Arts&Letters Daily on June 17 linked to this review of a book by physicist turned anglican theologian John Polkinghorne. According to the review:
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Polkinghorne does not wish to be in “unthinking thrall to the past” or to authority, whether in the form of a book or a Church. And yet, he also wishes to avoid the danger of “loose individualism” or “rampant relativism” that could lead to “willful or fantastic manipulation” of the Word of God. He acknowledges that some “degree of control” must be exercised by “the oversight of a truth-seeking community” and “the sifting and receiving role played by the whole Christian community.”
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But history shows that “willful or fantastic manipulation” of the “Word of God” is exactly the forte of religions of all kinds. In fact any claim to be presenting the “Word of God” should be taken as a signal to the contrary, and we would all be better off if Moses second commandment (or third depending on how you count them) were applied in the strictest possible sense – ie any claim to or delegation of authority re the will or word of “God” should be taken as blasphemy and dealt with accordingly.
It would then turn out that whatever ethical behaviour we have evolved to manifest would in fact be carried out and that “loose individualism” or “rampant relativism” would lead to as sane and civilized society as we are capable of – which would be far more sane and civilized than any that have arisen under the auspices of an authoritarian religion.