T
Terrence
Guest
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono]The Dichotomy of the Relativeness of Absolute Truth[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono]What is truth? That is the question of the ages. The question has been asked by sages, gurus, philosophers, intellectuals, teachers, and students, as well as everyone in between, since the beginning of time. My aim in this report is not to answer this timeless, seemingly paradoxical question, but rather to ask another question - namely, "what isn't truth," in the hopes that you may come to your own unbiased conclusion. It would no doubt be a gross violation of the first fundamental law of thought, namely, the law of non - contradiction, to say that truth is so and so, and yet, not so and so, all at the same time. However, in our time of post modernism and existentialism, such laws seem irrational and too myopic for the majority to embrace. [/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] Today, one can boldly exclaim "the sky is red" and another, "No. I believe it is purple" and both persons will be called right. The goal today isn't so much to find the truth as it is to find relativeness in truth. And so, we've become a generation of vain philosophers who seek out deep meanings to rhetorical questions and unlearned thinkers who seek meanings in nothingness. Take for instance, the "wise" words one of today's most influential religious and spiritual gurus, Oprah Winfrey: [/FONT][FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono]"Truth is one part of many, which way is yours?"[/FONT][FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] Certainly, the obvious objection to this sort of thinking would be to ask the question, [/FONT][FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono]if both truths conflict and contradict each other, how then can they both remain true?[/FONT][FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] I suppose however, that the obviousness of this logic will prove to no avail; especially considering that more people are adopting this sort of post-modern mind set. [/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] And herein, I believe, lies the question that leads to the crux of the issue - Do we even want to know truth? I must ask this after much observation of the world and how we live. From philosophy to free thinkers and different schools of thoughts and religion and politics and every kinds of learning's, we seem to miss that of which we seek to find. Or, and even more paradoxical and perhaps more feasible a theory, have we found truth and purposely suppressed it in the hopes that we might not have to conform to its demanding and immutable nature? The Bible teaches that man's condemnation is based on the fact that light has come into the world and men love darkness rather than light. Is Christianity only a means to finding the end, i.e., to find truth, or is it the only means? As I said in at the beginning of this article, my aim is to have you form your own unbiased opinion. [/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] One should in fact take into consideration, however, that there is only one man to ever answer the question, "what is truth?" Before answering the question, however, he taught about lies and what truth is not, and pointed his finger at humanity. The famous 20th century English Christian writer, G.K. Chesterton, understood this well when he gave his response to a newspaper that asked him the question, "what is wrong with the world?" Chesterton response is as follows:[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono]"Dear sir,In response to your question, what is wrong with the world. I am.Yours Truly,G.K. Chesterton. [/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] Chesterton was saying that the world does not have a war problem, nor does it have a disease problem or food shortage problem or crime problem or anything else like that. Instead, the problem with the world is people. The world has a people problem. Therefore, I am what is wrong with the world, was Chesterton's response. The hate and envy and lust and murder and lies and all forms of ills comes from the human heart and are manifested in physical actions. This conjecture coincides with the only man who gave the answer to the question, "what is truth," namely, Jesus, who answered "I am." Jesus claimed to be the truth and offers to prove it to anyone who in humility, turns away from their sins (repents) and places their trust in him. But again I ask, are we purposely suppressing the truth in hopes that we might not have to conform to it? If not, why not consider Jesus' words in truth? [/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] Recall again to the beginning of this article, where my aim was to ask a question in the hopes that you may better and more honestly formulate your own answer to the question, "what is truth." Here is the question: Would you consider yourself to be a good person? This simply question, I believe, may revolutionize the way you see yourself and understand Jesus' teachings. To those whom are courageous enough to ask themselves this question and then undergo the necessary steps to see whether or not they are good, in light of what the Bible calls good (God's Laws - the Ten Commandments), and then honestly accepts the answers they find, they will know truth. Who are they that desires truth and not relativism in a world of absolutes? Such a person as you will find truth. Will you seek?