Every word, phrase, and sentence we use in moral or political discourse derive their meanings from the contexts in which they are embedded. These contexts include fundamental theological, philosophical, or ideological commitments that define and delimit the moral grammar and vocabulary that flows from them.
In some cases, it is impossible to use these vocabularies without perpetuating the false foundations upon which they are built. In other cases, we must attempt to redeem the words but carefully define what we mean by them. In either case, we must decide whether, and to what extent, we must refuse to use that moral vocabulary.
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