In The Heretical Imperative he has argued that the distinctive feature of this culture is that there is no generally acknowledged “plausibility structure,” 1 acceptance of which is normally taken for granted without argument, and dissent from which is regarded as heresy, that is, according to the original meaning of hairesis— choosing for oneself, making one’s own personal decision instead of accepting the given tradition. In premodern cultures the heretic was in a minority. In medieval Europe or in contemporary Saudi Arabia, for example, only the rare individual questions the accepted framework of belief. It is just “how things are and have always been.” In modern Western culture, so Berger argues, we are all required to be heretics, for there is no accepted plausibility structure. With respect to ultimate beliefs, pluralism rules, and thus each individual has to make a personal decision about ultimate questions. In that sense, we are all now subject to the “heretical imperative.”

Newbigin, Lesslie (1988-06-01). Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel and Western Culture (pp. 10-11). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.