4.4.4  Resolving Apparent Contradictions

(This is an archived page, from Edition 2 of the Patterns of Power book.  The current versions is at https://www.patternsofpower.org/patterns/moral/pluralism/contradictions/).

People may have to resolve apparent conflicts between their traditions and whatever is regarded as socially-acceptable behaviour by the society they are in.  An accommodation is always possible, given goodwill, in one of three ways €“ as described in the following three sub-sections:

·     There is some latitude within religious texts (4.4.4.1);

·     A permission is not an instruction to do something (4.4.4.2), so people can legitimately refrain from offending others;

·     People can take personal responsibility for conflict resolution (4.4.4.3), overruling what is said to them by others.

© PatternsofPower.org, 2014