What I’m pointing out is that your belief that your belief is right is a bit circular. “Do I believe I have found truth. Yep. That is where faith [belief] comes in.”

Experiencing faith IS certainly important to realizing ‘truth’! I’m 100% with you on that. But I’m not sure I’d validate ‘truth’ with experience. Nor with the faith that the belief I think I’m experiencing is true because I’m experiencing it (if I’m understanding you correctly). This comes from my neurology degree wherein we can ‘make’ people ‘experience’ a lot of things that are not true, ‘real’, etc.

So my experience is that truth-experienced is just as susceptible to being misunderstood, mis-grasped, mis-experienced as non-truth experienced or truth non experienced.

All in all, I’m thinking that what you’re espousing is that you get to decide if what you think is truth really is truth, but Jesus will tell us at the end. But that finding, having, living-out truth is important. But I can’t know for sure in this lifetime. That makes me wonder if we’re chasing something in such a way as to constantly keep it out-of-grasp.

What’a ya think? Katie?

David-

If you believe in something as truth… you may be right. Your belief doesn’t make it true… but the fact that it is truth makes you right. I don’t believe that you are lunging at something that is elusive. I think one can realize truth… I just think that you won’t truly grasp it until you experience it. That’s where faith comes in. What is the value? My belief is that you will realize the value when you are standing before the Lord. Do I believe I have found truth. Yep. That is where faith comes in.

I'd like to point out two more paths to chew on…

What is the value of 'truth'? Is it some elusive, white stallion that is not really to be found at all but only chased? If so, is 'chasing' really a pillar that one wants to rest their life upon?!? So as Greg's line of truth eternal and external and, at best, lunged for by his 'belief' (see the use of 'belief' & 'faith' in his 4/9 post).

So what good is truth-that-is-found? Perhaps the value of truth is not in its being held…

#2 – I had a older friend state that 'most people mistake thinking for shuffling prejudices.' I laughed, then I dread-ed! I resonate with your critique of the word 'challenge.' But is that because I like things black-and-white, super-extreme? Can I be challenged in what I do or must it be in my core-values only? Further, what about the challenge to my values that comes ONLY from my new actions (that came from the much wimpy-er 'challenge')? Perhaps this is part of what Eric is referring to as 'the last 10 years'?

Great posting Katie!!

You… well you are a “Chicken Rex”

Bawk!

Great questions. I believe that everyone has not only the right but the responsibility to classify truth… Define truth… no… but classify it yes. Ultimately, the question is where does truth come from… ourselves or from a universal constant. I believe truth is defined in God’s very nature… so this is my belief… and I classify this as being the truth. That said, God is either True or He isn’t. No in between and it doesn’t matter how much we classify something as truth or believe that it is true… it is true or it isn’t. What we believe doesn’t determine truth.

How does one mine to the core of something to discover if it is actually true?

That is basically the same question… just stated a little differently. “How do you do discern that it is truth and not an opinion based on prejudice?”

I am wrestling with that. I believe that Faith is required to believe anything is true. For example: Tomorrow will come just as yesterday and today did… how do you know? I have faith… will it? We will see if it does tomorrow. Will tomorrow always come? Not sure. So if it doesn’t, does that mean that truth has changed? Or has the truth always been that tomorrow will most likely come but eventually, there will be no tomorrow? So just because tomorrow has always come, I have faith that it will… but the truth is: that it may not.

Death is a truth. Every single person will experience a physical death. (Except for Elijah… always exceptions to the rule. ) In this case, language does not play a role in defining truth. Can it play a role…? I would have to mull that over a bit. My initial thought is that I don’t think that it plays a role in defining truth but it does play a role in defining beliefs.

Hm. Thoughts?

Just some thoughts!

Also, the lady across the street owns five dogs. And they are REALLY BARKING VERY LOUDLY tonight. And I am kind of distracted. And I kind of wish I had tranquilizers.

These are the questions that I am all about and wish I could have more of. Maybe if I get into Baylor next year we will have an opportunity to get a little discussion group going!