tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post1257545189332759401..comments2023-10-24T07:03:42.942-05:00Comments on vtmbottomline: WAXING PHILOSOPHICAL AND WALKING IN TRUTHPaul Burlesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-32830552354512846452011-03-08T12:32:28.821-06:002011-03-08T12:32:28.821-06:00...For we know in part and we prophesy in part. Bu......For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I <b>understood</b> as a child, I <b>thought</b> as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, <b>but then face to face</b>. Now I know in part, <b>but then I shall know just as I am also known</b>... - 1 Cor. 13.<br /><br />I'm a history major and can without a doubt say that knowledge of all things is subjective in the mind of man. The Truth given by God is a part that we can know but only in part. Our understanding is limited by the world and body in which we live - God is not limited by either. <br /><br />Absolute truth can only be known by Him that KNOWS every detail absolutely.<br /><br />I. ParksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-41329546985144247952011-03-04T15:57:03.765-06:002011-03-04T15:57:03.765-06:00Paul, I am responding to your request in the comme...Paul, I am responding to your request in the comments of the next blog posting. If this is not what you were referring to please correct me.<br /><br />Your thoughts in this posting are quite solid. I would not disagree with anything just add some perspective on a couple of points.<br /><br />First, while I believe the Bible does provide us truth that reflects reality, our understanding of it, as you allude to as well, is tainted by the very influences you mention. So, while the Bible gives us a truthful understanding of reality it is difficult for us to grasp it. This leads to much of the disputation over what the Bible is actually saying and as I have learned personally I need to be careful not to become too firm in some of my interpretations because the Holy Spirit always seems to be refining that understanding in surprising ways. Examples for me are my understanding of how women and men relate in the family, the church and other situations. Another example is my understanding of what "evangelism" is different today than earlier in my life. I certainly hope that these are more mature and accurate today than earlier in my life.<br /><br />I heartily agree that this does lead to transformed lives when it happens but I must admit to feeling somewhat discouraged that we are corporately moving adequately in that direction. It may be because we are living in such a tumultuous time that it is difficult to see progress being made among Jesus followers. <br /><br />Nevertheless, I think you have captured the idea quite well.travellernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-88863398230115379672011-02-28T18:35:09.926-06:002011-02-28T18:35:09.926-06:00Aussie J,
That IS good.
When you offer a word of...Aussie J,<br /><br />That IS good.<br /><br />When you offer a word of caution, I'm advised by my own mind and heart to heed it. I'm going to be careful in my thinking and continue to look at it all.<br /><br />You're right..there are many important subjects for us to ponder. We can leave this one lest it become as useless as angels on pinheads. <br /><br />I'm already on to other things in my post writing. Thanks for being a vital part.Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-43800383275727980922011-02-28T17:57:20.176-06:002011-02-28T17:57:20.176-06:00Paul,
Thank you for your response.
I agree with ...Paul,<br /><br />Thank you for your response.<br /><br />I agree with you when you say"... it is saying "You shall know [intimately be related to] the Truth [The One Who is Himself Truth.] and the One Who is Truth will set you free."<br /><br />From the spiritual perspective, God IS truth revealed in Jesus Christ,who is the object of both faith, as well as truth, but there is a subjective element,to this as Kierkegaard acknowledges,"... seeking the truth means that the seeker himself is changed, so that he may become the place where the object of his search can be.<br /><br />I love that! <br /><br />A discussion on this subject would exhaust the time I have left to even consider the matter!Aussie Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-88535496940305779592011-02-28T15:39:37.310-06:002011-02-28T15:39:37.310-06:00Aussie J,
I may not be saying well what I'm m...Aussie J,<br /><br />I may not be saying well what I'm meaning. In fact, I'm still figuring out the best way of saying it. So thanks for asking your question.<br /><br />I'm trying to learn to speak about truth as being a correct statement about Absolute Reality [God] because I'm trying to avoid thinking of it as if it's a thing within itself. [Apart from reality or God Himself.]<br /><br />It's like when the scriptures say.."You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free." Too many times I'm afraid people think of that as a statement about this thing called 'truth' or 'beliefs' or a' written record.' <br /><br />I think it is saying "You shall know [intimately be related to] the Truth [The One Who is Himself Truth.] and the One Who is Truth will set you free."<br /><br />So, I'm wondering.. IS Truth “some thing,” that is itself apart from God? If so, perhaps we can refer to Truth as absolute. But if Truth is a correct statement about the absolute reality of God, [ All reality is found in God of course.] we can have" CONFIDENCE" in the "Truth" and "FAITH" in God. <br /><br />I certainly don't believe correct statements about Absolute Reality is left to just anyone's opinion. Only God is the source of what is correct statements about Himself. I accept scripture as those totally correct statements that He has given about Himself as revealed in the absolute reality of the person of Christ. [In the original manuscripts.] <br /><br />The only thing relative that I think I mentioned in the post is the relative nature of man's wisdom or the world's wisdom. This is if "Relative" means "existing or possessing a specified characteristic only in comparison to something else." The comparison is the worlds wisdom compared to God's wisdom. <br /><br />So, I say again, Truth that is truth will correctly speak of absolute reality and it is from God Himself.<br /><br />I may not be making any sense and am wide open to your thoughts about it. In fact, I'm open to being incorrect here.<br /><br />I REALLY desire your thoughts here. And anyone else's.Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-60667445148476159402011-02-28T14:32:20.257-06:002011-02-28T14:32:20.257-06:00Paul,
