I am certain there is too much certainty in the world.
—Michael Crichton

Have you ever noticed how few western people today profess concrete beliefs about reality? Theories of our origins and purpose are discussed and we call them “interesting”, “innovative” or “dangerous” without caring too much about their truth value. “Truth” has become politically incorrect - even seen as divisive and dangerous. Uncertainty is equated with humility - “One cannot really know anyway”.

Whilst modern thinkers (products of the Enlightenment) embraced truth, reason and certainty, we now live in the backlash of this age of certainty. The post-modern mind repels all forms of certainty and prefers a safe sceptical vantage point from which to criticise travellers. We are in an age where uncertainty and confusion are the order of the day fuelled by a flood of conflicting messages, theories and information.

To survive, most people have become practical and try to live comfortably without rocking the boat (docility). Truth has become unimportant, paling in comparison to things like comfort and pleasure - sometimes rhetorically called “peace”. Although humans need and desire certainty we have concluded that it’s easier to doubt or scoff than to affirm and be criticised.

Ironically this Post-Modern mindset is paradoxical:

1. It is certain that nothing is certain
2. It holds as true that nothing is true
3. It criticises world views as if it were not also a world view
4. It holds all views as products of culture except it’s own

One could sum up this relativist thinking in the following terms:

1. Confused - Self contradictory
2. Hypocritical - Employing a double standard
3. Unreasonable - Employing reason selectively
4. Pragmatic - If it works, do it

I see the pendulum has swung again: where humanity has in the past raced after false truths and absolutes (to the right) we are now far back on the left denying all truths and absolutes. Both extremes fail the Truth Test:

• Coherence - Does it make logical sense?
• Correspondence - Does it accurately describe reality?

However, we all live as though some things are true: even the relativist looks both ways before crossing the street. To know something is illusory or untrue we must have some idea of what is true or at least acknowledge that truth does exist. Otherwise, the claim of “untrue” makes no sense - without real truth there can be no lies.

Ultimately, reality does not have to be nice to be true (just look at nature), nor do we have the right to affirm as true that which brings the most pleasure as if we could equate “truth” with “utility”. One does hope that absolute reality is good and indeed the Christian vision affirms this. The world is a corruption with glimses and hints of the ultimate glorious and good purpose. The final judgement and seperation of the good from the bad is the ultimate mercy and righteous act.

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