An Introduction to Truth

A presentation for the mentor program of ministry training and theological study at the National Association of Christian Ministers.

http://www.nacministers.com/mentorprogram.htm

By Elder M. Mooney

All Rights Reserved. Permission to copy or redistribute is granted under the conditions listed here:

http://nacministers.blogspot.com/p/permissions-of-use-by-ministers-and.html

There is a common statement in the world today that sounds

like this, “What's true for me may not be true for you..."

• Upon hearing such a thing, it may seem like this is a good explanation for why people believe

different things, and a great attitude to hold in order to enjoy peaceful interpersonal human

relations. However, upon greater consideration this statement begins to reveal

major inconsistencies.

– For example, what if I decide that gravity is true for most people, but not for me, and

proceed to jump from a roof? I would soon discover that I am subjected to the truth of

the existence of gravity no matter how much I deny it. Anyone who would deny this and

choose to jump from a roof would likely cause us to question their sanity. Why? The

answer seems to be because the majority of humans in the world would claim the denial

of gravity on our planet to be inconsistent with their experiences with reality.

Introduction to truth: Part 1. National Association of Christian Ministers

What are the implications here?

We can identify at least 3:

• 1) Reality is a concept which people claim exists, and they claim to be able to identify their

experiences with it through one or more of their five senses (seeing, hearing, tasting,

touching, smelling).

Introduction to truth: Part 1. National Association of Christian Ministers

What are the implications here?

We can identify at least 3:

• 2) Based upon perceived favorable and unfavorable outcomes associated with these

experiences, people tend to form absolutes, probabilities, and heuristics.

– Absolutes are things that seem unwavering and always consistent with the same

outcomes.

– Probabilities are things that may or may not occur in cause/effect relationships.

– Heuristics are mental shortcuts to making decisions based upon previous experiences.

• 3) In any given sequence of events, desirable and undesirable outcomes exist.

Perspectives of that which is “right” are based upon the desires held by people anticipating

and or experiencing them. For these reasons, people have all sorts of ideas about the definition

of truth.

Introduction to truth: Part 1. National Association of Christian Ministers

If we are to categorize truth, there seems to be at least two

standards: objective and subjective truth.

• Objective truth suggests that such exists apart from human experiences,

observations, or definitions. In other words, objective truth stands alone as true

reality, without the distortions of human biases and perceptions of its meaning

(Objective, 2006).

• Subjective truth suggests that truth is defined by norms, and therefore is subject to

our experiential interpretations of its meaning, along with our assessments of

personal values (Truth, 2007). It is uniquely individual in its scope; thereby, making

it cognitively and privately observed. In this vein, it may be described or shared

with others, but it remains as experientially biased information that is not

objectively observable and therefore unknowable by others (Subjective, 2009).

Introduction to truth: Part 1. National Association of Christian Ministers

Reflective questions for part 2

• Is truth objective or subjective?

• Is truth singular or plural (“truth” or “truths”)?

Introduction to truth: Part 1. National Association of Christian Ministers