Absolute or relative? – Evidence and answers (2023)

• in pzuker
• February 18, 2007
• 23h33

Is truth relative or absolute? Is there such a thing as a universal, objective truth? Can any group or individual honestly say they have the truth? The postmodern view popular today is that truth is relative. Christianity, on the other hand, is built on the premise that truth is absolute and the teachings of the Bible are universal. The idea that truth is relative presents one of the greatest challenges facing the church. A survey of the American public found that 66% agreed with the statement "There is no absolute truth".1Among youth, 70 percent believe that there is no absolute truth; two people can define "truth" in contradictory ways and both are right.2Relativism has also made significant advances in the Church. According to the most recent poll, 53% of adults in the Church believe there is no such thing as absolute truth. Among church youth, the survey shows that 57% do not believe there is an objective standard of truth.3For two millennia the Church has been the guardian of truth. The Church cannot allow its foundation to be destroyed by relativism. It is important for Christians to understand the nature of truth and to think relativistically.

Absolute truth

Truth defined as absolute has the following properties.4

• Truth is discovered, not invented
• The truth is transcultural: it can be transmitted by different cultures.
• The truth is immutable: it can be passed on over time.
• Beliefs cannot alter a statement of truth, no matter how sincere one may be.
• The truth is not affected by the attitude of those who profess it.
• All truths are absolute
• The truth is recognizable

For truth to be absolute and contain these qualities, it must be grounded in a source that is personal, immutable, and sovereign over all creation.

Postmoderner Relativismus

The common view of truth in our culture today is that objective, universal, absolute truth is implausible. Those who stick to it are often looked down on. Postmodern relativists base their understanding of truth on the naturalistic world view. The truth therefore has its origin in man. This leads to conclusions very different from those that defend absolute truth. They think:

• Truth is created, not discovered. Truth is a matter of perspective, and each culture or individual defines for themselves what truth is.
• Once the truth is invented, there is no universal cross-cultural truth. Each culture or individual will define truth differently according to their background and perspective.
• The truth changes. Because it is inseparable from individuals and cultures that are constantly changing, truth is constantly changing.
• Because truth is a matter of a group's or an individual's perspective, one's beliefs can alter a statement of truth.
• Once an individual establishes the truth, the truth is affected by the attitude of the one who confesses it.
• There can be no absolute truth.
• Absolute truth is not recognizable. Absolute, objective truth cannot be known because it is built on the changing basis of human perception. Since each individual's perception is different, the truth cannot be known.

Jim Leffel summarizes postmodern relativism as saying that truth is not determined by external reality, but is decided by a group or individual for themselves. Truth is not discovered but produced. The truth is constantly changing, not just in small matters of taste or fashion, but also in crucial matters of spirituality, morality, and reality itself.5Leading postmodern thinker John Caputo writes, "The cold, hermeneutic truth is that there is no truth, no master name to hold things captive."6Both men embody the postmodern belief that there is no such thing as objective truth, leading to the conclusion that all claims to truth are equal, even if contradictory. Before we can present evidence for the existence of God and Jesus Christ, apologists today must espouse absolute truth. In the following sections I will build arguments for absolute truth.

Slippery slide of relativism

The philosophy of relativism must be rejected for several reasons. First, postmodern relativism is built on a naturalistic worldview. Relativism is a logical conclusion when man is the measure of truth and God does not exist. However, the evidence suggests that we live in a theistic universe. In a theistic universe, God, whose nature is truth, created a universe built upon His truth, which He imparts to His creatures. Second, relativism is a self-defeating position. A self-defeating statement is one that doesn't live up to its own standard. To say, "There are no absolute truths" is actually a statement of absolute truth. To say "there is no truth" is an assertion of truth. When a relativist says, "All truth is relative," we must ask him, "Is that a relative statement?" If so, why should we take his statement seriously? When a relativist claims that all truth is relative, and believes that everyone should uphold this principle, he has only made a statement of absolute truth. What we learn from the previous point leads us to another example of how relativism fails. Saying "there is no truth" requires recognizing a truth statement. The truth that there is no truth is self-defeating. So the truth exists and it is undeniable. The fourth error of relativism is the rejection of reason as a means of determining truth. Modern rationalism was utopian in that it believed in the possibility of establishing all truth through reason alone. Postmodern relativists reacted with great skepticism towards human reason. Relativists believe that humans cannot know the true nature of reality, individuals are shaped by their culture, and no one can be objective. Therefore, many reject the idea that truth can be reached through reasoning. The problem faced by relativists is that all theories are derived by reasoning. Theories are tested when evidence is gathered and presented in a coherent and logical manner. In order for postmodernists to draw their conclusions, the use of reason is necessary. If the reason is not valid, it destroys any theory that requires us to arrive at it through rational thought. In addition, language can convey objective truths. Based on the naturalistic worldview, postmodern relativists believe that language is human and communication is limited to the context of a person's particular culture. They then come to the conclusion that language cannot convey objective truth. The language, however, comes from God and is inherent in his personality and essence. Through his word he created the universe (Genesis 1:3 and John 1:1). All creation finds its origin in the Word of God. Humanity uses language because we were created in God's image. Through language God creates and maintains a relationship with man. It is true that there is a difference between the language of God and the language of man. Human language has fallen and is therefore limited. However, God continues to communicate with mankind through the language of His Word and through His Son. Postmodern relativists view language as a prison because it is a cultural construct and believe that there is no transcendent meaning outside of the text. This is true when God does not exist. Human language may have gaps and limitations, but it is an exaggeration to say that language cannot convey objective truth. Veith says: “... human language is a sign, a trace of a divine language. The language can get in the way at times, but it's insightful. Meaning is not only subjective; the outside world itself is grounded in the Word of God, which defines its form and gives it objective meaning. When we study science, we not only invent mental models, but in a sense we read the divine language written in the universe. Language is not just a prison; The language of God can come in from outside and give us freedom”.7The world is built on the Word of God, which includes meaning and objective truths. God designed language, and while human language is flawed, it is ingrained in his nature and capable of conveying truths about his world. Truth exists outside of language. It exists in the mind of God.