[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] - Terrence[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono]What is truth? That is the question of the ages. The question has been asked by sages, gurus, philosophers, intellectuals, teachers, and students, as well as everyone in between, since the beginning of time. My aim in this report is not to answer this timeless, seemingly paradoxical question, but rather to ask another question - namely, "what isn't truth," in the hopes that you may come to your own unbiased conclusion. It would no doubt be a gross violation of the first fundamental law of thought, namely, the law of non - contradiction, to say that truth is so and so, and yet, not so and so, all at the same time. However, in our time of post modernism and existentialism, such laws seem irrational and too myopic for the majority to embrace. [/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] Today, one can boldly exclaim "the sky is red" and another, "No. I believe it is purple" and both persons will be called right. The goal today isn't so much to find the truth as it is to find relativeness in truth. And so, we've become a generation of vain philosophers who seek out deep meanings to rhetorical questions and unlearned thinkers who seek meanings in nothingness. Take for instance, the "wise" words one of today's most influential religious and spiritual gurus, Oprah Winfrey: [/FONT][FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono]"Truth is one part of many, which way is yours?"[/FONT][FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] Certainly, the obvious objection to this sort of thinking would be to ask the question, [/FONT][FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono]if both truths conflict and contradict each other, how then can they both remain true?[/FONT][FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] I suppose however, that the obviousness of this logic will prove to no avail; especially considering that more people are adopting this sort of post-modern mind set. [/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] And herein, I believe, lies the question that leads to the crux of the issue - Do we even want to know truth? I must ask this after much observation of the world and how we live. From philosophy to free thinkers and different schools of thoughts and religion and politics and every kinds of learning's, we seem to miss that of which we seek to find. Or, and even more paradoxical and perhaps more feasible a theory, have we found truth and purposely suppressed it in the hopes that we might not have to conform to its demanding and immutable nature? The Bible teaches that man's condemnation is based on the fact that light has come into the world and men love darkness rather than light. Is Christianity only a means to finding the end, i.e., to find truth, or is it the only means? As I said in at the beginning of this article, my aim is to have you form your own unbiased opinion. [/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] One should in fact take into consideration, however, that there is only one man to ever answer the question, "what is truth?" Before answering the question, however, he taught about lies and what truth is not, and pointed his finger at humanity. The famous 20th century English Christian writer, G.K. Chesterton, understood this well when he gave his response to a newspaper that asked him the question, "what is wrong with the world?" Chesterton response is as follows:[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono]"Dear sir,In response to your question, what is wrong with the world. I am.Yours Truly,G.K. Chesterton. [/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] Chesterton was saying that the world does not have a war problem, nor does it have a disease problem or food shortage problem or crime problem or anything else like that. Instead, the problem with the world is people. The world has a people problem. Therefore, I am what is wrong with the world, was Chesterton's response. The hate and envy and lust and murder and lies and all forms of ills comes from the human heart and are manifested in physical actions. This conjecture coincides with the only man who gave the answer to the question, "what is truth," namely, Jesus, who answered "I am." Jesus claimed to be the truth and offers to prove it to anyone who in humility, turns away from their sins (repents) and places their trust in him. But again I ask, are we purposely suppressing the truth in hopes that we might not have to conform to it? If not, why not consider Jesus' words in truth? [/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] Recall again to the beginning of this article, where my aim was to ask a question in the hopes that you may better and more honestly formulate your own answer to the question, "what is truth." Here is the question: Would you consider yourself to be a good person? This simply question, I believe, may revolutionize the way you see yourself and understand Jesus' teachings. To those whom are courageous enough to ask themselves this question and then undergo the necessary steps to see whether or not they are good, in light of what the Bible calls good (God's Laws - the Ten Commandments), and then honestly accepts the answers they find, they will know truth. Who are they that desires truth and not relativism in a world of absolutes? Such a person as you will find truth. Will you seek?[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New,Courier,mono] - Terrence[/FONT]
