Category: Truth & Worldview

Exploring how truth, logic, and worldview shape what we believe. This category examines life’s big questions through a Christian philosophical lens.

  • “What Is Truth? — Why It Matters Now More Than Ever”

    “What Is Truth? — Why It Matters Now More Than Ever”

    Introduction.

    In our fast-paced, technology-driven world, the quest for truth often takes a backseat to the myriad distractions that vie for our attention. Yet, beneath the surface of our daily lives lies a profound question: Is there an ultimate truth, and can we find it? This blog post delves into the nature of truth and the existence of a divine Creator, exploring how these concepts can bring clarity and purpose to our lives.

    The Essence of Truth.

    Truth is a concept that has fascinated humanity for centuries. Traditionally, truth is seen as something objective and unchanging, a reality that exists independently of our beliefs or opinions. For instance, the statement “The Earth orbits the Sun” remains true regardless of individual perspectives. This understanding of truth provides a stable foundation upon which we can build our knowledge and understanding of the world.
    However, in recent times, the idea that truth is subjective has gained traction. This perspective suggests that truth is shaped by our experiences, culture, and personal beliefs. While this view acknowledges the diversity of human experience, it also raises questions about the nature of reality and whether we can ever truly know anything for certain. It is important to recognize that while personal experiences and perspectives are valid, they do not alter objective truths.

    The Divine Connection.

    Amidst the debate over the nature of truth, the question of a divine Creator stands as a central core for truth. The belief in a Creator who designed and sustains the universe explains the order and complexity we observe in the world around us. This belief is a matter of faith but is supported by various lines of reasoning and evidence.
    One such argument is the cosmological argument, which posits that everything that begins to exist has a cause. Since the universe began to exist, it must have a cause, and this cause is identified as God. Similarly, the intricate design and fine-tuning of the universe point to an intelligent designer who crafted the cosmos with purpose and precision.

    Challenging Scientific Theories.

    The creation account in the Bible provides a coherent and comprehensive explanation of the origin and nature of the universe. It presents a God who created the heavens and the earth, and everything in them, in a deliberate and purposeful manner. This account stands in contrast to certain scientific theories that rely on unprovable assumptions and speculative guesswork.
    For example, the theory of evolution, which suggests that life arose through random mutations and natural selection, is often debated. While it has its proponents, some argue that it lacks empirical evidence and is based on speculative assumptions. In contrast, the creation account in the Bible offers a clear and consistent explanation of the origin of life and the universe, grounded in the belief in a purposeful Creator.

    Science and Gravity.

    Science is fundamentally about understanding the natural world through observation, experimentation, and logical reasoning. The concept of gravity, for instance, is a cornerstone of physics. It’s a force that attracts two bodies towards each other, and its effects are observable in everyday life. Arguing that gravity doesn’t exist is illogical because the evidence is overwhelming. If you step off a ladder, you will meet the ground due to gravity’s pull.

    The Human Eye.

    The human eye is a marvel of biological engineering. Its intricate structure allows us to perceive the world in vivid detail. From the cornea to the retina, each part plays a crucial role in the process of vision. The complexity of the eye often leads to discussions about the wonders of evolution and the sophistication of biological systems.

    Oprah Winfrey’s Infamous Line.

    Oprah Winfrey’s statement, “There’s your truth, there’s their truth, and the truth,” touches on the subjective nature of human experience. It suggests that everyone has their own perspective, shaped by their experiences and beliefs. This idea can be linked to the scientific method, which seeks to find objective truths through evidence and reasoning, contrasting with the subjective truths we hold individually. However, it is crucial to distinguish between personal perspectives and objective realities. In recent times, I’ve heard people talk about their truth, as in “my truth” and about the truth of others as “their truth.” Implicit in this is the idea that that because it is “my truth” or “their truth” it is somehow inherently valid as a statement of truth. Opinions have been elevated to truth and personal preferences have been elevated to rights. To challenge anyone’s “truth” now causes personal offense and seems to be a definite “no-no” in society. How did we ever get to such a point in society that no-one is ever wrong anymore because everyone is right?

    Engaging with the Modern Mind.

