My Truth: Your Truth?
72Truth?
In this day and time we live in, it seems people have become so confused in their thinking that they cannot find truth anywhere. Many say that truth is subjective to interpretation by the individual who hears it. So what does this mean to those who know the real truth?
On the surface it seems to mean that a person can say that 2+2=5 simply because they believe it to be so. Yet anyone with a first grade education knows that it isn't so. 2+2 has always equaled 4 and it always will.
So how did it become so confusing as to find what real truth actually is?
Subjective Truth
Subjective truth is truth that may not necessarily be the truth. It is subject to change to fit what a person wants it to be. In other words there is nothing clearcut and true to everyone, because everyone perceives things differently.
What I see when reading this definition, is that no matter what someone says or believes, it must be true to that person. It shows that everyone can haveb their own truth and it will be true no matter what anyone thinks or says about it. It causes me to wonder about Adolf Hitler and his truth.
Hitler thought that the Germans were a higher race of people than everyone else in the world. Using subjective truth, he was right. He believed it and did what he thought he should do to get rid of those who were weak and of a lower race.
Sounds really good doesn't it? Who are we to call him a monster? Who are we to say that he was wrong? It was his truth and that makes it right to him.
Objective Truth
Objective truth is truth that is completely independent of individual thought processes.
This type of truth is common among everyone. We all know that fire is hot and ice is cold. This is always true no matter where or when. Of course fire being hot and ice being cold are also absolute truth.
Relative Truth
Relative truth is only relative at certain times and in certain situations. What was true yesterday, may not be true today.
There are things that use to be true but aren't true anymore. It is true that diseases spread like wildfire a few hundred years ago because they didn't have the medicines to fight the diseases with. In this day and time we have medicine, such as penicillin, to fight off infections.
Smallpox was an epidemic that took out thousands in the US a few decades ago. It was loosed on the whole country but is now contained. This is also an example of relative truth.
Absolute Truth
Absolute truth is truth that is for everyone, everywhere, no matter when they lived or will live. In the day and time we now live, many have rejected the possibility of there being such a thing as absolute truth.
Test of Time
"Everything is relative", is the saying that many people use when it comes to defining what is true and what isn't true. To those who believe this, in actuality, nothing can be true except what they believe to be true. It means if they interpret something a certain way, then that way is right no matter what anyone else says about it or how they interpret it.
God has always been truth. He always will be truth. There is no other God than God Himself. Many would have us to believe there are many different Gods, but there is only one.
The Bible has withstood the tests of time and scrutiny, (no other book in the history of mankind has been debated and studied as much). Many refuse to believe that God could speak to men and tell them what to write. Others refuse to believe that God is even real.
They say that God was created from the mind of man to control the masses, or to say this is how it all began. They say they actually believe this so that would make it absolute in their minds, wouldn't it?
Eternity of God's Word
God is indeed real, and His Word still stands today as it did when it was first spoken. We are temporary in our state of being, but God is eternal. He has always been and always will be in His current state. This is absolute truth.
God's Word is infallible. It will always be right no matter what time we live in and what is going on around us. It is everlasting as God is everlasting.
God's Word is not up for private interpretation. Many seem to think they can interpret it however they want. God's Word is clear and concise. It can only be understood in the Spirit, not with the carnal mind of man.
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
The Word has been spoken. Everyone who wants to decide what the Word says are wrong to do so.
The Way
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus is the only way. He didn't say everyone was the way. He didn't mention Buddha, Horus or anything other false god. He not only said He was the way, but He also proved it. There is more.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus died for the sins of every man, woman and child who ever lived. Not one person is left out and all have the opportunity to become the son or daughter of God.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
A person must recieve Jesus to be given power to become the son or daughter of God. There is no other way around it. They are not born of flesh and blood, but of God who gives life and takes it away. God is spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth. Many believe the part of the spiritual worship, but they miss the part about truth.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
The time of salvation has now come upon you. The promise of tomorrow is non existent for you and me. If you are still reading this, I am sure you are interested. I have other articles and studies to help you understand even more if you would like.
CommentsLoading...
What a wonderful hub. You are always so kind in your words.
Thank you SJ for the comment. I appreciate it very much.
Likewise I thank you also Sweetie. Your comments are like a breath of fresh air.
Great Hub and i agree Jesus is the only way
Subjectivity, objectivity and relativity are not as subjective, objective or relative as you've made it seem.
Throughout time, man has learned to accept commonalities within communities. Religion, included and possibly excluded, is one of the most accepted and disruptive commonalities.
I agree with you, in that absolute truth is finite. However, your absolute truth, God, is relative to you. My absolute truth, God, is relative to me. The same can be said however for the beliefs of Buddhists, Wiccans, even Satanists.
Believing in an absolute truth is a great way to live. People should conform to and mold themselves to their own sets of beliefs. Absolute truth is relative though; even when others have similar belief systems.