How to find out the truth

How do you find out the truth? Truth is discovered using self-evident laws of logic called first principles. Two fundamental principles are the law of consistency and the law of the excluded middle.

The law of consistency states that two opposite statements cannot be true in the same sense at the same time.8For example, if we make the statement "God exists," then its opposite, "God does not exist," cannot be true at the same time. If one is true, the other must be false. Humans are constructed in such a way that we cannot believe conflicting claims. This is a universal law that cannot be disproved. Every statement of truth presupposes that its converse cannot be true. Postmodern relativists and pantheists reject this law, but that is not the same as disproving it. Those who claim that the law of consistency does not apply to religion or morality make a statement of truth that cannot be disputed. To refute the law, they must appeal to the law itself. "Any meaningful statement about anything, no matter how enigmatic, vague, paradoxical, or imprecise the statement may be, if it is to be true, implicitly appeals to the principle that precludes its denial as false."9The second law is the law of the excluded middle, which states that something either is or is not and there is no third alternative.10The statement "God exists" is true or false. There is no third choice. Not only do we use first principles to discover truth, we also use our senses to observe the world around us. We draw conclusions from these observations. This discovery process is called induction. Through logic and observation, we can draw conclusions that are fairly certain, but not absolutely certain. For example, we can be pretty sure that the sun will rise and set tomorrow. However, we cannot be absolutely sure because we do not know the future perfectly. But we act according to our reasonably well-founded knowledge and make our plans. Even if we are not absolutely sure, we can discover the truth and draw credible conclusions. Postmodern relativists exaggerate when they say that truth cannot be known. The truth is undeniable, objective and absolute. The truth is also narrow because its opposite is false.

what is truth

Truth is defined as that which corresponds to its subject matter or describes an actual state of affairs.11So truth is what corresponds to reality. Truth is inherently absolute and narrow because it excludes its opposite. Although relativists argue that we cannot truly know reality, this is an exaggerated and contradictory assumption. It is necessary to know reality in order to be able to question the nature of reality itself. We also live in a theistic universe with a God participating in his creation and understanding its character. Therefore, what he says about his creation is true and authoritative. God created man in his image with the ability to understand truth and know reality. The correspondence theory is supported in both the Old and New Testaments.

The definition of truth in the Old Testament

The Hebrew word for truth is emet and includes concepts of support and stability. From this root we derive a double concept of truth as fidelity and factual conformity.12Emet can also mean what is in accordance with reality as opposed to anything that is false or misleading. Emet can also mean what is authentic, trustworthy or just right.13

The New Testament definition

The New Testament word for truth is aletheia and retains the Hebrew concept of truth. Truth is defined as agreement with facts. It also carries with it the ideas of authenticity and resistance to untruths. John develops his unique meaning in his gospel where truth relates to the reality of God the Father revealed in Jesus the Son. John's understanding of truth presupposes a corresponding understanding of truth, but also builds on it theologically by adding concrete content about the manifestation of truth in Jesus Christ (John 7:28 and 8:16).14Both the Old and New Testaments emphasize that truth is consistent with reality and is the opposite of lies and error. The biblical view of truth involves notions of timeliness, fidelity, and integrity. Truth is not a cultural construct of the Jewish people or Christians. God presented His truth to them and they were expected to live in accordance with that truth.15

Biblical Character of Truth

The truth is revealed by God

Truth finds its source in God, who is personal and moral. Paul says in Romans 1 and 2 that God revealed himself through creation and human consciousness. God has also revealed himself through the Bible, his special revelation. 2 Timothy 3:16 states, "All Scripture is inspired by God, and useful for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and for training in righteousness..." God, embodying truth, communicates his truth through language , which exists eternally with God. He uses this language to convey truth to creatures made in his image.

Objective truth exists and is knowable

Objective truth is truth that does not depend on any individual's perspective or attitude. God's truth is objective because truth is rooted in God's nature, which is truth. He is the source of truth, and his truths are true no matter what beliefs or attitudes an individual or culture may have toward them. Those who do not accept God's truth will be judged accordingly. God is fair in judging people because his truth is objective and discernible. Consequently, everyone is responsible for responding to it.

