Why Truth Matters

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Why Truth Matters
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What Is Truth? ----Pontius
Pilate John
1838
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Secular Society

• A society characterized by the withdrawal of
  whole areas of life and thought from the control
  or heavy influence of the church
• A Post-Christian Society

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Is There Absolute Truth?

• 66 said
• There is no such thing as absolute truth
• different people can define truth in
• conflicting ways and still be correct.
• Barna Research Group

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Is There Absolute Truth?

• Truth is whatever you believe.
• There is no absolute truth.
• If there were such a thing as absolute truth,
  how could you know what it is?
• People who believe in absolute truth are
  dangerous.

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• It doesnt matter what you believe as long as
  you are honest and sincere.

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Postmodernism

• Has little to do with time or technology
• Relates to the world of ideas and how knowledge
  is gained
• Denies the existence of any objective truth all
  we can do is discuss differences of opinion
• Minimizes the value of reason and critical
  thinking

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Relativism

• There are no absolutes
• Every truth depends upon the mind of the
  individual believer
• What is true for one person may not be true
  for another
• Nothing is true across the board for all times
  and all cultures

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Tolerance

• Be open
• Do not judge
• Do not criticize
• Do not label any belief as wrong
• Intolerance toward those who believe that truth
  is important or who say that anyone else is wrong

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Emphasis on Emotion

• Feelings are given more credibility than reason
• I know has been replaced by I feel.

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• Our society has moved from the position that
  everyone has a right to his own opinion, to the
  notion that every opinion is equally right.

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• This is the creed I have written on behalf of
  all us.
• We believe in Marxfreudanddarwin We believe
  everything is OK as long as you don't hurt
  anyone, to the best of your definition of hurt,
  and to the best of your knowledge.

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• We believe there's something in horoscopes,
  UFO's and bent spoons
• Jesus was a good man just like Buddha,
  Mohammed, and ourselves.
• He was a good moral teacher although we think
  His good morals were bad.

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• We believe that all religions are basically the
  same-- at least the one that we read was.
• They all believe in love and goodness.
• They only differ on matters of creation, sin,
  heaven, hell, God, and salvation.

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• We believe that each man must find the truth
  that is right for him.
• Reality will adapt accordingly.
• The universe will readjust.
• History will alter.
• We believe that there is no absolute truth
  excepting the truth that there is no absolute
  truth.
• Creed Steve Turner

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2 Timothy 43-4

• For the time will come when they will not endure
  sound doctrine, but according to their own
  desires, because they have itching ears, they
  will heap up for themselves teachers and they
  will turn their ears away from the truth, and be
  turned aside to fables.

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2 Thessalonians 29-12

• The coming of the lawless one is according to
  the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and
  lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception
  among those who perish, because they did not
  receive the love of the truth, that they might be
  saved. And for this reason God will send them
  strong delusion, that they should believe the
  lie, that they all may be condemned who did not
  believe the truth but had pleasure in
  unrighteousness.

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Reality

• Either God does exist or He doesnt
• Either the Bible is Gods Word or it isnt
• Either Jesus is the Son of God or He isnt
• Either Jesus is our Savior or He isnt
• Either we will live eternally or we wont

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John 832

• And you shall know the truth, and the truth
  shall make you free."

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Proverbs 2323

• Buy the truth, and do not sell it,
• Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.

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1 Thessalonians 521-22

• Test all things hold fast what is good.
  Abstain from every form of evil.

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1 Peter 315-17

• But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and
  always be ready to give a defense to everyone who
  asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,
  with meekness and fear having a good conscience,
  that when they defame you as evildoers, those who
  revile your good conduct in Christ may be
  ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of
  God, to suffer for doing good than for doing
  evil.

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Self-Refuting Positions

• There is no absolute truth.
• No belief can be held to be universally true for
  everyone.
• All religious claims to have a better view of
  things are arrogant and wrong.
• Truth does not matter.
• You ought not judge the beliefs of others.