Character Quote by Timothy Keller
““The popular concept–that we should each determine our own morality–is based on the belief that the spiritual realm is nothing at all like the rest of the world. Does anyone really believe that? For many years after each of the morning and evening Sunday services I remained in the auditorium for another hour to field questions. Hundreds of people stayed for the give-and-take discussions. One of the most frequent statements I heard was that 'Every person has to define right and wrong for him- or herself.' I always responded to the speakers by asking, 'Is there anyone in the world right now doing things you believe they should stop doing no matter what they personally believe about the correctness of their behavior?' They would invariable say, 'Yes, of course.' Then I would ask, “Doesn’t that mean that you do believe there is some kind of moral reality that is "there" that is not defined by us, that must be abided by regardless of what a person feels or thinks?' Almost always, the response to that question was silence, either a thoughtful or a grumpy one.””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Reason for God, Timothy Keller, 2008
The argument challenges moral relativism by pointing out that recognizing wrongdoing implies belief in an objective moral order beyond personal opinion.
In simple terms: If we say some actions are wrong, we assume a moral reality exists.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge objective moral standards.
Themes
morality
relativism
objectivity
ethics
faith
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- church discussions
- personal reflection
- ethical debates
- teaching
- counseling
Key Concepts
Moral realism
subjective vs objective ethics
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you see any universal moral truths?
- How do you handle moral disagreements?
A Different Perspective
Relativism can overlook cultural differences and nuanced contexts.
![“24 A few pages later, Delbanco writes the following: [Alexis de] Tocqueville’s detection of a “strange melancholy in the midst of abundance” has a special salience today — because while we have gotten very good at deconstructing old stories (the religion that was the subject of my first chapter…” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/85a/timothy-keller-240_sad_24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the_25320.jpg)
