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Relativism, Absolutism, and the
Wizard of Oz
by James
R. Birrell, Ed.D.
Associate Professor of Teacher Education, BYU
"You
guys have been discriminating for years. Now it's our turn!" Justice
Thurgood Marshall to Justice William Douglas .
Introduction
If you have been reading my series of articles on relativism, you know
by now that I have been arguing the need for us to become more aware
of and more involved in reshaping the culture. America’s culture war is ultimately an attack on Christ and
truth. I absolutely believe that it is Satan’s war, promoting his
doctrine for the deceiving and confusing of the elect in these last
days with lesser matters, explanations, and causes. It is Satan’s
way of defining (and recruiting) the honorable man or woman
of the world by attending to lesser- but good humanist causes. With
God’s help, we can turn much of the troublesome aspects of our culture
around by overcoming evil with good (Romans 12: 21).
Since December, I have been arguing that those among us who seek the reward
of the valiant in Christ more than the honorable of the
world (see D&C 76) must pay particular attention to what
is being said and done these days, least they err in many instances
because they are taught the precepts of men (2 Nephi 28: 14). For
bringing living water to the needy of the world is truly humanist
and honorable; however, bringing the needy of the world to the Living
Water- Christ, is truly valiant and ultimately (eternally) of even
greater worth to all concerned. Thus, I urge all readers to avoid
being defined by lesser, although arguably honorable arguments and
explanations.
In this article, I will retell- in my own words, the story of the Wizard
of Oz. I will relate how Dorothy’s struggles and perils were remarkably
similar to our own. Each struggle testifies to the power of absolute,
not relativist truth. This version is a different look at Dorothy’s
experience, attending to the weightier aspects of life’s journey.
And I will discuss the four phases she passed through before finding
herself at home again. I call these phases (1) the longing, (2)
the awakening, (3) the overcoming, and (4) the belonging. I believe
that these phases define our individual walks along the straight
and yellow brick road, as we make our way home through the veiled
one called “Wonderful.”
The
Season of Longing
Like so many of us, young and old, Dorothy longed for and worried over
much. She worried over her dog as a mother might worry over a child.
For someone was there who sought to take away that which mattered
most to her; it was the same one who later sought her destruction
in the next world. This threatening one reappeared with a vengeance
in the second estate, having been angered and possessive in the
first.
Like many her age, Dorothy believed that life had to be better elsewhere
on the other side of the rainbow; so she longed to be there. Metaphorically,
Dorothy shouted for joy at the idea of entering a world she
could not have comprehended. That world was over there, across
the bow and opposite the arch she knew. Though it was a land far
away, it was also connected to her present reality. Thus, she could
go away and never really leave. Like C. S. Lewis said in God
in the Dock, those who return to God will discover that they
never really left; because God was always with them; earth was an
extension of heaven, like two ends of a rainbow.
Young and discontented, Dorothy left home searching for what would surely
be the perfect world, not realizing that she was leaving the world
she would later come to find most satisfying in contrast to her
second estate, and most desirable at the conclusion of her journey.
She was about to leave the perfect home; but she could not have
known it then.
The
Season of Awakening
Her entrance into the New World was in many ways like a birthing;
difficult, frightening, and messy. And it changed her and her new
world forever; for by seeking him, she ultimately brought the Wonderful
one out from behind the veil and into the center of the community
to be known by all. Alas, Dorothy’s unexpected, smashing entrance
into the second world angered the evil witch who presented her with
fierce threats and immediate opposition. Something went horribly
wrong; this world was not a paradise. It was a world of contrasts,
for both good and evil stood before her. One sought her destruction,
while the other gave her comfort and guidance. One was of the world,
while the other lived in a bubble as if she were from another sphere
and place.
Faced with the perils of this world, and the ever-present reality that
the Evil One sought her destruction with a vengeance, for she caused
the Evil One a loss, Dorothy experienced an awakening. “I want
to go home. I want to return to the place I knew before coming to
this world. Help me to get home,” she told the good witch all adorned
in white and wearing a crown. And so the Good One told her about
the Wonderful One; he was wonderful because he did wonderful things.
Oh to be known as wonderful! (see Isaiah 9:6).
“How do I find this Wonderful One,” Dorothy asked? “Just follow the straight
and yellow brick road,” said the Good One; a yellow brick path should
be easy to see. “But I’ll get you first,” raged the Evil One, which
caused Dorothy to tremble. Then said the Good One, “I will give
you something to wear that will protect you from the Evil One.