Your God, possibly the very same God as mine, wouldn't define himself as absolute, nor would there be an absolute Heaven or Hell... again, those "places" would be relative. Overall, absolute truths are subjectively relative and objectively absolute.
With that said, great hub! :)
ProCW
PS. I'd like to know what everyone's views are about their own religion and how they feel about absolute truth.
Pro, I don't have enough time right now to comment on your comment. I am also very sleepy and not thinking quite right.
It seems to me that you are saying that all truth is relative, subjective, and objective, but there can't really be an absolute truth. Maybe I'm a little off in my interpretation of what you said. Will try again tomorrow sometime.
ProCw, if your truth is absolute only to you but not to me it is not absolute. Absolute truth is true to everyone no matter where or when they live.
Arazor sharp knife brought down upon the hand with brute force will cut your hand and most likely throught the bones also. This is absolute truth because it is true for everyone.
Absolute truth cannot be objective, relative, or subjective,
those words are almost subjective, sirdent...
who says i still have a hand... don't have a razor sharp knife anywhere nearby (anymore) ... :)
kidding...
i get what you're saying, but with that being said, your absolute may not be my absolute and would therefore be subjective (at maximum.)
you said that God's word is absolute truth. it may be to you and to me and to many more people, but would still not be absolute to all...
going by your words there, sirdent.
:)
ProCW
So then what you are really saying is that my truth is not absolute and is therefore subjective.
This makes it not absolute.
Let us say that an absolute truth can be represented by a magnificent multi-facetted diamond that rests in the middle of an art class. Every one sits around it and sketches this amazing diamond.
Everyone will have a different sketch of this perfect diamond. Afterall, everyone sees it from a different perspective. But no matter what their sketches look like, these sketches do not change the properties of this diamond.
How each person's sketch portrays the diamond is subjective, relative to where such persons sit.
Our subjective view of an absolute object does not change the object. The absolute object remains intact, regardless our subjective perception of it.
I like your analogy terence! :)
ProCW
That is a good analogy Terence, but the diamond is still what it is. It hasn't changed.
ProCw, stop trying to suck up to Terence. :P
"ProCw, if your truth is absolute only to you but not to me it is not absolute. Absolute truth is true to everyone no matter where or when they live. "
The exact same can be said to you. Your absolute truth is that your God is the only god, that the Bible is the word of God, and that Jesus is the only way to God. None of this is truth to me, therefore, it is not absolute.
Another wonderful article by you and your pictures are sooooooo beautiful. God bless you!
Man's mind does not want to accept the Absolute Truth. In most things that are absolute...man tries to test it again and again. I think of the LAW of gravity. lol
It is human nature to doubt....and only faith and renewal of our mind can clear our thinking.
Thanks for this hub! Debi
Great hub, Sir. I wholeheartedly agree with you that there is absolute truth. I would go further and say that a part of the definition of absolute truth is that it can not be defined by the human mind, because the mind is finite. Absolute truth (God) is infinite. So, for one person to have one truth while another person's is different, is to only deal with mundane truth, the truth of the mind. God made us "in His own image", which is not only physical, but also makes us capable of experiencing God in our souls. That experience must, by definition, be beyond our limited and finite minds.
So one person's "truth" may not be "true" at all. They just think it is because it is a stepping stone they may need at that time in their personal growth.
interesting hub; absolute truth is what we are all expected to live by except for those who have knowingly or otherwise decided for the devil; lucifer, being a hero.
A mc, some have chosen Satan over Jesus but others are blinded and have no choice in the matter. Albeit, God has called all to repentance, so ultimately it is their choice.
If your truth is true to you and my truth is true to me, then what if my truth says your truth is false? Then is it still true?
2+2= Doesnt have the equal 4, those are just the inhereted rules giving to us at our starting point. Maybe there is a different dimension called the mind where anything can be true, and all of the rules here are actually just a small taste of what can be possible. Dont ask me I know nothing.
Illusion, YAWN!!!
Absolute Truth in this universe isn't promising because sadly humans can't be truth machines like progress is begging for, because that absolute truth would be to kill each other. And lets face it we're not gonna make it.
More likely if you shed all of your explained truth and concentrate on advancing your own universe in your head you understand yourself and are givin power to understand every human being, possibilities, including the unlimited possibilities of God. Infinity makes your truth look rigid.
If I read yoiu correctly, you are saying that I should simply live in my own head? Clarify if I am wrong.
God is truth no matter what man thinks or believes. I prefer to listen to what He says.
I just think it is as equally if not more crazy to think that youll find god in this lifetime before we all kill ourselves, as it is to simulate god in your head before committing suicide. Really I find more promise in dying however that comes. Whatever? Im just testin you dent
One can only find God if God alows him/her to find Him. God made a way for all to find Him. He didn't make many ways.
Since you say you are testing me, what gives you the right? Are you my teacher?