    In a world filled with distractions and competing truths, engaging with the modern mind requires a thoughtful and respectful approach. It involves listening to different perspectives, asking meaningful questions, and providing well-reasoned responses. By highlighting the implications of subjective truth and how it has influenced modern society, we can offer a compelling alternative to the uncertainties of relativism.
    For instance, if truth is entirely subjective, it becomes challenging to resolve conflicts and make decisions based on shared values. In a legal context, the idea of subjective truth could undermine the concept of justice, as different individuals may have different interpretations of what is fair and just. By demonstrating the stability and reliability of objective truth, we can offer a compelling alternative to the uncertainties of relativism. This applies across the entire spectrum of reality. Any event can be minimised or denied, and any scientific consensus can be questioned, if it doesn’t agree with “your truth.” Are we undermining, and ultimately destroying the foundations of our own civilisation?
    It is as if we live in an age of absolute relativism. That might sound like a contradiction, but what it means is that relativism is absolute because it rules over every principle.
    The Bible has a vastly different way of looking at the world. In the Bible’s view, all truth is relative, but not to other truths. All truth is relative to God’s truth. God’s truth is the fixed point of reality, the source of all truth. Truth originates in the very being of God. When Jesus said, “I am the truth” (John 14:6), he didn’t mean that he had some of the truth, or even that he had all of the truth. What Jesus was saying that truth is part of who God is. Every word he speaks, every decision he makes, and everything he does is truth. It is fully and absolutely true.
    We human beings can only ever speak about truth in imprecise and incomplete, ways, because we can never see the full picture. But God can. We don’t even know how big the universe is or how it works. But God does.
    This keeps us humble, while at the same time it compels us to continuously search for truth. It is precisely that search for the truth about our world and how it works that led to the development of modern science.

    Conclusion.

    In conclusion, the interplay between objective scientific truths and subjective human experiences offers a rich tapestry for exploration. Science, with its rigorous methods and evidence-based conclusions, provides us with a reliable framework to understand phenomena like gravity and the intricate workings of the human eye. These objective truths are undeniable and form the bedrock of our understanding of the natural world. On the other hand, personal truths, as highlighted by Oprah Winfrey’s infamous line, remind us that our individual perspectives and experiences shape our reality. By acknowledging both the objective and subjective, we can appreciate the full spectrum of human understanding and experience, creating a more nuanced and holistic view of the world. This balance between the empirical and the personal enriches our lives and deepens our appreciation of the complexities of existence.
    If you are reading this, I invite you to join me as this blog begins to exist online. We can look together at all the amazing things in our world. If you want to join the conversation, leave a comment below. No email blocks, just leave a respectful comment as you would leave your shoes at the door of a friend’s home who has just had new white carpet fitted. Honestly, who has white carpet.

    References and Citations:

    1. Aquinas, Thomas. “Summa Theologica.”
    2. Craig, William Lane. “The Kalam Cosmological Argument.”
    3. Barrow, John D., and Frank J. Tipler. “The Anthropic Cosmological Principle.”
    4. The Bible. Genesis 1-2.
    5. Behe, Michael. “Darwin’s Black Box.”
    6. Newton, Isaac. “Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica.”
    7. Darwin, Charles. “The Origin of Species.”
    8. Meyer, Stephen C. “Darwin’s Doubt.”
    9. Lyotard, Jean-François. “The Postmodern Condition.”

  • Are We Asking The Right Questions Anymore?

    Are We Asking The Right Questions Anymore?

    Are We Asking the Right Questions About Life Anymore?

    Remember being a kid and asking “Why?” about everything? Why is the sky blue? Why do people die? Why is there something instead of nothing? Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped asking those questions. But what if the biggest mistake of modern life is assuming we’ve already found all the answers worth finding?

    The Questions That Refuse to Stay Buried.

    Picture this: You’re driving home late one night, maybe after a long day at work or a family gathering. The radio’s off, your phone’s quiet, and suddenly you find yourself really seeing the night sky for the first time in months. Stars scattered across the darkness like someone spilled diamonds on black velvet.
    And then it hits you—that feeling. It’s hard to describe, but you know it instantly. A kind of cosmic vertigo, a sense of wonder mixed with something that feels almost like homesickness for a place you’ve never been.
    In that moment, questions bubble up from somewhere deep inside:

    • What is all of this about? • How did I end up as this conscious being on this spinning rock? • Is there someone behind it all? • Does any of it matter?
      These aren’t new questions. Your grandparents asked them. Their grandparents asked them. Humans have been asking them since we first looked up at the night sky and realized we were small.
      But here’s what’s changed: we’ve stopped expecting real answers.

    When the Map Changed.

    Think about how different our cultural landscape looks compared to just fifty years ago. Our grandparents navigated life with what felt like a clear, reliable map. The landmarks were obvious: tradition, family, community, faith. The path from questions to answers seemed well-marked.
    Today? We’re all navigating with GPS that keeps rerouting based on… well, on what exactly? Our feelings? The latest scientific discovery? Whatever’s trending on social media?
    Don’t get me wrong—some of this change has been positive. We’ve gained incredible knowledge about the physical world. We’ve made progress on social justice. We’ve expanded opportunities for individual choice and self-expression.
    But somewhere in this transition, we made a subtle but profound trade-off: we exchanged the expectation of finding ultimate truth for the comfort of creating personal truth.
    The old approach said: “Reality exists, and our job is to align ourselves with it.” The new approach says: “Reality is what you make it—follow your heart and define your own meaning.”

