The modern society is composed of diverging ideologies there are those who profess moral progressivism which supports same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia, and irreligion. On the other side, there are faithful Christians who oppose the culture of death, the brand of morality that most moral progressivist is promoting.
In order to oppose the Christian view of morality, moral progressivist always advance the idea that there is no such thing as universal moral absolutes or natural moral law wherein each person regardless of what he believes in or his disposition in life is bound to follow. For them, morality is a matter of personal choice; what is right and moral, and what is wrong and immoral entirely depends on one’s personal view as long as you do not infringe upon the rights and happiness of other people.
As Christians how do we respond to this type of argument? Is it possible to live in a world wherein there is no natural moral law and that morality entirely depends on our personal opinion? The existence of moral absolutes or natural moral law wherein everyone regardless of our religious, cultural and social background is bound to follow is reflected by the existence of other universal laws such as the laws of physics and legal laws implemented by each country.
Allow me to elaborate, the fine-tuning of the universe which made life on earth possible is the result of the presence of the universal laws of physics in which every matter is bound to follow regardless of how big, small or place in the universe it is found. The laws of physics govern how entire galaxies, matter, and atoms act and react in relation to its surrounding. In like manner, countries have laws which are binding to all of its citizens regardless of their social class, educational background, gender, and religious conviction. It is these laws which protect the state as well as its citizens from abuse and ensures a continuous harmonious living with each other.
If in these aspects the existence of “universal laws” is necessary to keep things in order, how much more when it comes to the government of our use of our freewill? Human beings have freewill which means we can act, think and decide for ourselves. However, we need to have natural moral laws or moral absolutes to guide us in exercising our freewill otherwise we will end up abusing it and infringe upon the rights and liberty of others. For instance, a person not following the natural moral law against murder decides to support abortion because according to his personal view abortion is not murder. By not following the natural moral law the right and liberty of the unborn child were violated because of abortion.
Moral absolutes exist for us to have a form of check and balance in exercising our freewill, it serves as a guide that helps us avoid violating the rights of others.
The Catholic Truth Society 