08 Jul 16
Originally posted by josephwWe entertain opposite 'truths'. It is a truth for you that God exists. It's a truth for me that he doesn't.
...or it's not.
Right?
Where do we go from there? You are convinced you have the truth, but I match your conviction. All we have is our own understanding of truth, based on information that has persuaded us either way.
So yes, truth is truth, but there is no way to know for certain Joe which one of us has glimpsed it. (And I say 'glimpse' as I'm pretty certain neither of us possesses it).
Originally posted by Ghost of a DukeWhat would it even mean to 'posses' a truth? I guess you could name your cat 'truth', but even then, I suspect that cats posses us not the other way around.
So yes, truth is truth, but there is no way to know for certain Joe which one of us has glimpsed it. (And I say 'glimpse' as I'm pretty certain neither of us possesses it).
If you mean 'know the truth about something' then surely you contradicted yourself by first stating that you did think you know the truth about something.
If you mean know the whole truth and nothing but the truth, then you are coming dangerously close to 42.
Originally posted by josephwNo, not logical. Truth cannot sensibly be said to be 'not truth' whilst simultaneously not also being said to be 'truth'. So at a minimum truth is truth - which is a tautology. More accurately you could have said truth is truth or truth and not truth.
Either truth is truth or it's not. Perfectly logical. No?
Originally posted by Ghost of a DukeNo, it's not "a truth" for me and "a truth for you.
We entertain opposite 'truths'. It is a truth for you that God exists. It's a truth for me that he doesn't.
Where do we go from there? You are convinced you have the truth, but I match your conviction. All we have is our own understanding of truth, based on information that has persuaded us either way.
So yes, truth is truth, but there is no wa ...[text shortened]... e of us has glimpsed it. (And I say 'glimpse' as I'm pretty certain neither of us possesses it).
God exists or He doesn't. Truth is truth or it's not.
Originally posted by twhitehead"What would it even mean to 'posses' a truth?"
What would it even mean to 'posses' a truth? I guess you could name your cat 'truth', but even then, I suspect that cats posses us not the other way around.
If you mean 'know the truth about something' then surely you contradicted yourself by first stating that you did think you know the truth about something.
If you mean know the whole truth and nothing but the truth, then you are coming dangerously close to 42.
Or "know" the truth.
Originally posted by josephwA truth can be a lie when used without context, or when only part of the truth is used (half truth).
...or it's not.
Right?
I remember once in Vegas, I had a conversation with this really lovely woman, who said she didn't like Obama (who was first running for president) because of his plan to raise taxes. I told her that the plan was only on families who make at least 250,000 a year, which was a small percentage of the population. She didn't know what to say, and left it at that. But like I said, she was quite lovely (she was giving me a hot stone massage), and she actually tracked me down because I had forgotten my wallet when I left, which had a lot of cash and my debit card.
But that woman knew only a half-truth (probably circulated by some conservative outlet). So "truth" isn't always truth. For example, when I brought up Vegas, did you think I was implying either a hot date or night with a call girl? A bit of info left out: I was on my honeymoon, and my was also getting a message with me. Had I worded getting a message in a certain way, I could've made it seem like I was some playboy living it up.
So "truth" can actually be a lie, if the proper context is left out.
Originally posted by Ghost of a DukeWhere do we go from there? You are convinced you have the truth, but I match your conviction.
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I have seen this boast before. i don't think I have seen it demonstrated.
I don't think you can match the conviction of a Christian. The knowledge of God takes place in a realm deeper than the human mind. And it is something that cannot be taken away once touched.
There is even nothing for the receiving to boast about because he realizes that it is not of him. Bragging is excluded because the born again Christian knows that he is not the source of the internal witness going on in him that God is.
My opinion is that the unbeliever cannot match the strength of this conviction that God has been touched, tasted, and in communion with. The praise has to go to God and not the strength of the believer's will power.
As an searcher and unbeliever in Christ, I awoke with one view of life in the morning. In the evening I had another view of life. I was like a restless churning of the sea. There was no rest.
There is rest in receiving Christ as Lord.