But as for my central complaint about the video, those images at the end seem to imply that “absolutism,” the inability to compromise and reach out to others, is a particularly “conservative” problem. Sure, there are bumper stickers that say, “God is a Republican; but there is also a song called “Jesus is a Democrat.” Liberals can be just as “absolutist” as conservatives. I mean, several people have brought this up in an accusing manner toward conservatives, but, what about Iraq? What about war in general? Are liberals willing to admit that war is sometimes necessary and can help more people than otherwise in the long run?

Finally, a quick thought about abortion. I am perfectly capable of doing the math and admitting that saving 3000 women by killing 3000 children is better than saving neither the 3000 women nor the 3000 children. Yes, 3000 dead is better than 6000 dead. I can understand that. But sadly, this is totally a red herring when it comes to the abortion debate in America. No one, I mean absolutely no one performs abortions for that reason. To bring up this rather remarkable example completely obscures the facts of abortion in our country. Over one million abortions happen each year, and less than a fraction of 1% of these have anything to do with saving the life of a mother. Surely we can do better as a nation.

thanks for taking the time to join the conversation. I’m wondering what your emotional reaction to the idea of situational ethics is? I mean do you find it repulsive, or frightening? I find that I have a really strong fear reaction to the idea of a rigid meta-law. I haven’t really analyzed it, but I totally felt it in my body while reading your post. I’m going to have to ponder the why of that.

Do you find you are pretty much able to have a sense of when you think a line of thought represents a tack toward situational ethics, and when it doesn’t? I mean to say do you think situational ethics is *always* wrong? As a for instance, when I lived in Argentina for a while, the normal and gracious thing to do when introduced to people was to kiss each other on the right cheek. Here in Seattle, where I am now, most people would find that at best offputting. So I find I have to act differently toward people in different situations. In Seattle, it’s technically illegal and by and large culturally offputting and offensive for women to be publically topless. In rural Liberia, when I visited, the women working in the fields would all be topless, and nobody thought twice about it. But I dasn’t hold hands with my fiance in public there, or they’d be scandalized. What is right here is wrong/sinful there, and vice versa. Does that work for/make sense for you?

could you talk more about how you differentiate between “eternal wrongs” and “temporary wrongs”?

thank you =).

Could you parse “less than pure intentions than Scripture states” for me? I’m wanting to know what you’re talking about. Thank you.

p.s. i also wanted to let you know that i hear all your other points. i’m just unable to respond to them all at this time.