Absolute Truths In Concrete Situations

  Jon's son had stolen from him repeatedly over the years. Ffinally, the truth was out and both family and friends said to kick Mike out of the house. This drastic action would help Mike realize the natural consequences of his actions; he was old enough to take care of himself now and Jon could not afford further losses.

But Jon did not feel comfortable about this course of action, so he called Mike in to talk it over. The son pleaded to stay, saying it would never happen again. Jon knew his friends were correct in saying that his son would steal again, but something in Jon made him feel that he would take him back in the home anyway. This he did with no uncertainty. He just knew what he should do. 

Well, Jon's family and friends were right, and one year later, Jon was faced with the same dishonest actions of the dishonest son. Jon called him in again, and Mike was the first to say, "Father, I cannot live here any longer. I am so ashamed of myself. I must move out and I am sorry for disappointing you especially after you gave me a second chance. I don't want to be dishonest and a thief, but, until I change I can't face you. Thanks for giving me a second chance." He left without waiting for a reply. 

Jon knew, stronger than before, and with certainty, he had done right in letting his son stay for that last year. 

If there is nothing other than matter and energy then all truths are simply descriptions of fact. And, when it comes to Moral Statements of ought to, there can be no moral preference, absolutes, or a surety about what is more moral because these are not considered facts. This is the foundation for relativism. And relativism leads to a great deficiency in dealing with the meaningful life in a marriage. 

 On the other hand, if a marraige exists, if conscience sxists, and if a Supreme Being exists, then why not use these sources to know right and wrong, good and bad. What is learned may not be a deduction or application from absolute laws. Instead, it sometimes happens that knowledge is there for the unique individual in a specific context or situation.  Thus, one doesn't have to depend on having abstract or moral laws to obtain certaintly of right or wrong. Instead one can find a right or wrong by using intution, moral sensitivity, conscience, prayer, and in a broad sense, direct revelation or knowledge. These are associated with the spiritual nature or conscience of a person. It is possible to know what is right, good or desirable in an absolute way, but it is only known in the concrete situation. 

True Understanding

True understanding is revealed by both intellect and conscience. 

Saul had a talent for making good decisions. Around his desk could be found scraps of paper listing the pros and cons in a right or left hand column. Always there were many such pages for each decision. Now, Saul's youongest son caused him to use more and more paper. Over the years, there were many decisions. At first, the questions were simple, like whether money spent on a pet would really help him become a better person. Next, questions came about attending an alternate school, the pros and cons of a special summer camp, and and should he pay for traveling costs in a performing group. Later, the questions were more expensive, like loaning money, maintaining a car, help with taxes, help with a troubled relationship, and hte list could continue. 

These and many, many more decisions were always there and Saul received constant counsel from others that he was producing a spoiled child. Saul listened with interest to the opinions of others, repeatedly  made his lists of pros and cons and in almost all cases ignored the results of his listings when it came to his son. Instead, he went with his conscience,he went with his heart. In the early years there was no gratitude shown, and he recieved little respect from the son. But, Saul saw in this son a good person with a kind heart, and his insights could not be calculated intellectually, nor could it be easily entered into the logical reasoning processs that typically guided his decisions year after year. 
   
  After many years, Saul can now see a young man, working full time, attending the university, and in many other ways being a very responsible person. Saul now knows that he made the right intuitive decisions in the face of contrary advice and reasoning. 

We all need insights to understand other people, and, of course, reasoning or using our intellect is still the traditional and time- honored method used to arrive at insights. However, if one examines the histories of great discoveries, we find that the greatest discoveries often came in unexpected moments and in ways that were not predicted. Researchers have tried to find the rules that govern the creative discovery and usually find that for the well- trained person, they often have to back away from an exclusive rational approach. 
   Creative dicvoeries often come from some kind of subconscious or unexepected, novel, new, visual, or auditory experience. 
   Because most of our dealings with people often have a moral component, the insights to understand their moral nature often comes from our moral sensitivity or what we have been calling conscience. The best way to understand and treat another is frequently revealed by our conscience rather than or in addition to a rational, intellectual or scientific analysis. This concept is very applicable to marriages, where so many difficulties are over moral issues.