The Truth Is?
Why is important to define what is considered "The Truth"? Well if you ever get into a religious "discussion", you will quickly find out, that belief on any religious topic differs among those who are part of this discussion, that each one involved will claim to have The Truth! But how can that be? Can there be that many Truths?
I had just had one of those discussions, and it had left my beliefs battered and bruised. So I had decided to go looking for the Truth. What I found was in today's world there are many so called Truths. Popular Opinion, the politically correct thing called Past Truth, even religious Doctrines and Beliefs have been passed off as Truth. But are they? (In my next blog I will discuss these)
I had just had one of those discussions, and it had left my beliefs battered and bruised. So I had decided to go looking for the Truth. What I found was in today's world there are many so called Truths. Popular Opinion, the politically correct thing called Past Truth, even religious Doctrines and Beliefs have been passed off as Truth. But are they? (In my next blog I will discuss these)
As a Christian, to understand what is Truth is at the foundation of all faith. Therefore it must be defined. For the Christian must understand that to place your faith in something that is not true no matter how great your faith, is a useless endeavour. For the power of faith is based on the object of your faith being able to deliver that which is deemed Truth by the believer's faith.
Now we all would agree that the truth is a factually and logically correct statement. That Truth; is not error, is not self-contradictory, or deception. The problem in defining Truth is not so much in arriving at a definition, but in arriving at a definition that works when applied. Why? Because there is something involved, we all call reality. In reality, each individual has their own personal reality and each persons reality is equally valid, therefore Truth could be relative to each and every one' individual personal reality.
Now we all would agree that the truth is a factually and logically correct statement. That Truth; is not error, is not self-contradictory, or deception. The problem in defining Truth is not so much in arriving at a definition, but in arriving at a definition that works when applied. Why? Because there is something involved, we all call reality. In reality, each individual has their own personal reality and each persons reality is equally valid, therefore Truth could be relative to each and every one' individual personal reality.
However, it is more likely that Truth and any definition of Truth should be determined by what it is not, rather than what it is. So in dealing with an individuals reality in regards to Truth, we have a problem. For this does not follow basic reasoning. For example;
[a] if my individual reality is that an individuals reality is false, then based on my personal reality, this would be true, (even if I believe it to be false) and therefore any and all individuals realities are false.
[b] However if your individual reality regarding my belief is that I am wrong. Instead your individual reality is, that any and all personal realities are Truth, your reality and mine would have a contradiction of the Truth. Seeing Truth cannot be self-contradictory, my reality regarding personal realities would be false, and in being so also makes your reality regarding them being true, false. Therefore Truth based on personal reality by the very nature of what Truth is not, that being contradictory, cannot be Truth.
Again I asked what is Truth if there is such a thing? Then realized the question should be what type of Truth are we looking for? Now I will concede there are conflicting truths based on culture (which side of the road we drive on) and personal preferences (black over white, mathematics over language) for each individual. However for the Christian to define Truth is apart from and greater than those truths regarding cultural or personal preferences. The Christian Truth needs to be based on reality, facts, is the same for all persons, and does not change. Does such a Truth exist?
Well yes that Truth does exist, but before I arrived at that point on my journey, I stumbled upon the definition one day, can't really remember how it happened, but it is the best definition I have ever read. It read: “Truth does not contradict itself or deny the facts. It does not go contrary to reality, nor is it one thing to one person and another thing, even a contradictory thing, to another person. The one truth applies to all persons, whether they recognize it or not. It does not change because of location or of time. The truth is provable by actual fact. The truth endures, persists, because it is genuine, actually existing, in harmony with reality.” [Copyright 1965, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania]. In the 2nd Chapter, 4th Paragraph
I remember thinking as I read this, that I needed to put this definition to the test, and that I had some great subject matter to test it on. That will be my next blog.
Again I asked what is Truth if there is such a thing? Then realized the question should be what type of Truth are we looking for? Now I will concede there are conflicting truths based on culture (which side of the road we drive on) and personal preferences (black over white, mathematics over language) for each individual. However for the Christian to define Truth is apart from and greater than those truths regarding cultural or personal preferences. The Christian Truth needs to be based on reality, facts, is the same for all persons, and does not change. Does such a Truth exist?
Well yes that Truth does exist, but before I arrived at that point on my journey, I stumbled upon the definition one day, can't really remember how it happened, but it is the best definition I have ever read. It read: “Truth does not contradict itself or deny the facts. It does not go contrary to reality, nor is it one thing to one person and another thing, even a contradictory thing, to another person. The one truth applies to all persons, whether they recognize it or not. It does not change because of location or of time. The truth is provable by actual fact. The truth endures, persists, because it is genuine, actually existing, in harmony with reality.” [Copyright 1965, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania]. In the 2nd Chapter, 4th Paragraph
I remember thinking as I read this, that I needed to put this definition to the test, and that I had some great subject matter to test it on. That will be my next blog.
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