APOLOGETICS TRUTH

JOHN 18:37-38a What is TRUTH? John 14:6 Is there a difference between the WAY, TRUTH, LIFE

TRUTH WHAT IS TRUTH SIMPLE QUESTION TO ASK HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER

TRUTH Definition: The quality or state of being true. That which conforms to reality, fact, or actuality. Do you think that is complete? Why?

TRUTH Definition leaves room for interpretation What is reality What is fact What is actuality How does perception effect the truth

TRUTH Paradox of the ball against the wall Col. 2:8 In order for truth to be defined properly it would have to be factually and logically correct In other words “TRUE”

TRUTH WHAT IS TRUTH NOT Error Self – contradictory Deception It could be true that someone could be deceptive but the deception is not true

TRUTH Publix Chocolate Moose Tracks Ice Cream is Delicious True or False?

SUBJECTIVE TRUTH vs OBJECTIVE TRUTH How can a statement be both True and False? I wasn’t talking about the object what is the object? I was talking about the subject (me)

SUBJECTIVE TRUTH vs OBJECTIVE TRUTH This is a Subjective Claim It is a claim about a Subject

SUBJECTIVE TRUTH vs OBJECTIVE TRUTH Publix Chocolate Moose Tracks Ice Cream is Medicine that Cures Diabetes. True or False?

SUBJECTIVE TRUTH vs OBJECTIVE TRUTH This is a Objective Claim It is a claim about a Object Objective Truth True for all people, in all places, at all times to whom the claim applies

SUBJECTIVE TRUTH vs OBJECTIVE TRUTH OBJECTIVE Either True or False Can be wrong About Things SUBJECTIVE NEITHER True or False Can’t be wrong About Feelings

SUBJECTIVE TRUTH vs OBJECTIVE TRUTH Examples of Subjective Truth Hair Color Food Choices (except Brussels Sprouts, (martian heads), those are just wrong) Media (Books, Movies, TV, etc…)

SUBJECTIVE TRUTH vs OBJECTIVE TRUTH Examples of Objective Truth Historical Events Math & Empirical Sciences Ethics and Morals Religions How can ethics and moral and religious truth be objective?

SUBJECTIVE TRUTH vs OBJECTIVE TRUTH Lets look at Moral and Ethic claims Atheists Say that Moral/Ethical Claims are All Relative This is called RELATIVISM

RELATIVISM In relativism, all points of view are equally valid and all truth is relative to the individual. “Something can be true for you, but not necessarily for me.”

RELATIVISM Lets look at claims and responses “Something can be true for you, but not necessarily for me.” This is an example of a “Self- Defeating Fallacy” It contradicts itself, so it must be false So “What if that isnt true for me?”

RELATIVISM Claim: You cant know truth. Response: How do you know that?

RELATIVISM Claim: There is no Truth. Response: Is that True?

RELATIVISM Claim: You shouldn’t judge. Response: That seems like a judgement.

RELATIVISM Claim: All truth is relative. Response: That’s not true for me…

RELATIVISM Claim: Only science can give us truth. Response: Is that a scientific truth? or Response: What lab experiment was done to conclude that?

RELATIVISM Claim: You shouldn’t force your morality on people. Response: Is that your moral view?(yes) Then, why are you forcing it on me?

RELATIVISM Claim: God forgives those that obey their conscience.

RELATIVISM Lets look at Religious Claims All Religious/Moral claims are Relative to the Subject Christianity is not based on my preference It is based on Historical Fact

RELATIVISM Either Jesus Lived a Perfect Life, Was Crucified, and Resurrected, Or He Wasnt

RELATIVISM So what does that say about the Bible? If There’s No Truth, Then No Book Written by an Atheist can be True Either

SUBJECTIVE TRUTH vs OBJECTIVE TRUTH OBJECTIVE Either True or False Can be wrong About Things SUBJECTIVE NEITHER True or False Can’t be wrong About Feelings

RELATIVISM vs ABSOLUTE What is relative? If Truth is relative to you, then what causes you to change your opinions? Are there such things as absolute? What would happen if everything were relative? then that would be absolutely true

RELATIVISM vs ABSOLUTE What would happen if everything were absolutely true? Then we couldn’t have such things as personal preferences or things that change.

RELATIVISM vs ABSOLUTE Examples: Positive 7 is always greater than positive 5. absolute or relative? Blue is a better color than green? absolute or relative? can I change my mind?

RELATIVISM vs ABSOLUTE Unfortunately more and more people cannot distinguish between absolute truths and relative truths. We put our feelings, preferences, etc.. above absolutes to make them more palatable.

RELATIVISM vs ABSOLUTE Example: someone saying “it is true for you that Jesus is the only way to God, but to a Muslim, Mohammad would be the only way.” What is wrong with that statement?

