If the truth is only one, why do different people find different meanings to it?

Question

yes an R&S question, thanks for answering :)

Answer 1

Suguna from what I have read of religions I understood to my great surprise that all of them say the same things only they are presented in diferent ways.This is a great truth and lets give a logic to prove it-God or truth is one so how can he teach different things? He teaches the same things and truth is only one.

the fault is with peoples inclinations-they want to find contradictions and the irony is that actually there are no contradictions at all.For eg In our religion some people call themselves "Vaishnavas", some "shaktas" and some "shaivas" but there isnt any difference-they are worshipping the same one with the same reasons.Yet the so called "Shaiva" will argue that Vishnu is different from Shiva and this form is superior to that etc etc.

God gave people choice and abundant opportunities through different religions but people distorted the fact and claimed oppositions, contradictions etc but actually there is similarity I never could understand why people discriminate without even trying to find out or understand what the other religion says.Religion is one ie God. these divisions are man made while actually they are Gods grace upon people

if there are any differences in religious teachings of Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity they are very minor and negligible.The core and essence of all teachings is same

if you read you will see that they point out to that one truth alone

Answer 2

Truth is independent of how many people are aware of it.

We all develop mental models in order to better understand truth.

As someone mentioned, "confirmation bias" is the tendency to interpret evidence in a manner that confirms our established model. Another way to describe this is that it's hard work to build models so we are resistant to be constantly tearing down the ones we have and building new ones. Because of this we'll hold onto our existing models as long as possible, even as we become aware of flaws.

However, another important part of the answer can be illustrated with the blind men and the elephant scenario. Imagine 3 blind man who describe their encounter with 3 different parts of the elephant (e.g., tail, leg, side). Their descriptions are vastly different from each other, but they are all true.

Answer 3

A glass containing some water, will attract two views.

1.It is filled with water, few will react and...
2. the glass is half empty, will be other's response.

Amazingly both the statements are TRUE.


Therefore I believe that the truth is not always one.

The moment you start thinking that what others believe in, may also be true, you become free of differences, you become more flexible to other's views, you become a solution to a problem rather than a problem yourself.

Answer 4

Truth is the object and mind is the eyes through which one sees the truth. Because of difference in mental set ups we view the same thing differently. A white ball would appear coloured depending upon the colour of the glass of the spectacles worn by the looker.

Answer 5

Truth for me is like 'You often move tons of dirt to find a single ounce of gold, but you don't look for the dirt_ you look for the gold.' It's the same way keeping it alive for ever and ever.

You never pay for the truth but get benefited for being bold and true .

Truth has surely different meanings for different people but it surely leads to the same goal which brings in you confidence, trust and above all the hope to be the best in all your relationships.

Answer 6

It is just like seven blind man trying to feel the elephant with their touches. The one who touched the legs found them as pillars, the one touched the tail, thought it to be a broom, The stomach resembled a stone wall, the trunk was like a hose pipe, the ears resembled huge fans. All were right to the parts they beheld with their hands but none was correct. Only a man with vision can describe the elephant in total. Likewise a self realised soul alone can realise the oneness of Truth.

Answer 7

Every thing is not right 100% in every where. It is changing according to place, persons, situations. It is a natural thing. But if all of us feel it is truth means truth. If not means not. That is on the basis of our thinking only.

Answer 8

Because people believe different things, but they all believe they are right so there truth is the only "one" so to say.

Answer 9

In the same way a single diamond can have 58 facets. It depends on the angle at which you view it. But then, are we certain that the conditional phrase is true: IS the truth "only one"? "What is truth? Is my truth the same as yours?" said Pontius Pilate.

Answer 10

Because the human mind has a tendency towards what is known as "confirmation bias". That is why, despite access to the same evidence, people often draw different conclusions.