If this is true . . . .?

Question

Gandhi said "Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth"

Since that is obviously true, and each of us has our own interpretations/beliefs regarding what is true, then how can we ever come to a consensus?

Is our debating therefore completely worthless and a waste of time?

Answer 1

Arguing is generally useless, although sometimes perfectly appropriate; debating is an excellent process by which we learn other points of view and perhaps modify ours.

Answer 2

The Lord, when He walked the earth as a man, said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by me." The more you analyze how the Bible (from which the foregoing verse is taken) has made it intact down through the centuries against all odds, the more the common-sense evidence proves that the Bible is God's word to mankind. If you start with this, truth hangs together in all of life and you have a meaningful moral framework upon which to build, and grow, and find fulfilment and happiness. Otherwise, it is pretty much hopeless, including the debating part -- like monkeys chattering in the trees.

Answer 3

'Truth' is not a matter of 'consensus'... what is, IS... whether anybody believes it, or not.

My own personal, made-up definition of 'metaphysics' is this: "The blind leading the stupid into the unknown on a quest for the unfathomable."

We quite simply do not have access to fundamental 'truth'... 'objective' reality.

The only thing that we can say with any certainty about 'objective reality' is that it is 'non-local'; that is mathematically proven by "Bell's Theorem". It is widely thought among laymen... and even among a lot of scientists... that Quantum Mechanics describes reality. It does not. It merely allows us to predict how reality will respond, when we poke it.

However, debating these things is most certainly NOT a waste of time.

It is the journey that matters.. not the destination.

It is the experience that matters... not our interepretation of it.

One must gain insights in order to grow spiritually, personally, intellectually. You can only do that if you show up, and set out on the trip. However, it is completely unrealistic to expect that you might actually reach the end of the journey.

Answer 4

Since interpretations and beliefs are like noses (everybody's got one), obviously there must be a standard in place. To illustrate: in any given country, who determines what constitutes legal tender? Who is allowed to print that legal tender? The government, of course. Anything else printed is counterfeit and unacceptable. There is no consensus as to what constitutes legal spending money because the government only has the authority to set the standard.

It is similar with religious truth. There must be a standard. And there can be no consensus, as it were, for determining what is truth. If there truly is a God, then it is He who sets the standard and not we ourselves. And if adhering to that standard is vital, then it is obvious that, as a caring creator, he lets his human creation know that standard. If now a loving human father sets the standard in his household for his children to meet and then makes sure that the children are aware of the standard, how much more so would the loving creator do the same!

Thus we read the prayer of the man from Galilee recorded at John 17:17: "Sanctify them (or make holy) by means of the truth. Your word is truth."

Answer 5

It is a worthless waste of time to debate these things if you don't have an open mind. If everyone in the entire world could just agree that what ever someone wants to believe is okay with them then we'd all get along a lot better. If all religious people didn't push thier religion onto others and could just listen to what each other has to say without getting crazy ... well, why day dream about something that can never be?

Answer 6

What I won't answer for some points.

Okay here we go...

Gandhi was trying to say the same thing many enlightened avatars were saying. Our truth - each one of our own individual truths - is what matters. What we believe of what we have experienced is all we have. Our time and experience is unique. Debating our own individual truths serves us by either broadening our perceptions, if we are accepting or entrenching us in our own reality, if we choose not to accept another view. la...lala...lala

Unfortunately, none of this trippin' is gonna pay my broadband, and I got to wake up in the morning and get back on the grind so...

Watch the show, play your part, but don't get caught up with what the critics have to say.

Answer 7

I think in regard to debate and the "truth" that people need training /education to be able to debate a subjective reality. Really good debate requires discipline and is not really judged by the people engaged in the debate..rather it is judged by judges..and doesn't involve the truth...it involves the way that the debaters DID the debate. The techniques used and so on. If you find a truth speak of it quietly with someone you trust see if they accept it without reservation...if they do ..tell more people...don't try and debate it ...there is really no subjective truth...but your truth is a precious thing. Guard it.

Answer 8

Yes it is worthless! There is no debating, why they do it i'll never know, does everyone always have to be right, "in there mines yes" that's the human race for u. But in the end we will all know what is the truth. Take me for instance, I'm not a christian but if I were "I" beleive there is only one god his name is Jesus, I beleive that you have to be baptised in the name of Jesus not the father, son, and Holy Ghost. And that you have to be filled with the holy spirit. But now that is what I beleive. But does that mean everyone else is going to hell. Maybe an maybe not just because I beleive that I'm right it doesn't make it absolutely so does it. I mean in my minds view I'm right but can I prove that everyone else is wrong NOOO. So tell what you beleive to those that want to hear what u beleive in and those that look at u and say your wrong just say ok and go on to someone else. If your right in the end you"ll be rewarded for it and if your wrong you"ll pay a very high price for it. So in saying let everyone beleive what they wish and serve what ever God or Gods they wish because soon enough we all have to die and then we really find out who was right. Thank You Grandma Rosey

Answer 9

Just because you believe something to be true does not make it truth -- you may be a real idiot! There are absolutes in life and we may disagree on what they are. Obviously, someone will be wrong. Ultimately, we tend to debate over meaningless gruel. That is what's really WORTHLESS! Ask yourself if it's really that important that we all agree in a particular truth. Some don't believe there is a God -- I do. Just make sure that when you leave this world you are satisfied with your beliefs -- you will have to live with your consequences. And other people will have to live with their consequences.

Answer 10

Debating is not a waste of time since it brings forward other ideas that may or may not have been considered by the "minority of one". True consensus may never be reached since each person is a true individual with their own ideas and thought processes but the debate about any issue is still a worthwhile exercise.

Answer 11

His statement is that there is a truth... even if you are the only one that has it right. It is not a waste of time to seek the truthor to assist others in finding it. If you start on a journey you may take many wrong turns but if you are persistant you have a much better chance at reaching your destination thanif you never search it out. The trip is all part of finding the truth. As a Christian, I believe that I have a map( THE BIBLE) thet makes it easier for me!