If I am understanding correctly, your philo...Paul,<br /><br />If I am understanding correctly, your philosophical approach to truth allows truth to be relative?<br /><br />Am I reading correctly when I understand the concept you are proposing as truth is fraught with uncertainty and indistinct?<br /><br />And that: If there are no absolutes regarding truth, it becomes a matter of subjectivism, rather than objectivism?Aussie Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-55471386371403598992011-02-28T06:21:46.839-06:002011-02-28T06:21:46.839-06:00All,
I think Christiane has nailed it when she sa...All,<br /><br />I think Christiane has nailed it when she said you can get into a lot of deep philosophy of truth very easily.<br /><br />I think she is right. In fact, I'm convinced it is the philosophical approach of "truth allowing us to understand truth," as if truth is a 'thing,' that is really problematic. This is where the concept of "Absolute Truth" comes from. Even Christianity has bought into this concept.<br /><br />But my thinking is do we need, to know the “absolute truth?” Or do we need to know, from a “reliable truth,” the absolute reality?<br /><br />For me this makes what Jesus said make perfect sense. He REALLY IS "The Way, the Truth, and the Life." He is the one reliable way TO reality. He is the reliable truth ABOUT reality, He is full human life BASED on reality. He Himself is what reality is all about.<br /><br /> Only God Himself could be the reliable source for the way, truth, and life that is reality. He was all that in the person of Christ.<br /><br />This whole concept was introduced to me a few years back by someone who wrote under a pseudonym and the material I came across is no longer published. I'm still examining it.Paul Burlesonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17021178307705707423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-76375665484455850602011-02-27T09:51:31.570-06:002011-02-27T09:51:31.570-06:00All,
I'm in the motel lobby and will respond ...All,<br /><br />I'm in the motel lobby and will respond tomorroe. Thanks for stopping by. Good comments.<br /><br />Paul B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-38252646381792380112011-02-26T20:33:12.901-06:002011-02-26T20:33:12.901-06:00You can get into a lot of deep philosophy concerni...You can get into a lot of deep philosophy concerning the 'nature' of 'truth'. <br /> What I do know is that God cannot contradict Himself, and this is a source of much comfort. For me, this helps to reconcile the truths of the natural world (science) and the wonders of Creation. <br /><br />I found some Flannery O'Connor quotes to share that might interest those who read here:<br /><br />"Faith is what someone knows to be true, whether they believe it or not."<br /><br />and<br /><br />The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.<br />Flannery O'Connor<br /><br />I'm particularly fond of that last quote, myself, and used it frequently on several blogs to support Debbie Kaufman in her recent courageous efforts to stand up for the truth, in the face of some heavy verbal abuseffrom some bloggers. <br />BTW, she was successful! <br /><br />ChristianeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-33662488958223400682011-02-26T11:08:19.395-06:002011-02-26T11:08:19.395-06:00Brother Paul,
Appreciate your reference to 3 John...Brother Paul,<br /><br />Appreciate your reference to 3 John 4, it is one of my favorites. Since we seem to always be in the framework of elections in our country, I am reminded of Chuck Colson once stating that if three issues are not addressed then the stance by which one is examined is not fully addressed. He stated the three issues were: the direction of the radical Islam movement in the world, the dignity of the human race and understanding and developing truth (not just what is true). I would offer the three issues have not changed.<br /><br />Just as Pilate sarcasticly addressed Jesus in John 18: 37-38 with, "What is truth?", we have those today who stare at truth but fail to recognize its identity. Truth is anything that corresponds to reality. It has been said that truth is true even if everyone denies it, and a lie is a lie even if everyone affirms it.<br /><br />As we walk in the truth of Jesus then our life and worldview becomes one of apologetics in contrast to so much bad philosophy.<br /><br />Thank you brother<br /><br />Steve in San AntonioSteve Millernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28605099.post-37719223908859477402011-02-25T14:39:04.314-06:002011-02-25T14:39:04.314-06:00Paul,
Lost humankind can never accept such a prac...Paul,<br /><br />Lost humankind can never accept such a practical statement as you have made, because they simply don't want to, and cannot, accept truth/reality, because they will have to admit that they cannot explain the world by mathematical, psychological, or scientific method, nor can it be done by using plain old common sense.<br /><br />Look at this statement describing the questions raised by a BBC TV program a "The quest to explain the nature of reality is one of the great scientific detective stories. Are we part of a cosmic hologram? Do we exist in an infinity of parallel worlds?"<br /><br />There has been a lot of coverage of the Christchurch earthquake. As can be expected, there are those who, foolishly interpreting Scripture by events, claim God has deliberately caused it as punishment for sin.<br /><br />The truth/reality of the matter is that, like unredeemed mankind, Christchurch is built on a faultline, and, as your article shows, so is natural man. Without the One who said "I am the truth", that faultline,will eventually show the reality.<br /><br />Truth is that which conforms to reality, as you say.<br /><br />Reality is the state of the universe, and all that is in it, as it really is, rather than as we might want it to be. That's the truth!Aussie Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16199918171163666399noreply@blogger.com