So long as you wear them, evil cannot harm you.” Sound familiar?
Why do some of us temple-endowed members forget to wear our “ruby
slippers” so to speak, or alter them to be more fashionable? Evil
is fierce; it loves to get “pretties” and men who alter their slippers
as evidence, not of their casual attire, but of their casual attitudes
toward their covenants.
Evil hates good little girls who do as they are told. As I recall, “Who
would have thought that all my lovely wickedness could be destroyed
by a good little girl like you,” were the Evil One’s final words
to Dorothy. Yes, evil hates good little girls and boys. When Dorothy
recognized the determination of the Evil One, she awakened to her
need for the Wonderful One, and she set out on the straight and
yellow brick path to find this man. The path led directly to him
who waited behind a veil.
The
Season of Overcoming
Along the path, Dorothy made three friends. The scarecrow was down on
himself; he thought he was stupid and acted accordingly. The tinman
could not deal with his emotions; he rusted up whenever he was flooded
with feelings, especially when feeling unlovable or unable to give
love. And the lion was a coward; he bullied the small dog. Cowards
are shameful for they always bully weaker things. Encouraged by
the promise of the powers of the Wonderful One, Dorothy and her
three friends made their way gleefully to Oz. This was their first
overcoming, to put their faith in the ability of the Wonderful One
to meet their individual needs.
The second overcoming occurred soon after. Dorothy and her friends took
their eyes off of Emerald City and turned to the side; they saw
a wide field that was the world (see 1 Nephi 8). There they saw
Poppies, countless Poppies. Suddenly, they desired Poppies, and
so they left the path and the pursuit of the Wonderful One to roll
themselves in Poppy fields. Oh the lovely and splendid things of
the world; how mortals love them. Dorothy and her friends first
fell under the spell of worldly things, then the Evil One, and ultimately
fell asleep in a field of Poppies. In thinking so much about worldly
Poppies, all four forgot about higher purposes.
Once asleep, their progress toward the Wonderful One had been halted by
their distraction with the things of the world. Perhaps they would
still be asleep had it not been for the intervention of the Good
One who sprinkled her influence and snow over them and woke them
up; this was Dorothy’s reawakening. Once the things of this world
left Dorothy cold, in a manner of speaking, and she felt the need
to return, she returned to the path and soon met the image
of the Wonderful One. I say image because she had yet to overcome
the Evil One and see the veil removed between them. After telling
him of their problems; one wanted to go home, one wanted a brain,
another courage, and still another a heart, the Wonderful One gave
them a bigger problem, “bring me the Wicked Witch’s broom!” What
kind of Wonderful One would help you solve one problem by giving
you a bigger problem, his problem? How was it that attending to
his needs could fulfill their own?
Regardless of any doubts, they complied and soon obtained the broom, quite
by accident; like Nephi and the brass plates, trusting the outcome
to the Wonderful One and their willingness to try. When the Evil
One touched the scarecrow with fire, Dorothy accidentally threw
pure clean water on the Evil One who then melted; who ever heard
of evil being washed away by pure clean water? And so this successful
foursome presented Oz with the witch’s broom. They had overcome
evil, and were prepared now to obtain the prize of belonging.
The
Season of Belonging
First, they now belonged to themselves; in time and through patience they
possessed their own souls because they were whole. The lion possessed
his courage; the tinman possessed the ability to love and be loved;
the scarecrow possessed his mind. Dorothy found out that she had
really been home all along- she now possessed clarity about belonging.
Funny how once they put their personal concerns aside and attended
to the particular needs of the Wonderful One, their individual needs
really were taken care of. Dorothy learned this truth, that a life
lived in search of self is a lost life; a life lived attending to
the concerns of the Wonderful One is a found, rich, and wonderful
life, profoundly wonderful!
Moreover, in coming to own themselves, they forever owned, or rather belonged,
to one another. They were all there, in the end, together again
in joy and safety, back on the other side of the rainbow, and back
from whence she came- back to their recognizable form. Dorothy
was home, she belonged forever now to that world, and she never
would leave it again- for no other place could ever be quite like
it. When we get back to the other side of the metaphorical rainbow,
we will agree with Dorothy, there is no place like our eternal home.
See you there…and bring a few lost relativists, scarecrows, tinmen,
and lions with you!
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