What is cultural relativism?

Summary

Cultural relativism is the belief that all moral beliefs, customs, and ethics are culture-specific, with no universal standard of morality. It argues that no one has the right to judge another society’s practices, seeing all cultures as equally valid. While this perspective promotes understanding and neutrality, it also challenges concepts of absolute truth and morality, especially in cases involving practices like human sacrifice or terrorism. The script contrasts cultural relativism with a Christian viewpoint, which holds that while cultural diversity is valuable, not all practices align with absolute moral standards set by God, and change may be necessary through the spread of the gospel.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Cultural relativism is the belief that all beliefs, customs, and ethics are relative to the individual within their social context.
• ⚖️ Right and wrong are considered culture-specific; what is moral in one society may be immoral in another.
• 🛑 Cultural relativism asserts that no universal standard of morality exists, so no one has the right to judge another society's customs.
• 📚 Modern anthropology widely accepts cultural relativism, viewing all cultures as equally legitimate expressions of human existence.
• 🎭 Cultural relativism is closely related to ethical relativism, which holds that truth is variable and not absolute.
• ❌ Cultural relativists argue that since truth is subjective, no society can judge another's practices, such as human sacrifice or fireworks.
• 💣 The script criticizes cultural relativists for opposing the condemnation of acts like terrorism, instead advocating understanding over judgment.
• ✝️ The text contrasts cultural relativism with Christian missionary work, arguing that the gospel can bring positive cultural changes.
• 🕊️ While cultural diversity is appreciated, the script emphasizes that not all cultural practices align with absolute moral standards.
• 📖 The script concludes by promoting the spread of the gospel as a means of aligning societies with God's moral standards while respecting cultural diversity.

Q & A

What is cultural relativism?

Cultural relativism is the view that beliefs, customs, and ethics are relative to the individual within their own social context. It means that what is considered right or wrong depends on the cultural background of a society.

How does cultural relativism affect the judgment of other societies' customs?

Cultural relativism suggests that since no universal standard of morality exists, no one has the right to judge the customs of another society. What might be seen as moral in one culture could be seen as immoral in another.

What is the relationship between cultural relativism and ethical relativism?

Cultural relativism is closely related to ethical relativism, which views truth as variable and not absolute. Ethical relativism holds that what is right or wrong is determined by the individual or society, without any objective standard.

Why is cultural relativism widely accepted in modern anthropology?

Cultural relativism is widely accepted in modern anthropology because it promotes the idea that all cultures are worthy in their own right and are of equal value. Anthropologists study cultures from a neutral perspective, without passing judgment.

What are some examples of cultural practices viewed differently through the lens of cultural relativism?

Examples include the ancient Mayan practices of self-mutilation and human sacrifice, which are neither seen as inherently good nor bad under cultural relativism. They are simply different cultural expressions, similar to how Americans celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks.

How do cultural relativists view the labeling of other societies as 'evil'?

Cultural relativists are opposed to labeling other societies as 'evil' because they believe that no society has the right to judge another. For instance, they would be mortified by President Bush's reference to terrorist nations as an 'axis of evil.'

What is the cultural relativist's stance on Western ideas being imposed on others?

Cultural relativists believe that Westerners should not impose their ideas on others, including the belief that suicide bombing of civilians is evil. They argue that all cultural beliefs, even those in conflict with Western values, are equally valid.

How does cultural relativism affect views on missionary work?

Cultural relativists are generally opposed to missionary work because it often leads to cultural changes that they may see as cultural imperialism. For example, when the Sawi tribe in New Guinea abandoned cannibalism after being evangelized, cultural relativists might criticize this as imposing foreign values.

Why do Christians believe that not all cultural practices are godly or beneficial?

Christians believe that because of sin, not all beliefs and practices within a culture are godly or beneficial. They hold that truth is absolute and that there exists a moral standard to which all people, regardless of culture, will be held accountable.

What is the goal of missionaries according to the script?

The goal of missionaries, according to the script, is not to westernize the world but to bring the good news of salvation in Christ. This often leads to social reform in societies where practices are out of step with God's moral standard, such as idolatry, polygamy, and slavery.