Our entire experience is a field of relativity
I have much sympatico with this view; it is the experience of just about everybody at various points in our lives, often when we don't even realize it or know it consciously.
However, that relativity is not in conflict with the notion of sin. If one actually attempts to
understand sin, what it is and how it is capable of staining every aspect of every human life {and no two people will be affected identically, which further complicates matters}, then it's not such a huge leap to actually see that that very relativity that you speak of exists precisely
because of sin.
One of my favourite words and concepts is 'nuance'. Nuance has enabled me to understand and grapple with many things and not just take things on board "because the religion says I must" or however one would want to put it.
We have no idea or experience of up without down, hot without cold, left without right, here without there, love without fear, etc
As a Christian, this is a concept and idea that I understand only too well. It is precisely why you are in the position where you can say what you say about God and life and experience. God considered it worth the risk and possible outcomes that you have the freedom to make the choices that you do. So the possibility must exist that there be up and down, left and right, hot and cold, shit and flower fragrance.....
There is no ultimate "right" or "wrong"
My oldest son is currently at university studying psychology and a few years back, when he was doing his A levels, we had some utterly fascinating conversations, critiques and debates about this. It's a topic I could chat about until the cows
and the bison 🦬 come home. 😄
Naturally, I disagree with you entirely. I don't think that there are many more dangerous thoughts a human being can have than the one that determines there is no right and wrong. Yes, I know you said
ultimate right and wrong, but for there to be any notion of any ultimate right or wrong, there has to be the notion of right and wrong. And by dismissing one, you by extension dismiss the other, however you look at it.
Apply it on a personal level as the one on the receiving end and think about what that could logically mean.
Shiver me timbers ! 🚣 ⛴ ⚓️
There is only what works and what does not work
Murder works. Rape works. Child sexual abuse works. Theft works. Coercion works. Racism works. Occupation works. Woman-beating works. Having poverty works. Discrimination works. Greed works. Pretty much everything that we count as negative
works.
The idea of "sin" and/or condemnation from some imaginary being is something I will not waste one moment of my life considering
And fair enough.
If we were talking about an imaginary being, I'd be right up there alongside you. And having been atheist for years, I can honestly say I know the feeling and can't hold it against you. I used to be highly dismissive of that which I did not believe, that which I had not experienced. I get it. It's as natural as listening and giving an ear.
There's a great song by Rush {it was the 2nd Rush song I ever heard, back in 1980} called "Free will" and it has a great line in it that has long nibbled at me ¬> "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." Actually, the entire lyric is really solid and well put, but that bit, in particular, has always tugged at me. Sometimes, I think it's not so. Other times, I think it's true. Right at this moment, seeing the firm and strident way that you put that quote, I'd have to say that I think it certainly makes a valid point. If someone comes to me with data indicating that fried chicken on a daily basis is harmful to my heart and I choose to not even hear and consider the data but keep quaffing out on the chicken, then there is an extent to which, when my heart starts failing, I have only myself to blame. "Ignorance of the law is no excuse" has always struck me as bloody stupid and more than unreasonable. Wilful ignorance of the law however, is another matter altogether.
I reserve the right to change who I am, my opinions, my views, and my actions based on new and more accurate information that I receive.
Now, I totally agree with this. It applies to us all, at every point in life. We don't all always have "equal opportunities", but we all have to deal with the hand that we are dealt.