RELATIVISM vs ABSOLUTE Such statements ignore the logical possibility of having two “only- ways” to God. We have to be able to distinguish between the two.

RELATIVISM vs ABSOLUTE We cannot argue when absolutes and relatives are mixed up. We have to be absolutely sure about what it is we know.

RELATIVISM vs ABSOLUTE If there is such a thing as truth, then we should be able to find it. If truth cannot be known, then it probably doesn’t exist. But it does exist, because you are here I know that is true.

RELATIVISM vs ABSOLUTE If we are to determine if there is such a thing as truth apart from cultural and personal preferences, we must acknowledge that we are then aiming to discover something greater that ourselves.

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE So where does this knowledge of truth come from?

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Tradition Things that were taught to you parents, school, church, etc… You could also call this “Authority” If you are raised in a Hindu family, you’d most likely be a Hindu

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Reason We have a logical mind The Laws of logic Specifically the Law of Non- Contradiction Sometimes, we’re too emotionally attached to our views

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Experience Our Events/History Personal Encounters

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Emotion How we feel Stalin, Hitler, Suicide- bombers Emotions can inform us about truth.

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE General Revelation What we observe in the natural world Science/5 Senses Psalm 19 and Romans 1 claim the natural world proclaims the glory of God

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Special Revelation Specific information revealed by God in the Bible

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE What are your “Primary Sources of Knowledge?” Tradition Reason Experience Emotion General Revelation Special Revelation which do you tend to rely on?

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Generaliztion Catholics – Tradition (church doctrines) Philosphers – Reason Charismatics – Emotion, Experience Scientist – General Revelation (observation) Postmodernists – Experience (“works for me”)

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Which are Objective and which are Subjective? Tradition Reason Experience Emotion General Revelation Special Revelation

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Which are Objective and which are Subjective? Tradition Reason Experience Emotion General Revelation Special Revelation Subjective

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Which are Objective and which are Subjective? Tradition Reason Experience Emotion General Revelation Special Revelation Objective

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE How Do We Determine If Something Is True? Three Test: Test of Reason Test of Experience Test of Practice

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Test of Reason The Law of Non-Contradiction is one of the main ways we know things.

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Test of Practice Does it Work? Or do you have to borrow from other Worldviews

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Test of Experience. Does the Explanation match the facts of our observation? there aren’t many flat earth society members left… why?

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Test of Experience Cautions: “God told me _______” Don’t reply on experience when presenting the gospel. Experience can help you know, but not show.

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE Test of Experience Experience and observation can be helpful in pointing to an absolute, but we should not base beliefs solely on it.

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE So what does that say about faith? Is it Faith vs Reason? Should we have blind faith?

FAITH Biblical Usage: Trust exhibited after becoming convinced of the evidence. Believing because of not in spite of Faith and Facts are both necessary. If either are missing, it misses the Biblical mark

FAITH Instead of the word “Faith” use: Trust Conviction Definition: “ Active Trust is what you have good reason to believe is true.”

FAITH Mark 2:9-11 “Know” Acts 2:36-28 Know followed by Repent

BLIND FAITH Some say the more we know the less we will have to take on faith… Hopefully we find the bones of Jesus!

FAITH So why do we fall into Relativism? Why is our culture bent on Relativism? NO RESPONSIBILITY!

FAITH Romans 1 says that people “exchange the truth of God for a lie.” People want to live how they want to live, without an absolute authority.

FAITH When your philosophical system does not have God as the starting point, the your philosophical system will fail to explain reality.

FAITH If we ever hope to determine if there is such a thing as truth apart from cultural and personal preferences, we must acknowledge that we are then aiming to discover something greater than ourselves, something that transcends culture and individual inclinations.

FAITH To do this is to look beyond ourselves and outside of ourselves. In essence, it means we are looking for God. God would be truth, the absolute and true essence of being and reality who is the author of all truth. If you are interested in truth beyond yourself, then you must look to God.

FAITH For the Christian, the ultimate expression of truth is found in the Bible, in Jesus who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life..." (John 14:6). Of course, most philosophers and skeptics will dismiss His claim, but for the Christian, He is the mainstay of hope, security, and guidance. Jesus, who walked on water, claimed to be divine, rose from the dead, and said that He was the truth and the originator of truth.

FAITH If Jesus is wrong, then we should ignore Him. But, if He is right, then it is true that we should listen to Him. The eyewitnesses wrote what they saw. They were with Him. They watched Him perform many miracles, heal the sick, calm a storm with a command, and even rise from the dead. Either you believe or dismiss these claims.

FAITH Truth conforms to reality. Jesus performed many miracles and rose from the dead.

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