How do you define "truth" in religion?

Question

It seems that alot of people are at a constant struggle with eachother over what is true and what is not true.

Unfortunately, science has been unable to confirm or deny anything in the realm of religion with any accuracy.

Before you answer - I am looking for something a little deeper than the garden variety answers here.... I will NOT be selecting any of the following as best answers:

1) "It's true if it's in the Bible" or "The Bible is the word of God." (This leaves the question as to which of the 100's of known versions of the Bible we are speaking about - why should I listen to you over the other guy?)

2) "It's all a bunch of hullabaloo. I don't believe in anything." (This type of answer is entirely too depressing to contemplate)

3) "You should convert to ___blah blah blah___ or else...." (I don't need to explain why I wouldn't support this with 10 points)

Answer 1

This is a good question.

Simple answer: All religions are based on faith. Once you accept that religion, on faith, it is truth to you, but not necessarily truth to other people.

The same is true of each and every one of your perceptions, they are real and true to you, but, other people may not accept your perceptions.

Thus to find truth, you need to look for it. Let's say you never have prayed or meditated, and thus do not believe in spiritual experiences. However, some else has prayed or meditated and has had some spiritual experience. Then you have 2 different and independent truths, don't you.

However, in a court of law with jury, which truth would have the greatest defense? You cannot disprove spirituality if you have never experienced it. However, if you have experienced it then it is true for you, and others like you. A court and jury would have to rule that spirituality appears to exist. All a skeptic has to understand, that in their reality, their mind, they are not looking for spirituality, in fact they are actively against it at times, thus they will never see it, and that is ok, it is their choice.

Thus, truth in religion is "faith that becomes truth" only for those who believe in the religion.

Answer 2

Truth is a shared interpretation. One person describing a change of life experience is probably not enough proof for many to believe, but if you can reproduce the same experience in the same circumstances then you begin to have a truth emerge.
For example, the Christian Religion took many years to be accepted as the Religion of the Roman Empire, but it finally happened. Smaller groups of people may understand and confirm things more quickly.
Like minded people would be more receptive to a message that hit close to there preconceived notions of reality, or it may depend on the degree of danger the group is in at the time they come to the accepted position or idea of a Religion or its principles.
You might say that faith for example is a type or a way to know the unknowable. One think about knowing the unknowable is to be humble about it. Being humble is a very quiet but powerful virtue.
No one owns the truth.

Answer 3

truth in religion let's see... religion if grown to the size of say Catholics one would say religion holds power over ppl. So the truth in religion wouldn't be found in the bible because it can be changed and probably has but that's not what your looking for so the truth is out there somewhere and we are being shown a version that would benefit those in power. blah blah blah does that work or should I just ramble some more.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, science has been unable to confirm or deny anything in the realm of religion with any accuracy.

Now this is just not true. Science is busy examining all manner of life and its foibles. With that, they most assuredly have proven and disproven many attempts at truth from any book.

Answer 5

The definition of "truth" is as follows:
a (1) : the state of being the case : FACT (2) : the body of real things, events, and facts : ACTUALITY (3) often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality b : a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true c : the body of true statements and propositions.

Therefore the definition of truth in religion may in fact be that religion, in itself, exists. Plain and simple.

Answer 6

Truth is irrelevant in religion. No single religion can say they know the truth. All religion is based from "faith" that there is something there. Many followers will say they know the truth, but they only think they know the truth.

You're right the science has done nothing to prove or deny the existence of God, but it is my hope that one day it will, though I am doubtful. There are many questions out there, few with answers. I don't think we are to know them, but I hope they are found.

Answer 7

(Not worried if I get your 10 points or not.) Actually, it is true if it's in the Bible. As for the 100s of versions you speak of, there's probably not that many. The ones that have been responsibly translated by theologians across denominational lines are the ones that you should go by (I recommned NASB, NIV, and ESV). Just because they are different does not mean they contradict each other or are any less truthful than the other. Their method of translation is in order to achieve a different purpose.

As for how you define truth....

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the TRUTH, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." - John 14:6

What is truth? Jesus Christ is truth.

Answer 8

Truth is everywere. Truth is not one object you strive for in the end but truth is and endless sea. True things are around you everday. It is true that the sun rises and sets. It is true that you are alive. It is true that the sky sometimes has clouds. It is true that the wind blows the leaves on the gound. Truth is everywere and it is indifferent wether you acknowledge it or not. Just like a sea, certian waves and waters exist like truth, even if you do not sail in them.

Answer 9

Religion has very little to do with truth. Religion is an assumption, an assumption can not technically be called truth until it is confirmed as truth. As far as I know, no one has proven the existence of God.

Answer 10

For me 'truth' is something that cannot be denied, even if people show all the possile reasons and what they believe as science proofs to deny it. You just can't help, in the end, believing it's true, even if you say you don't believe.