Isn't truth relative?

Question

One of the questions asking about the difference between an atheist and agnostic someone on there - Bob T or someone I don't know said Both are wrong. There is a God. He wants a relationship with each of His people. He is the Creator and the Source of truth. He is the Author of the Plan of Salvation. He is my Lord.

Why is this needed?

Who is to say that the bible is true other than your faith?

I am cool with faith - but it isn't proof - hands down PROOF. It is simply the truth for you. Why does it HAVE to be the truth for me as well?

Why is there always the line that needs to be crossed?

I have no problem really with Christians personally, or them praying for me. Everyone has a right to their religion and life path. But I still don't get and probably never will why some individuals feel that not only do they have the only ticket to spiritual salvation and to top it off they have to declare it out loud -

I want a real answer - not a bunch of Xtian bashing.

I just want to know - why is there a need to insert your truth - into other people's reality?

**** NOTE ****

I realize I am using a mass generalization - and not all Christians are like this. Thank you.

Travis, I don't feel you were rude, you were conveying a point.

However, what I am meaning to say is that what is true to you is not always true to me - as you can say it is 100 degrees outside and I can say it is 82 degrees outside. Now of course we are both right assuming you are in Vegas and I am say... in California.

When you break down the specification - and say it is 100 degrees in Las Vegas - and it is - I can't refute this.

How ever saying Jesus saves - this can be true - and I can say Diana saves and this could be true. However we have no real empirical evidence either way. People have said that there is - but honestly... If there were we wouldn't be debating this.

I don't understand though why a christian needs to come to me to try to convert me by brining in the truth. For one it isn't very smart in that when you tell someone they are "wrong" they are likely to be defensive - and two -well the same issue as earlier about truth being 'relatively relative' ;)

Answer 1

Good question Tang. And I'm not going to try and answer it because you seem to have a good handle on it yourself!!! But, don't you really hate it when Christians try to shove their "TRUTH" down your throat???

Answer 2

The answer is no, truth is not relative and will never conform to the standards of mortals. To some, there is overwhelming proof, while to others it is speculative and conjectural. The real answer is a spiritual reality, but mortal thought is not comfortable with this yet in this age, and so tried to kill the truth on the cross. All people must find their own way and in their own time and not by someone else's timetable or specification. You can lead a horse to water, but can't make it drink. The same is with mortal thought.

Answer 3

"Truth is Truth."
Truth is observed by human beings according to the level of consciousness they are given within that moment.
There are seven levels of consciousness, and there are seven levels of "Wisdom".
Man applies the consciousness or "Wisdom" for the necessary understanding needed within that moment.

If you are looking out a 12 inch X 12 inch window you will see what the window will allow you to see.
If you are looking out a 12 foot X 12 foot window you will see
what the window will allow you to see.
Which does man prefer a 12 inch window view or a twelve foot window view.
Consciousness coupled with wisdom allows a greater understanding of an aspect of Truth.

As Wisdom grows in man a larger aspect of Truth is revealed.
It is possible to be Graced with enough Wisdom that the view for man would be like setting in a glass cube observing 360 degrees in all directions. This is very rare, yet is obtainable by man.
In this state, ask a question and the answer shall be given.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. That is all that I can say!

This is the true birthright of all mankind.
Good hunting!

Answer 4

Our perception of our reality is how we define "Truth" to begin with. Most people do not step outside of their box to find out what it smells like outside... they simply assume it's bad because someone else told them it was so. It appears to me that it is an ego problem... insecurity... to think that one has Absolute Truth and it's solely their job to deliver it to other people without evidence or reason. The Truth is, we only find pieces of the puzzle and if we don't work together we won't see the whole picture. If you horde the pieces you have found, you miss out as well. If you try to force pieces that don't fit, you end up looking foolish and will be asked to leave the table... doesn't matter if you have any pieces that actually fit...

Agreed, faith is only evidence for the individual. This does not make it Proof that can be presented to others. Once a person realizes this, they realize (or should realize) that their religion no longer matters, but it is what a person does for others as well as themselves that matters. They can declared they are saved all they like... but in the end it is not they who dictates who is or isn't saved... or if there is any need to be saved (to which, I don't feel there is any reason to be saved from a life that was created by this God to begin with... that's like saying I need to be saved from my loving parents).

