble cause.
 
Maybe reminding them that the Bible is not giving us suggestions. Its tells us what God wants from all of us. He has given us free will, but is waiting for us to decide to do his will not our
May God Bless you and fill you with the knowledge to guide our youth
 
Awesome answers! I think proving how self-defeating this attitude is may be the first step, along with giving examples.

I used to think relativism was a small problem of its own, but I am starting to see how it spills over into a broad range of moral issues and infects everything it touches. Last week I had a teen try to justify abortion in the case of rape, saying that if we call it wrong, we’re judging people. She said abortion was okay for a rape victim if she was okay with it because “it wasn’t her fault she got pregnant.” I was really saddened to hear this kind of thought process going on in a Catholic high school freshman! The other teens in the group were quick to agree with her, though, after seeing her “logic.” I stumbled to point out that God created each life on purpose and can make good from bad, and that some actions are just wrong no matter how you feel about it. My point just sounded weak and argumentative. Now that I have a new approach to try, it gives me hope!

I have found Kreeft’s essay and I’m going to study it. Thanks, everyone!
 
Guilty Catholic:

“I can think of nothing else that can save this civilization except Saints.
Please be one.”

That’s the end of the recommended article recommended above. (which is a good one) You are doing it by helping these kids!!!
 
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