Okay, so now I care about pope issues...

Authority

Relativism

Certainty

These are the words being battered around by those debating the philosophy of the new Pope Benedict XVI, the German son of a cop. He thinks that some idea of "relativism" is a danger to Catholic teachings because it means that there can be no certainty.

Certainty.

Catholic teaching relies on certainty about G_d? No, Catholic teaching relies on people having certainty about papal teachings. Catholic priests are asking the people to rely on papal teachings about G_d.

In stark contrast, Jewish teachings (particulary reformed Jews) continually question the bible and reinterpret ("reform") the text to inform how we, as individuals, see G_d as an actor through history, and today. Rabbis do not speak for G_d, and certainly don't see themselves as representations of Christ (although in my eyes they certainly have more claim to that legacy).

One might call the approach of reform "relative" and the Catholic methods "certain," but there is no way to make a judgement about anything without giving it moral relativism (difference in value) toward something else. I mean, come on, Catholics are infamous for having some sins count for more sin than others! Mortal sins are worse than other sins--that's the definition of moral relativism (see sin).

So in the end, this "philosophical" debate is not about modern philosophy at all, it's about authority.

In my eyes, this papal claim for authority has very little to do with G_d. To me, G_d is about consciousness and awareness within people (and all life forms); I do not believe that it can be given or granted to people under the limited, political terms of a human "authority."

To me, Christianity errects an enourmous number of human obstructions and hurdles that get in the way of the idea and experience of G_d (and love, and sometimes community). I've been there.