Types of Truth
Some people may wonder why we would even bother with trying to define categories of truth. Perhaps they think that “Truth is simply the Truth.” Truth is what is true.
However, it is not that simple. In our societies around the globe, at different times we even tend to see people gravitate or move toward extremes on a “truth continuum.”
Absolute truth – at this polar extreme, people would feel that for every question there exists an absolute answer—an absolute truth.
Relative truth – at this opposite extreme, people would tend to think that nothing is absolute—truth always depends on other circumstances.
Observable truth – this would include things that we determine to be true based on our personal observations. Often these are things that we can discover with our senses or measure repeatedly. But, sometimes our observations are inaccurate, so observable truth may not always be “true.”
Our senses are flawed. An easy example is when we have any eye-witness accounts of an incident or accident. Law enforcement officers are highly trained to take witness accounts. They tell us that two or more witnesses that have observed the exact same event, at the exact same moment, perhaps from different angles or locations around the accident, almost never have the same set of observable facts about the event. It was the same event, but viewed through different sets of personal filters in the process of observation and discernment of what occurred.
From the two extremes we noted above, absolute truth versus relative truth, I want you to realize that both do exist. It is not a matter of one or the other. In discerning truth, we need to develop a capacity to recognize the difference.
Next, we need to understand a couple of distinctions within each category. In other words, we will consider that that there is more than one type of “absolute” truth, and more than one time of “relative” truth.
From this, we will create a “truth matrix” which can serve as a tool in our spiritual walk with Christ. We will continue this discussion in a couple of days.
Blessings,
Larry
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