Absolutely True?

In the words of Immanuel Kant:

Truth is said to consist in the agreement of knowledge with the object. According to this mere verbal definition, then, my knowledge, in order to be true, must agree with the object. Now, I can only compare the object with my knowledge by this means, namely, by taking knowledge of it. My knowledge, then, is to be verified by itself, which is far from being sufficient for truth. For as the object is external to me, and the knowledge is in me, I can only judge whether my knowledge of the object agrees with my knowledge of the object.

Here we have a comparison of absolute truth (pertaining to the object) and relative truth (pertaining to the observer). Kant argues that we cannot know truth within ourselves, because we have only based that truth upon other things that we have taken to be true. Oh dear me, what can we believe then?

I like mathematics (though I’m not very good at it!!); it is to many the primary language of logic. Some have even said that a mathematical theory is stronger than a scientific proof. When, as finite beings, it comes time for us to define something as being absolutely true, we know we can rely on mathematics (an expression of logic).

It is an absolute truth to say that (in trigonometry) the opposite² + adjacent² is equal to the hypotenuse² of a right angle triangle. It doesn’t matter on the size of the triangle, this is consistent. Also the circumference of a circle divided by the diameter will always equal π (3.14159). Simply put, “2 + 2” will always equal “4”. We may not always understand a thing, but it does not mean it is not true.

In life we have practical truths – when I drop a cup it will fall, when the sun comes up there will be light, when I go in the bath I will get wet. These again are absolute.

Ok, so what does this have to do with the bible, why do I believe what the scriptures say? The age-old argument is that of man’s existence. Did we pre-exist, are we really here now, what will happen when we die, what is right, what is wrong? This is all relative truth, as in and of ourselves we have no real way to prove these things. We just don’t know. What we search for is outside collaboration to our inner ponderings [such as Charles Darwin who searched for theory of evolution (the idea had already been around for a while), or Eugène Dubois and his ‘Java Man’]. What in reality we all search for in answering these questions, is an outside source of information, some treasure of revelation. Buddhists for example believe this is inside (Tilopa taught 6 words of advice which effectively meant to switch your mind off… looking to spirit). Whatever the means, we want to know the REAL TRUTH.

Though we may (according to worldly standards – please note that I believe slightly differently) have no inert means of reaching absolute truth, we do thankfully in our ‘relative’ state have the ability to recognise ignorance.

So, this is the point I have argued so far – for the knowledge of absolute truth we need a means of revelation that is trustworthy, and that is not us.

Thomas Aquinas (who had some reliance on Aritotlian metaphysics in his arguments) wrote five proofs for the absolute truth of the existence of God:

1. The argument of the unmoved mover (ex motu).
• Some things are moved.
• Everything that is moved is moved by a mover.
• An infinite regress of movers is impossible.
• Therefore, there is an unmoved mover from whom all motion proceeds.
• This mover is what we call God.
2. The argument of the first cause (ex causa).
• Some things are caused.
• Everything that is caused is caused by something else.
• An infinite regress of causation is impossible.
• Therefore, there must be an uncaused cause of all caused things.
• This causer is what we call God.
3. The argument of contingency (ex contingentia).
• Many things in the universe may either exist or not exist. Such things are called contingent beings.
• It is impossible for everything in the universe to be contingent, as nothing can come of nothing, and if traced back eventually there must have been one thing from which all others have occurred.
• Therefore, there must be a necessary being whose existence is not contingent on any other being(s).
• This being is what we call God.
4. The argument of degree (ex gradu).
• Various perfections may be found in varying degrees throughout the universe.
• These degrees of perfections assume the existence of the perfections themselves.
5. The argument of "design" (ex fine).
• All natural bodies in the world act for ends.
• These objects are in themselves unintelligent.
• To act for ends is characteristic of intelligence.
• Therefore, there exists an intelligent being which guides all natural bodies to their ends.
• This being we call God.

So! Through mainly the law of finite regression (that is that you cannot simplify to infinity), Thomas Aquinas argued that there must have been a creator, and though people do argue over point “4” (which states there is a greater source of goodness and truth than man - psalm 50:6) I personally believe this to be by far the most important.

Back to the scriptures – what do they have to say about all this? If this is a book, a written truth expressed to us by God himself, should it not deal with these difficult questions. I shall let it speak for itself:

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Isaiah 45:21

Who told this long ago?
Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the Lord?
And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
there is none besides me.

Joel 2:27

…I am the Lord your God and there is none else…

Hebrew 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Isaiah 40:8

The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.

2 Samuel 22:31

This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

John 5:39

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

1 Cor 15:3-4

Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Romans 1:18-25

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

And Finally,

Psalm 14:1-3

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
there is none who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man,
to see if there are any who understand,
who seek after God.

They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one.

"There are few people so stubborn in their atheism who, when danger is pressing in, will not acknowledge the divine power." Plato

"Man is a being born to believe. And if no church comes forward with its title-deeds of truth to guide him, he will find altars and idols in his own heart and his own imagination." Benjamin Disraeli

The bible speaks without political correctness, ambiguity or deceit about the existence of God, and who God is. It contains the origins of man, his purpose, his state and his destiny. It is a revealed work of God (gammatria is an interesting topic on mathematical seal of God) that stands up to scrutiny and can change the life of men. It claims to be the revelation of the absolute truth, which strikes accord in the heart of man.

If we really are searching for the truth, isn’t it reasonable that we should (if even for a brief time) try and understand what the bible teaches us – even if we can then walk away and disagree. But we must also try and forget our understanding and take it at face value (without relative interpretation).

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matt 7:7