    The Modern Toolkit Problem.

    Here’s where things get interesting. In every other area of life, we’re passionate about objective truth.
    We trust gravity to work the same way whether we believe in it or not. We expect 2+2 to equal 4 regardless of our feelings about maths. We build airplanes and perform surgery and design computer chips based on the assumption that reality follows discoverable, reliable patterns.
    Our entire civilization is built on objective truths discovered through reason, observation, and evidence.
    So why, when we encounter life’s biggest questions, do we suddenly abandon this approach? Why do we trade the compass of reason for what someone aptly called “the weathervane of personal feeling”?
    It’s as if we’ve decided that physics and chemistry deal with “real” truth, but questions about meaning, purpose, and God belong to some separate category where truth is just a matter of preference.
    But what if this division doesn’t actually make sense?

    The Search for Real Answers.

    I want to propose something that might sound radical in our current cultural moment: What if the deepest questions about existence have real, discoverable answers just like questions about gravity or mathematics?
    What if meaning isn’t something we create, but something we discover when we align our lives with what’s actually, verifiably true?
    This blog series is built on that possibility. We’re going to tackle some of humanity’s biggest questions using the same tools we trust everywhere else:

    • Reason and logic • Observable evidence • Common sense • Honest investigation of what we actually experience.
      I’m not going to ask you to take any leaps of blind faith or accept ancient authorities just because they’re old. If you’re standing on sceptical ground, those approaches probably wouldn’t mean much to you anyway.
      Instead, I want to invite you to be curious again. To ask whether the answers our secular culture offers actually fit the shape of reality as we experience it.

    What We’ll Explore Together.

    Over the coming posts, we’ll investigate some profound questions:
    Can we know if God exists? We’ll look at whether belief in God is just wishful thinking or whether the evidence points in a more surprising direction.
    Where does our sense of right and wrong come from? If we’re just accidental arrangements of atoms, why do we all seem to share invisible moral standards?
    Why does the universe look fine-tuned for life? The more we learn about physics and cosmology, the more the cosmos appears calibrated with extraordinary precision to allow consciousness to exist.
    What about suffering and evil? We’ll honestly examine whether the existence of a good God is compatible with the real pain and injustice we observe.
    Each post will follow evidence wherever it leads, using tools you already trust logic, observation, and common sense.

    An Honest Starting Point.

    Let me be upfront about something: I believe these investigations point toward the reality of God. But I’m not asking you to start there. I’m asking you to start with curiosity about whether the questions themselves deserve serious investigation.
    Maybe you once had faith but found it didn’t hold up under scrutiny. Maybe you’ve never seriously considered religious claims and assumed they were for people who don’t think critically. Maybe you’ve tried secular approaches to meaning and found them unsatisfying, but you’re not sure what else to explore.
    Wherever you’re starting, you’re welcome here.
    The only thing I’m asking is that you consider the possibility that reality is real and we can know it—that truth isn’t just a personal preference but something we can actually discover.

    Why This Matters Now.

    We live in an age of unprecedented access to information, yet many people report feeling more confused and directionless than ever. Depression and anxiety rates are climbing, especially among young people. Despite material prosperity beyond our ancestors’ dreams, surveys consistently show that people are struggling to find meaning and purpose.
    What if this isn’t coincidental? What if abandoning the search for objective truth about life’s biggest questions has left us spiritually malnourished?
    What if the questions that bubble up when you’re alone with your thoughts—the ones our culture tells you to ignore or answer with personal preference—are actually the most important questions you could ask?

    Your Invitation to Wonder.

    I can’t promise this journey will be comfortable. Questioning our foundational assumptions rarely is. But I can promise it will be honest, and it might just lead somewhere surprising.
    So, here’s my invitation: What if you gave yourself permission to be curious again about the biggest questions? What if you approached them with the same intellectual rigor you’d bring to any other important investigation?
    What if the universe is trying to tell us something, and we’ve just gotten out of the habit of listening?
    Questions for Reflection:

    1. When was the last time you felt that sense of cosmic wonder described at the beginning of this post? What triggered it?
    2. Do you think there’s a meaningful difference between scientific truth and philosophical/spiritual truth? Why or why not?
    3. What would change about your approach to life’s big questions if you believed they had real, discoverable answers?
    4. Are you more afraid of finding out God exists, or finding out He doesn’t? What does that tell you?

    Next in the series: “An Odd Thing Happened When We Got Rid of God” – We’ll examine what actually happened when Western culture decided to move beyond traditional belief. Did removing God from the equation deliver the promised freedom and fulfilment? Or did something unexpected take its place? The results might challenge everything you’ve been told about progress and enlightenment.