Philosophy of Mind
Are there a universal truths?
I have trouble with the concep of universal truth and that logic, reasoning, and science determine THE one and only truth. This is largely because I have a strong sense of faith based on Christian ideals as I interpret them. I don't beleive the Bible (or any major religious text) should be interpreted as it is written and interpreted and acted upon as the 'law', or the 'one truth'. The Bible to me is more of a how-to guide or textbook; a path to peace, health, sustanance, and harmony - but not the only way. How to interpret major religious texts and beleifes is to me one of life's greatest debates. I am genuinely excited to learn from others about their thoughts on truth.
What is free will to me a Christian?
- Is God a mastermind who has preordained everything in our life and free will is a myth?
- Has God granted us free will and we are free to make our own decisions? (This seems to be the popluar interpretation and the one I choose to believe.But then the question becomes why have a God if he is a passive spectator?
- Does God 'nudge' us toward good actions through subtle cues such as an urge to comment on a stranger's outfit that leads to a job offer from that contact down the road?
- Does God protect us from by keeping us from getting on a plane that crashes by making the Uber get stuck in traffic?
I don't know exactly what God's plan is or was. What I do know is that when I am in relation with my higher power (who I call God) and with Jesus I feel less anxious and at peace. I base my choices on what Jesus taught because doing those things make me feel good. I choose to do, or not to do, things based on how they make me feel; now and in the long run. Gossiping makes me feel bad. Killing a person who is harming my child would make me feel confused but probably good would outweigh bad. Visiting my lonely bed-bound neighbor once a week makes me feel good.
Lastly, I have an issue with the idea that truth is universal. I think truth is individual for everyone and every circumstance. Does the sun rise every day? My senses and common belief in science say yes. I would be hard presseed to see the sun's movement in the cosmos as something other than a universal truth. But I also feel compelled to leave a door open to the possibility that, as absurd as it sounds to me, perhaps the 'truth' that the sun rises and sets every day is a truth. Who can really, really know that our belief and truth is the same for everyone? I cannot.
My issue with logic and reason is that the senses and science alone cannot define universal truth. I have to believe that our senses, our brain's wiring, genetics, cultural influence, nuturing, etc. are unique to everyone so how could we speak for someone elses's truth and believe our truth is everyone's truth.
Looking foward to hearing other's point of views. : )
Comments
3 comments.
Sign in to comment.
I believe what you are describing in your first paragraph is religious pluralism! I think that's really valuable to understand that there is no one source of truth. After all, if there was only one source of truth, then how did Ancient Greco-Roman philosophers find meaning and truth? They didn't have the Bible, right?
If you believe in Jesus and God and it makes you happy and encourages you to grow as a person, then why stop? But I understand your question about why God would allow bad things to happen and if They determine everything. This is a big dilemma, and it's something covered in one of the courses I actually made on the site: https://schrodingers.cat/paths/philosophy-of-religion-problem-of-evil
I personally believe determinism is true, and physics and recent cognitive studies agree. The question of why science exists and can determine things is circular and there is no good answer, I think. Your last paragraph about how senses and science alone can't define universal truth is interesting. So basically you're not an empiricist and believe everyone is unique to interpreting truth? I believe your "truth" is what many philosophers call epistemology. And I encourage you to keep reading about non-Western epistemologies (like the Lakota course available on this site).
Well this how I like to think about the Bible and free will. Well all can choose our own actions but doesn’t mean each action could be acted upon with ease. I believe we all have our own functions but I don’t think they are set in stones. There is no such thing as fate in the Bible. I believe the biggest interpretation about God’s will is association with fate.
It’s very clear God gave us free will and we are free to make our decision. Every choice has a consequence and you don’t need a Bible to tell you that.
God only nudges us towards a good actions but it’s your decision to noticed it. You chose to distinguish between good and bad but if you didn’t you wouldn’t see it.
God doesn’t protect us all from accidents. We are sinners and we can make our own choices. There are also lessons from sufferings.
I don’t think anyone should try to understand what God’s plan is but be focused on God’s guidance through His words. If everyone did then we all would repent our sins and thrive to be better everyday. Everyone would be helping each other and love one another. We would all just truly brothers and sisters.
The only thing we need to interpret in the Bible are these guidance, to believe in God, and spread the Good News. Everything else is used to manipulate people and set ulterior motives.
No one is perfect but everyone can out some effort to try to be a good person. So the truth in the Bible is accept God as your only God, repent your sins and be the best person you can be. Accepting God as your only God prevents you from worshipping materialistic things instead of the Spiritual God.
As for science, I don’t think we have advanced enough to accept certain metaphysical stuff. Not everything is portray patterns. The real truth is perspective to an individual. Factual truth won’t matter if it doesn’t align with the individual’s perspective.
There is a pretty famous dilemma that asks, "Why doesn't God already know what we will do in our lives?" and "Why does evil exist?"
Do you believe that people are all predestined to be born in certain conditions? What if those conditions encouraged crime and violence? Would the person born in conditions that fostered hate be culpable for their actions? If their birth had been predestined in those conditions, then what?