Definition
Religious absolutism is the view that certain truths or moral rules grounded in religion are absolute — that they hold without exception, do not depend on circumstances, and are not open to revision in light of new arguments or evidence.
Absolutism contrasts with relativism, which holds that moral truth varies by context or culture, and with fallibilism, which holds that even strongly held moral beliefs may need correction. An absolutist treats some commitments as settled.
Why it matters
How it works
For an absolutist, a moral rule does not bend to consequences or to majority opinion; its authority comes from its source. This can anchor conscience against social pressure — a strength many ethical traditions value.
Dawkins's worry is narrower than a rejection of all firm moral commitments. He argues specifically that treating a claim as immune to revision removes it from rational scrutiny, and that the shifting moral zeitgeist shows even widely held absolutes have changed over time.