Definitely not your teacher Dent, I dont even think I have the ability to do something like that, just interested in what you have to say. At most give you some food for thought or lack there of. Personally I believe in God, and doing whats right. Ive just have had a difficulty locating any finite morals other than the ones I feel.
I like Madame X's comment best, but must say one thing about some of the comments made ... remember that men of the world of high enlightenment can walk on swords and not get cut, lie on nails and not get pierced, walk on fire and not get burned. Science shows that a blindfolded person who gets touched with ice and believes it to be a hot flame will develop a blister, or if they believe that a hot flame is ice, they will not get burned. We all have the powers Jesus displayed if we only believe in the absolute truth. Gravity? What about yogis who can levitate? Perhaps it's all a hoax, but for those who have seen it, they believe. What is the truth? Hmmmm ...
Well my mind is certainly boggled! Is there such a thing as absolute truth? I believe the truth is that God exists, came to earth, died and rose to take on our sins, and those who believe are saved. As a result our separation that sin causes has been restored now that we have a clean slate with him.
The diamond is good - those who believe in God are looking at him from their own perspective - that is why there was so many different opinions. It is hard to say our opinion of God is the absolute truth. But can we say there is an absolute truth to the way to heaven? I think we can say it is most probable that Jesus came to earth, died, was buried, third day rose again (historical references, tradition, eye witness accounts, miracles, lives transformed, self revelation (feeling, audiable, vision, dream, etc), gifts of the Holy Spirit, angels) but perhaps it takes faith and God to chose you before you can finally say "Yes I believe."? To me it seems blatantly obvious that God exists and I cannot see any other possibility because of the facts. However, maybe there is a 0.0000001% possibility that there is no God and that Jesus is not God? I can't see any possibility of Jesus not being God, that is why I passionately believe and follow Him. But if that possibility exists, maybe we cannot say what we believe is absolute truth because we may be wrong, somehow?
I welcome all of your reply's to this I am curious to hear as many opinions as possible. I am trying to decide if anything is absolute. (What is reality?)
I recall Pontius Pilate asking Jesus the very same question 2000 years ago: "What is truth?" Welcome back to the civilisation of Rome everybody!
Very interesting and thought provoking SirDent. I like what you said about "Absolute truth." I think there HAS to be an absolute truth that applies to everyone, everywhere, throughout all time. We must know this in our heart of hearts or we wouldn't be searching all the time.
Didn't Jesus say "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." ?? Free of what? Untruths!
When you think about it, we're always asking, "is this true?" "Is that true?" When we hear gossip, when we talk with a car salesman, when we read an ad...we're always asking if it's the truth, or are we being lied to.
But concerning the deeper issues and questions of life, there must be an absolute truth, or we wouldn't be looking so hard for it. It would be a dirty trick for God, who is Love, to not have established an absolute truth that we can rely on. Jesus knew what it was, and is, and if we study the gospels deeply and live their precepts, I believe we will find the absolute truth.
ps There is a book called "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy that can be purchased from places like Amazon. For anyone seeking to know what truth is, this might be really helpful. It has answered the question for me, along with the Bible.
Ironically Christian Science (which isn't Christianity or Science) formed by Mary Baker Eddy is a distorted truth. Jesus left the earth with only his robes. Mary left with millions.
If the scientific method requires objectivity without falsifying observation to accord with some preconceived world view, why would a serious scientist exclude a serious examination of either Creationism or Darwinism in his quest for the truth?
This conversation has gone in so many different directions it's hard to know where to chime in. I'll start by saying two opposite beliefs cannot both be true. But to use the diamond analogy, and the old story of the blind man and the elephant, it's possible that each of us has focused on only a part of the truth and none of us knows all of the truth." Now we see through a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood." (Apostle Paul, I Corinthians 13:12.) Here even Paul admits our knowledge cannot be perfect this side of Heaven. I believe God reveals through his word and Spirit that which he especially wants each of us to know. He is still the great "I am" who never changes, no matter which aspect of him we focus on. But none of us has anything we can bring to God but a humble and contrite heart and a reliance on the blood of Christ to open a door to a relationship with the Living God. It is the Holy Spirit who brings us to that "Aha" moment when we realize our spiritual poverty and reach out to Christ to save us. And he will. That is the truth that unites Christians who may disagree on many other things.
Hi again WannaB Writer. You said, "I'll start by saying two opposite beliefs cannot both be true." I first saw that on a forum thread and had to check out your profile. I agree with your statment wholeheartedly. Thanks for visiting and commenting.
SparklingJewel 3 years ago
Very nice hub SD! I am happy to see that you recognize that everyone has the chance to learn of the Christ and the Word and of Truth. Most people don't change over night, but it is good to know there are people that can pray and teach and learn to help others along the Way. If we were all perfect and without sin/karma we would not be here today.
Many Blessings in the Name of Jesus the Christ