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Not sure if we discussed this before, but I thought I’d ask the question. What is truth? People are searching for “the truth” all the time. What is it? And does it actually exist?
Hi Silent Dawning, It’s been awhile since I have been on here but was missing you all. As to your question, I have heard said that truth is things as they were, are, and will be. During his prayer in Gethsemane, Jesus tells God, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17) Jesus says he is the way, the truth and the Light. Scriptures say, “The truth will set you free.” He also says to test his word and if it bears good fruits you can know the truth. The lds church claims to be the only true church on the face of the earth. It claims they are the only ones who have the constant companion of the Holy Ghost, once you are baptized. They Book of Mormon, Bible, and Koran all claim they have the truth. So, we have to ask ourselves, “What’s bearing good fruit and working for us.
I did find this link on utube that gave an interesting discussion on truth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRuOK80Gv8Y Good queston to ask! The truth for me is that if I eat fried food my galbladder will act up. The truth for my husband is that Moroni’s promise did not work for him. Whatever brings long lasting happiness is truth for me. So far following Christ seems the best way for me.
As I am prone to do: “The One and Only TRUE Church” (
http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=142&hilit=truth “Truth. Error. Opinion. Revelation.” (
http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=626&hilit=truth “Why are these truths not self-evident?” (
http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1595&hilit=truth “One True Church” (
http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=382&hilit=true I’m sure there are more good posts and threads about defining truth, but I have to go to dinner with my family now.
🙂 SilentDawning wrote:Not sure if we discussed this before, but I thought I’d ask the question.
What is truth? People are searching for “the truth” all the time. What is it? And does it actually exist?
Yes, I think truth exists but it is so complex and inaccessible sometimes that what we generally end up with instead is actually a combination of half-truths, oversimplifications, unverifiable assumptions and theories, biased opinions, and popular myths. I see truth as basically the way things really happened or the way they really are at this point independent of how well we are able to perceive and understand them. To me, truth is almost like the word “good” because people generally have an idea of what it means to them but not everyone is going to agree on what exactly is true or not.
However, I don’t think the subjective and constantly changing nature of what is commonly accepted as true means that it doesn’t really matter that much simply because it’s all relative and somewhat uncertain anyway. Personally, I would rather at least try to face reality and understand things as well as I can with the information and time I have to work with even if I have to guess or admit I don’t know for sure what it all means sometimes. If I end up believing something that is wrong then I can live with that until I see a convincing reason why I should believe something else instead.
DevilsAdvocate wrote:Yes, I think truth exists but it is so complex and inaccessible sometimes that what we generally end up with instead is actually a combination of half-truths, oversimplifications, unverifiable assumptions and theories, biased opinions, and popular myths. I see truth as basically the way things really happened or the way they really are at this point independent of how well we are able to perceive and understand them. To me, truth is almost like the word “good” because people generally have an idea of what it means to them but not everyone is going to agree on what exactly is true or not.
Hence my belief I think I know nothing. For sure, there is truth with which we can be relatively assured, such as things measurable by multiple people, using scientific instruments (such as weight, for example). But when it comes to matters of religion, I find it’s true if I latch on to it as something that I think I should do, that is good.
I see different definitions of truth for different applications. Personal or spiritual truth, factual or verifiable physical truth. I think of “the church is ‘true'” as a statement similar to “a bicycle wheel is ‘true’.” It’s kind of a funny statement that could be better expressed in other words, but one set in tradition. Orson, I agree 100%. Of course, my signature line says it all for me.
Google for “epistemology”, there’s more of this stuff than you actually need, or need to know. And the great thing about it, is that like most Western philosophy, it provides no answers at all! 
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Classical-Definition-of-Kno.svg [/img]
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