I don't know how real this answer will come across to you... but it's a sincere answer based on what I see in your question.

Answer 5

I don't believe so; I think there are absolute truths, and for example the question of whether or not there is a magic god has a definite answer. It's an absolute truth. There either is or there isn't; there is no middle ground. The law of the excluded middle applies here. Don't give the Xtians so much credit; their religion is hokey and ridiculous. There are questions that can be asked but cannot be answered. This doesn't necessitate that relativism applies; sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't - but when something can be "reduced to absurdity", then we consider it disproven. Christianity comes prepackaged as absurdity, so that saves us the effort.

Answer 6

I am a christian but I am not going to try to convert you (you've made it clear you do not want that), but I am going to disagree with you about the nature of truth. I won't use the Bible, just logic. Truth is always absolute, it is unavoidable. There is no such thing as your truth or my truth. 2plus2 equals 4 for me and 4 for you. If Bob is diagnosed with cancer then it is true for him and everyone else in the world that he has cancer. The statement that truth is relative itself is a logically flawed statement. I will show you why. First of all are you saying that it is absolutely true that truth is relative? If so your statement refutes itself. Or I may ask you, "Is it relative that truth is relative?-if so, truth may be absolute. What we are really asking is if there is a God? and what is his nature? If there isn't a God, then that becomes the foremost absolute, and if there is a God then that becomes the foremost absolute. If there is a God his nature is not dependant upon us defining it. Hence, God (no matter what he is like) is not yours to define. He is not your truth. If God exists we do not define him as we go and make up what he is like or not like. I am not going to tell you why I have chosen Christ for you do not want that to happen, but all I wanted to illustrate to you is that truth is not relative it is always absolute. Our behavior and opinions of course are relative, but the actual truth whether we know it or not is not relative. We do not define truth, we find it. Our beliefs are either true or they are not. It does not matter whether they are ours, whether we like them, or whether they taste good or not. We do not own truth and paint it as we go. I hope I wasn't to straight forward, and I am beginning to dislike more and more this funnel of communication, but I know it is not always well received to disagree with the asker, so I hope I wasn't rude in any way, and I would just like to convey my humility when it comes to the greatest question there is God and what he is about? i still struggle with it, I just couldn't avoid or deny Christ. He was enough for me once I got past my ego and past, but I do understand where you are coming from as it relates to the behavior of some of my brothers and sisters of the faith. They would do better to study the life of Jesus and know him actually instead of thumping the Bible over people's head and saying now do you believe. Christ said the world would recognize christians by their alien like love, and it would compell. It is sad that we are doing a bad job of this in this pop culture.

Answer 7

I am not a christian, but of a faith much older than it is and Judaism. You are right in much of what you state for the only ones "pushing" their own concepts are the religious and NOT the Lord in heaven. The "LORD" to "us" is not this "Lord" of the christians, Muslims or Jews, as Jesus stated when he was asked about being the son of David. For those "wise" enough to discern truth, they will find out that many times Jesus did not like being called the son of David. (Matt 22:41-46)

There is but ONE truth. That which the Lord in heaven GAVE. None else. Lies are not truth and nomatter how many times MANKIND organizes religions to suit themselves and then say they are OF the Lord in heaven will never make them SO...

Answer 8

yes! Thank you! Truth is relative. What I believe is true may not be what you believe is true! And when one religion claims their way is the ONLY way, then that is the start of hate, confusion, wars and bitterness! The Bible is true for those who believe it. But THE God/Goddess is the same universally...and all may reach Deity in their own way. I firmly believe this. I have said this before and I will say it again--THE ONE AND ONLY God/Goddess does not belong to a religion!!--Blessings!

Answer 9

when you say there is no proof that's true but I liken to a court case like the Simpsom trial where there is a mountain of circumstantial evidence but still verdict without exacting proof comes in wrong. yes some truth is relative usaully but there are some absolutes maybe we should just say where the truth lies is also found the cousin of truth; fallacy .

Answer 10

to those who believe that the truth is relative... truth can be mold to what shape they want... and find some to agree with them.

I think there is 3 kinds of truth
Ultimate...
Relative...
and Illusional truth....