Related Article - Postmodernism and the Death of Truth
"All is relative" has become one of the slogans of our generation. In the Western World, multitudes have rejected the possibility that such a thing as absolute truth could exist. We have most likely heard of the blind men who examined an elephant. One described it as being "like a hose" while another described it as being "like a tree". It all depended on their point of view. This story, and others like it, are cited to show that no absolute truth exists, and that everything depends on the viewpoint of the one investigating. We often hear phrases like "that may be true for you, but its not true for me". Truth is seen as a personal preference or perception that cannot extend beyond a person's personal boundaries. Of course, if this is so, there are no final answers to the "Big Issues" of life. It goes without saying that if this view of truth is correct, there can be no Ultimate Personal God such as the one described in the Bible.
Shirley MacLaine, the famous actress who as a high priestess of the New Age movement now claims to be "god", is just one of many who claim that there is no such thing as absolute, objective truth. Many philosophers and scientists also think this way. It is clear that the majority of popular media personalities assume and promote this. Through them, generally speaking, the man in the street also assumes that all enlightened people know this to be so. But is it really so? Is it really true? How can it be if there is no such thing as objective truth that holds for all people?
Does it matter?
The answer to the question of absolute truth turns out to be very important, not only in drawing religious conclusions, but also in the matter of ethics. Ethics is important to all of us, because it deals with the question of what is right and wrong. Every person hates some kind of activities. But if there is no such thing as absolute truth, then there is no ultimate moral rightness or wrongness about anything. It may be "right for you" but that doesn't mean it is "right for me".
Such an idea is very appealing to many, but if taken to its logical extreme it would soon prove disastrous. For example, what if it is "right for me" to ignore traffic lights, even when they are red? In this way I put the life of others at risk. What if it is "right for me" to go on a suicide bombing mission in a heavily populated area amongst people whom I consider to be my enemies? I may even be fully convinced that what I am doing is right. Can it really be right in any sense of the word? If there is no such thing as absolute truth, it could be. But how can we live with such a situation?
Most people would pretty quickly concede that a person will have to give up some of his arbitrary personal preferences. Some philosophers have sought to ascribe to human government the power to decide what is right and wrong, at least in some situations. But can notions of "right" and "wrong" really be derived from the decisions of politicians - however enlightened?
If there is no such thing as absolute truth, then no-one can really say, "He should do that" or "She shouldn't do that". All you can say is, "A lot of people feel that this action would not make people feel good". So you can't say, "Multinational companies should not exploit the poor and destroy the environment". If relativists are right, a company executive might respond, "That may be true for you, but it is certainly not true for us". Do you see the ethical consequences of throwing out the belief in absolute truth?
Logical Contradictions in the Denial of Absolute Truth
No one has ever proven that there is no such thing as absolute truth. Those who hold this view simply assume that it is so. Such assumptions prove nothing. Why should we blindly accept them? This is nothing more than "begging the question".
But more than this, there are logical contradictions and inconsistencies in denying absolute truth. One might even be fair in saying that people who deny absolute truth are guilty of hypocrisy. Why is this?
Is the statement, "There is no absolute truth" absolutely true? If it
is, then there is something that is absolutely true - that statement itself.
If it isn't absolutely true, then why insist that we should all b
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absolute truth or relative truth ?
After being taught the scriptures by more than one of the many different faiths which have come in Jesus name, this is what I have learned through one faith which is in Jesus Holy name;
Through faith which is in Jesus name, the truth of Gods word is absolute.
But through all of the many different faiths which have come in Jesus name, the truth of Gods word is relative.
Through one faith which is in Jesus name (who is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God), a man can comprehend the scriptures.
But through the power and wisdom of men to comprehend the scriptures,more than one faith has come in Jesus name.
Through faith which is in Jesus name (who is the Beggining and the End),men can find unity in all things.
But through all the many different faiths which have come in Jesus name, men are divided in all things from the beggining to the end of the Bible.
Through faith in the name of Jesus Christ (who is the Living Word), the written word is rightly divided.
But through the word of God which has been handled deceitfully, many different faiths have come and are divided in Jesus name.
Through faith which is in Christ Jesus, the scriptures are able to make a man wise unto salvation.
But through men who are wise in their own understanding of the scriptures, many different faiths have come, and continue to come, in Jesus name.
Through faith in Jesus name, He is the Light who pierces through and illuminates the darkness.
But through the darkness of this world, many other faiths have come in His name.
Through the broad ways of men, who go unto destruction, many faiths have come and continue to come, in Jesus name....
But glory be unto God, through the faith which is in Jesus name, strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life.
"The fear of God is the beggining of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One (Christ) is understanding".
In speaking of Christ.... "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge".
"The man who forgets the way of understanding (who is Christ) shall remain in the congregation of the dead".
The truth can't be found in the Bible through a method that is "outside" of Christ...but the truth is in Jesus, according to the Bible.
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