Biblical truth is absolute

God's truth is absolute, that is, it is true without exception and does not change. Beliefs change, but truth itself is unchanging. God is the author of absolute truth because he is eternal and his disposition does not change.

The truth is universal

God's truth applies to all peoples and cultures at all times because he governs all creation (Philippians 2:6). His authority and truths apply to all realms. In the missionary commission, Jesus explains: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go into all the world and make disciples and teach them to obey all that I have commanded you.” In the Great Commission, Jesus declares His dominion over all creation and the authority of His laws extends to and is to be obeyed by all people.

the truth is eternal

Isaiah 40:8 declares, “The grass withers and the flower withers, but the word of God endures forever.” God's truth is rooted in His eternal nature. What was true two thousand years ago is still true today. The application of truth will change, but truth itself remains forever.

the truth is exclusive

Truth is narrow and exclusive, for everything opposed to it is false. God declares in Isaiah 43:10, "...before me there was no god formed, nor shall there be another after me." God says that He alone is God and there are no other gods. Worshiping another divine being is an act of living in falsehood. The truth is precise and cannot be deviated from. The law of consistency states that two opposite statements cannot be true in the same sense at the same time. If God claims he alone is God, polytheism cannot be true at the same time. The law of consistency is a universal law because God's truth is exclusive and narrow.

the truth is consistent

All statements of truth are coherent and consistent with each other. "In a universe subject to the dominion of a Creator God, truth is seen as an interconnected and coherent whole."16It is not God's nature to teach what is contradictory, illogical, or wrong. Therefore statements of truth do not contradict each other.

The truth is comprehensive

Although the Bible does not speak exhaustively on subjects such as geology, cosmology, philosophy, and other subjects, the Bible presents truths in a variety of areas. Biblical truth is consistent with truth discovered in science, psychology, and philosophy. God's truth is not fragmented but fits into a whole that is consistent and unified with His creation.

Diploma

The Bible, along with human logic and experience, supports the idea that truth is absolute and not relative. Truth is narrow because it rejects its opposite. It is universal, immutable and recognizable. Absolute truth finds its source in God, who is eternal, unchanging, and sovereign over all creation. God, who is truth, imparts truth to beings made in his image. Relativism must be rejected because the evidence shows that we live in a theistic universe. Because naturalism's worldview is wrong, the foundation on which relativists build is not solid. Relativism is also self-defeating, impractical, and contrary to biblical teaching.

bibliography

Beckwith, Francis and Koukl, Gregory. Relativism: Feet planted firmly in the air. Grand Rapids, MI.: Baker Books, 1998.
CS Lewis, C.S. The Abolition of Man. New York: Macmillan Publishing 1955. _______. Pure Christianity. New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1952.
Caputo, John. This is only your interpretation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001.
Geisler, Norman and Turek, Frank. I don't have enough faith to be an atheist. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004.
GROOTHIUS, Doug. truth decadence. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
McCallum, Dennis eds. The Death of Truth. Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 1996.
McDowell, Josh and Hostetler, Bob. The new tolerance. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1998.
Netland, Harald. Meeting of religious pluralism. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001.
Veith, Gene Edward. postmodern times. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway

footnotes

1. Gene Edward Veith, Postmodern Times, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1994), 16.
2. Barna, Third Millenium Teens, (Ventura, CA.: Barna Research Group, 1999), 44.
3. Josh McDowell und Bob Hostetler, The New Tolerance (Wheaton, IL.: Tyndale House Publishers, 1998) 172-173
4. Norman Geisler und Frank Turek, I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Wheaton, IL.: Crossway Books, 2004), 37-38.
5. Dennis McCallum Hrsg., The Death of Truth, (Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 1996), „Our New Challenge: Postmodernism“, de Jim Leffel, 31.
6. John Caputo, Radical Hermeneutics: Repetition, Deconstruction, and the Hermeneutic Project (Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 1987), 192.
7. Gene Edward Veith, Postmodern Times (Wheaton, IL.: Crossway Books, 1994), 67-68.
8. Norman Geisler und Ron Brooks, When Skeptics Ask (Wheaton, IL.: Victor Books, 1989), 271.
9. Harold Netland, Encountering Religious Pluralism (Downers Grove, IL.: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 296.
10. Norman Geisler und Frank Turek, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Wheaton, IL.: Crossway Books, 2004), 62.
11. Norman Geisler und Frank Turek, I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Wheaton, IL.: Crossway Books, 2004), 37.
12. Roger Nicole, “The Biblical Concept of Truth,” in Scripture and Truth, ed. DA Carson and John Woodridge, (Grand Rapids, MI.: Zondervan, 1983), 290.
13. Ibid, 290.
14. DM Crump, "Truth" in Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, ed. Joel Green, Scott Mcknight and I Howard Marshall (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1992), 859.
15. Douglas Groothuis, Truth Decay (Downers Grove, Illinois: 2000), 64.
16. Arthur Holmes, All Truth Is God's Truth (Grand Rapids, MI.: Eerdmans Publishing, 1977), 7, zitiert in Doug Groothius, Truth Decay (Downers Grove, IL.: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 80.

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