Advice on setting boundaries with religious relatives?

[Magna]

And frankly, the postmodern culture adds to this a disservice by selling the public on the idea that you are the maker of your own truth. Because if that is so, then there can never be a genuine exchange of ideas, simply because you can never get outside of your self-administered cultural context. And without a meaningful exchange of ideas, communication breaks down and relationships fail.

(I have a lot to say on that last point but I'll save it for later.)

Being raised in a strict Christian faith I was definitely taught, to the point that it was unquestionable, that the only "objective truth" was God and what Christianity teaches. It feels so very good at this point in my life to know that there are many "objective truths" that are irreligious.

 

[Hypnalis]

The same mindset - that objective truth can become subjective truth - is causing plenty of trouble in modern western society.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_constructionism
On topic: it's useful for understanding why people with strong religious beliefs behave as they do.
I don't think it's a significant factor in selecting countermeasures though, because politely refusing to discuss religion is generally acceptable behavior.

Off topic: it's not so simple in other arenas where social constructivism is taken seriously though. In that respect, these are interesting times.

 

[Magna]

The same mindset - that objective truth can become subjective truth - is causing plenty of trouble in modern western society.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_constructionism
On topic: it's useful for understanding why people with strong religious beliefs behave as they do.
I don't think it's a significant factor in selecting countermeasures though, because politely refusing to discuss religion is generally acceptable behavior.

Off topic: it's not so simple in other arenas where social constructivism is taken seriously though. In that respect, these are interesting times.

I agree that these are interesting times.

Foundational scientific and natural observations such as the knowledge that the sun exists as well as the planets in our solar system, etc are objective truths. The sun doesn't exist because people will it to be so, hope that it does, think that it does, etc. It exists on its own regardless of our involvement.

God and religious teachings are often touted as objective truths with the rationale being that they're moral "laws" and teachings and guidance outside of individuals. It seems to me it can be argued that rather than being an objective truth, God could be a subjective truth held in collective (same belief held by many people) and due to the number of believers believing the same "truth", the belief is presented as an objective truth. I don't know how God could be considered an objective truth when the existence of God isn't proven.