Absolutely!

ab  .  so  .  lute  .  ly /adverb/ completely,  totally,  entirely,  unreservedly

“A man lives by believing something, not by debating and

arguing about many things.”

Thomas Carlyle

In creative writing classes, students are encouraged to develop  an aversion toward adverbs. Shun them like the plague! Is this good advice?  Absolutely! Instead of adding color to writing, adverbs add dead weight, so to speak; therefore,  getting  rid of them is a good idea. But people who are not interested in writing poetry, short stories,  and novels cling to adverbs. Students in high school and those in Freshman Comp classes in college reach for them when they’re  trying to be descriptive and colorful in their writing. The adverb absolutely is quite a favorite among students as well as others. Some individuals, such as researchers and government spokespersons, love to use the word to emphasize the certainty of their ideas. I heard it again this afternoon on NPR when, in response to the interviewer’s question, the knowledgeable  female guest issued forth  a resounding  “Absolutely!”  It seems to be the default response to any question that requires certainty.

I used to be annoyed hearing absolutely being tossed off in interviews and on talk shows, but not anymore.  I have come to see it in a different light.  When we look at its synonyms–“surely,” “totally,” and “entirely– we should have only positive reactions to it. They all point to strong belief.  In this regard, absolutely is a desirable word that conjures up a picture of someone standing firm in his or her convictions.  Actually, absolutes are essential for purposeful living. Our absolutes  are the nonnegotiables in our lives,  directing our actions and the choices we make. Having absolutes is necessary.

Not everyone believes in absolutes, however. In our postmodern society, absolutes come under fire from those who see them as simplistic.  In an article titled, “The Problem with Absolute Thinking,” Ugbo Uche states that “human beings, regardless of race, religion, or culture are likely to embrace any belief that is absolute.”  He says this because he thinks absolute beliefs are “simple and easy to comprehend.” He means this as a criticism, a put-down of simple faith. But part of the problem with those who find fault with absolutes is that they are looking for complexity in dealing with life, but the clear-cut, simple approach is better for emotional soundness. Henry David Thoreau didn’t denigrate simplicity as postmoderns do, and he was a philosopher in his own right. “Simplify, simplify,” he tells us in his book Walden. I take that to mean that we should formulate basic, sound principles and live by them. Thoreau was so principled that he chose going to jail rather than paying a tax that he disagreed with. His essay “Civil Disobedience” that resulted from the experience has inspired leaders such as  Mahatma  Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Some have said that absolutes are just traditions or religious superstition. I think those who say this are confusing morality with customs. When we form belief guidelines and live by them, willing to abide by them despite opposition, we have a worthwhile absolute, something to stand on. Many noteworthy  individuals have demonstrated their commitment to absolutes. William Wilberforce believed in fighting for the abolition of slavery because the practice was innately evil,  and he  defended his belief despite opposition. The people who ran the  Underground Railroad are excellent examples of what it means to live by absolutes. They believed that holding a race of people in bondage  was morally wrong  and committed themselves, at great personal risk,  to freedom for people of color. Desmond Doss, “The Hero of Hacksaw Ridge,”  had a simple belief: it is wrong to take  human life, and  when he enlisted in the Army in World War II as a conscientious objector,  he absolutely would not fire a gun. But this  was not just an empty self-preservation stance on his part. He proved his belief in the value of human life when he risked his own life to save dozens of wounded soldiers on Guam, on Leyte in the Philippines, and on Okinawa in Japan.

It is not cowardly or foolish to live by absolutes. Rather it is wisdom of the highest form to  have a firm stance  against  drugs, alcohol, and  other destructive behaviors.  Statistics show that most of the debilitating diseases today are the result of  lifestyle choices. They could be prevented if individuals lived by absolutes that excluded such behavior.

When we look at the current  national and international  scene, we can see a definite need for moral absolutes among those who lead and those who occupy high positions.  A few weeks ago, a Washington Post reporter critical of the Saudi government was invited into the Saudi embassy in Turkey and was never seen again. His disappearance has created outrage worldwide. Among the Saudis, somebody should have known and lived by the absolutes “Love your enemies” and  “You shall do no murder.”

The nation recently went through a grueling  nomination process to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court. The professor who brought the charges against the nominee has reported that she has received death threats. How could  this be? It happened because people without  moral absolutes are likely to do anything, including issuing death threats against those with whom they disagree.

Living with absolutes helps  an individual to lead a principled, stable,  and enjoyable life.  I believe in absolutes. I believe that God is; that He created the universe; that I should love everyone, including my enemies, ; that men and women were created as equal human beings; that taking another person’s life is evil; that the family unit is sacred; that justice, equality,  and freedom of conscience are rights not to be denied anyone; that truthfulness, integrity, and honesty in dealing with our fellow beings is imperative;  that the body is God’s temple and should be preserved for good purposes. Are these qualities desirable,  and would  their widespread practice  contribute to  the good life for us all here and now? Absolutely!

Blessings,

Judith

******

“Find the good. It’s all around you. Find it, showcase it, and you’ll start believing it.” Jesse Owens