How Absolute is an Absolute Truth ? (ritual, Earth, tradition, beliefs)

[kreeden]

This question came to me a few days ago . I have a friend with whom I discuss Spiritual matters and with her believes , one would have to be quite open minded { or one would think } . However , I often upset her with what to me is a very general and innocent statement . It only took me three years to realize that she believes in absolute truths , where I do not . To me , even if a truth was absolute , once our subjective minds got a hold of it , it would cease to be so . Everything has a fuzzy area , in my opinion .

I believe that this is also the reason why many can't accept other's beliefs . If you believe that your truth is absolute , then any other truth has to be lacking , doesn't it ?

I noticed a short disagreement on another thread , that I am happy was settled . And I wondered if that was the cause ? What do you think about absolute truths ? Do they exist ? And just how absolute are they ?

Edited to Add : I'm not really interested in a debate over rather God's truth is absolute or not . I'm more interested in how you feel that the concept effects the way you see other believes .

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by kreeden

What do you think about absolute truths ? Do they exist ? And just how absolute are they ?

Sure, I absolutely believe that absolute truths exist. And they're absolutely absolute. That doesn't mean all truth is absolute. But truth as God sees it is. For us, here on earth, the goal is to recognize and come to accept the truths that are absolute and be willing to concede that others are simply subjective. I'm totally fine with the idea that God manafests Himself to some people in one way and to others differently. I have no trouble accepting that, when seen from your perspective, something I believe is outlandish. But I can't go along with "everything's true, we're all the same, and God doesn't care what you believe."

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Sure, I absolutely believe that absolute truths exist. And they're absolutely absolute. That doesn't mean all truth is absolute. But truth as God sees it is. For us, here on earth, the goal is to recognize and come to accept the truths that are absolute and be willing to concede that some truths are simply relative.

One of the things that drew me to Taoism, is that it recognises the lack of absolute truth in this world. Of course that said, the statement "There are NO absolute truths" is an absolute truth in itself.

So there must be at least one; To prove the exception if you will. But then there is an absolute truth, and we have Absolute truths exisiting. This becomes a paradox.

[kreeden]

Of course you believe that God's Truths are Absolute Katzpur . I'm not questioning that .

I guess what I'm asking is that if you believe that you know that your truth is ... truer then , lets say mine , then how can you have an open mind about my truths ? And I do believe that you do have a very open mind . Most here do .

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

But I can't go along with "everything's true, we're all the same, and God doesn't care what you believe."

Lol, i'm the exact opposite - this, in a sense, is exactly what i believe.

Kreeden - for me, i find my open minded approach to understanding deity allows me to view others beliefs as equal to my own. And, although sometimes i question the validity of anothers beliefs concerning the history of the universe and of the world - when it comes to their concept of deity i accept entirely the validity of it. Even if sometimes i don't quite understand it.
To some it up, see my sig .

[kreeden]

Originally Posted by ChrisP

One of the things that drew me to Taoism, is that it recognises the lack of absolute truth in this world. Of course that said, the statement "There are NO absolute truths" is an absolute truth in itself.

So there must be at least one; To prove the exception if you will. But then there is an absolute truth, and we have Absolute truths exisiting. This becomes a paradox.

A Truth can sometimes be Absolute . But like everything else , truth changes . So there is no paradox , or is the truth really absolute . Or that is how I see it .

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by kreeden

Of course you believe that God's Truths are Absolute Katzpur . I'm not questioning that .

I guess what I'm asking is that if you believe that you know that your truth is ... truer then , lets say mine , then how can you have an open mind about my truths ? And I do believe that you do have a very open mind . Most here do .

Well, maybe if you were to give me an example of something that I might see as an absolute truth, kreeden, I could express my feelings on the subject a little bit better. When I say that certain truths are absolute, I guess I'm thinking in terms of Christian doctrines and the differences between them. I'm thinking of things like the nature of God, whether He is a Trinity or not, things like whether baptism is required of us or not, whether the Lord's Supper should be understood to be symbolic or literal. In terms of these kinds of things, I don't see how diametrically opposed opinions can both be true. I guess that's what I was getting at.

[kreeden]

I can't be answering very post here . But I believe that your your approach is very close to mine Halcyon .

Now I'm going to be quiet for awhile ...

[kreeden]

Ok , I lied . I have to respond to you Katzpur .

I don't want this to become a debate , so it is very hard to point at any one thing as an excample . I would assume that most people with strong traditional believes would believe in Absolute Truths , to some degree at else . What I am wondering is how you think those views effect your view of other's views .

Hmmm ? I appear to be leading you Katzpur . And that isn't my intent . You see , to me everything is both symbolic and literal at the same time . Or at lest a symbolic truth is no less then a literal truth .

I guess that your answer was a good one . Sorry about that .

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by kreeden

I would assume that most people with strong traditional believes would believe in Absolute Truths , to some degree at else . What I am wondering is how you think those views effect your view of other's views .

Well, I try to respect other people's opinions for one thing. I don't think that being wrong on one point of doctrine makes everything else someone believes wrong. I have also never said that I believe that God condemns anyone for getting "truth" mixed up with "error" occasionally. I've never said that because I don't believe it. I also don't think that my saying, "I believe I'm right about this" means "Therefore, I am a better person than you are." Am I making any sense?