Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

Anxious Heart · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 91

What is truth?
What is true?

Christian people might say "God is the truth.".
Muslim people might say "Allah is the truth.".
Jews might say "Jahwe is the truth.".
Atheists might say "The truth is, that there is no god.".
Agnostics might say "The truth can't be proved.".
People with an empirical point of view might say "The truth is, what we can grasp with our senses.".

So the word 'truth' depends like 'good' and 'bad' on the culture circumstances, it is used in. There is one word for many different things. Our language is not precise enough. We call someone a lier, even if his lie was at the moment, he gave it away, the truth for him. We judge the truth from our point of view. We condemn people in former times, because they thought of their truth, but we aren't really aware of the fact, that people in 200 years (if the earth still exists then) will look at our truth and shake their heads. Maybe they will find a truth, which is to be seen for anyone.

But is it senseful to use this word, as long as noone really can define it? Maybe it is in religous situation, but in the common usage?

So what is your truth? What is truth in general?

I would be pleased with some answers,
Anxi
_________________
"An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind." Mahatma Gandhi

June · Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 3 Location: japan

that is a difficult question...
my truth is myself.
but i think the truth depands on what people think, and we cannot judge he is right or wrong easily. but if a person overdid, for example he killed someone, even if he believed it was right, we have to judge to him.
so it is very difficult to say "that is truth!!" Crying or Very sad

liebe · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 117

Good question! I think it depends much about the perception. The truth is what we define it to be, or what we think it is. For a person who believes in a certain thing (let's say, god), that thing is the truth. It might not be the truth (for other people), but it is for him, because he believes in it and he finds proves in its existence. "Truth" is something that we people have invented, we've invented it to feel secure in our beliefs and to justify our actions, whatever those might be. Because it is something that we have invented, you can only define it from our perspective as humans, but then each person perceives the truth differently. So I'd say that "truth" could be defined as "the way you view the world" "your personal definition of right and wrong".

pingpong · Joined: 17 May 2004 Posts: 14

Truth is something not absolute. Today, it's the truth, tomorow, it won't.

general_delta · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 11

what is true is facts

What is truth is reality, the past the past, the present and the future what we all should be living in.

coffeedecafe · Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 140 Location: michigan,usa

Anxious Heart · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 91

general_delta · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 11

Truth should be nice and simple... Perhaps there is no such thing as truth. What is reality? Please next time don't get off the topic about babies and aethists.

apple+peach=watermelon · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 19

I am Nancy.i agree with truth can not depends on "good "or "bad" and you can not think truth is something you saw it by your eye some times eyes also can conceal you.you just can saw the surface of something.if you want to talk something is true ,you can not against your heart.everybody has been told a lie.soemtimes is white lie.because is rely on their profit.everybody is selfish.so do not say anyone if they occupy some thing or make some worng to you.maybe truth is yourself.maybenot ,i this this is a ganerall question .it's depends on anywhere.

coffeedecafe · Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 140 Location: michigan,usa

[quote="apple+peach=watermelon"]I am Nancy.i agree with truth can not depends on "good "or "bad

the first post of the column by anxious heart put the question of what is truth in terms of the main beliefs about truth. i was trying to show what i have observed in the discussion forums, that those who believe we are alone in the universe seem to take a sad or fatalist view of both life and truth. that truth must be an unhappy thing that people try to find ways to avoid. many people in history have asked,'what is truth?' and then say that we cannot find it by observation. yet court testimony is based on eyewitness testimony and surrounding known facts. we mostly accept that as being at least useful to find truth. nancy is right that the truth can be bad or sad, or it can be good or joyful. i like peach ice cream and that is the truth. i do not like watermelon pickles as much and that is also the truth. babies know truth adults forget. that toes are fascinating, and that they like people who like them. not all people hold a belief because they are positive. some hold a belief because it was what someone else told them and they have been busy with other things and have not really seen a reason to look for another answer.
and we may not be able to debate an answer to what truth is. truth may be as simple as a radish or more complex than the earth itself.
is their some fair challenge that could be placed where the various groups through prayer or other means could compete to see if one had the truth? what would be a fair contest?
_________________
coffeedecafe

coffeedecafe · Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 140 Location: michigan,usa

on second re-reading of my first post i agree that the term'i give up' is too personal. i was trying for a simple generalization. maybe the average postion would be more, 'really,what good is it?',or, 'what is the best we can achieve?' like some conversation around a table.
_________________
coffeedecafe

obelix · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 304

Atheists are not saying "I give up". They believe there is no god. As a belief this is just as valid as "I believe there is a god."
Most atheists are not trying to convert those who believe in god to atheism, but some religions are very hostile towards atheists.
Why is this? Is it because atheists are like the little boy who said, "The Emperor is not wearing any clothes"?

Anxious Heart · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 91

coffeedecafe · Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 140 Location: michigan,usa

That's exactly, what makes the whole thing so problematic. What if the ice cream is just imagination and it doesn't exist?[/quote]

if ice cream gets too close to me, it is very likely not to exist... when the taste is gone i may even be tempted to believe that it was all my imagination. but my brain stores memories which witness that 'once upon a time in my tummy there was a spot far sweeter than camelot.'
if truth is the sun and doubt the shade, why would you try to experience the sun by studying the shade?
truth is one of a list i read of things worthy of thinking about:: what is true, what is noble, what is just, what is pure, what is lovely, what is admirable, what is excellent, what deserves praise?that quote went on to say and the god of peace will be with you.
all of our computers exist because we agree that there is 1 and 2, and they are different.[binary code] since computers exist and we are having a conversation on them does that show that the simplest of truths is proveable?
_________________
coffeedecafe

apple+peach=watermelon · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 19

[quote="coffeedecafe"][quote="apple+peach=watermelon"]I am Nancy.i agree with truth can not depends on "good "or "bad

coffeedecafe,i am glad to see u.i am very happy that we feel the same way.but you said the court testimony is based on eyewitness testimony and surrounding known facts.do you think all the eyewitness can really tell the truth in the court.i do not believe you ,you know there are a lot of unjustice in the world.i think we need fact or evidence to proof and sentence whether the criminal into jail or not.i also believe that truth is depend on your feeling ,also depend on yourself.what a bout u ,don't you think so.