Response to:
"Truth is Subjective"
A growing number of people are saying, "there isn't any objective truth; it's all subjective."
Response: Yes there is, and you do believe it whether you realize it or not.
Before we go on, let's make sure we clarify the difference between the terms "objective" and "subjective." Something that exists objectively exists outside and apart from you. If you didn't exist, it still would. The Grand Canyon, the law of gravity and the number two, all exist apart from us. That the law of gravity is an objective truth can be demonstrated by simply jumping off a cliff in the Grand Canyon. Whether you think it is true or not it will still be true. On the other hand, something that exists subjectively exists only in your own head. If you didn't exist it wouldn't exist either. A hallucination is a good example. Emotions are subjective. Another person can not experience the emotion you feel at any given time. We are not saying that emotion doesn't exist; it just doesn't exist in anyone else's mind/heart. Conversely, if they are experiencing the same kind of emotion it is their unique experience not yours. How does this relate to truth? Some say that truth is only subjective. Something can be true for you but not necessarily true for anyone else. Some people will talk about, "my truth and your truth." They'll say, "My truth is telling me so and so while my friend's truth is telling him something different." In her mind what makes her truth true is simply that she believes it is true.
Some people believe that truth and reality do not really exist objectively, outside and apart from their own experience. They believe, as many Hindus believe, that all of what we see, know and experience is not real; rather it is just an illusion. The law of gravity is simply an illusion. The sensation of falling and hitting the ground is an illusion. And the pain and suffering afterward is simply an illusion. This is their view of truth.
When a person says, "There isn't any truth," I think three things. First, I think they sound like a parrot. They heard someone else say it and it sounded good so without really thinking about whether it is true or not they are mindlessly repeating it. My second thought is, "This person has lost hope. What they really mean is, "I've given up hoping that life has any real meaning or purpose." Third, I think, "Maybe I can help them find a good psychiatrist who will prescribe some anti-depression medication. Then I might be able to help them find God?s meaning and purpose for their life." Now, they might deny they are depressed and still claim there really isn't any truth.
What are the problems with this view that truth is subjective? First, it is self refuting. The person who believes that truth and reality don't really exist believes this view is really true and it is objectively true for everyone whether they realize it or not. But if truth doesn't exist then this view of truth doesn't exist either, at least outside of their own head. Their view of truth is nothing but an illusion, as well. Truth can not both exist and not exist. That would be nonsense. But they believe their view does exist objectively and is the true view. So even though they say they don't believe in the existence of truth, they are admitting that they do.
The second problem with this view is no one can live consistently with it. That student doesn't say, "My professor and my future are only illusions so I won't bother to take this exam." When a classmate says, "There isn't any truth. It's all a subjective matter of opinion," ask her, "Oh, is that true?" Do you see how it works? If she answers, "Sure it's true," you say, "Then you admit that there is at least one thing that's true?" But if instead she answers, "Of course it's not true because nothing is," then you say, "Well if it's not true that there isn't any truth then there can't be any truth to your claim that there is no truth. Wouldn't you agree? (Smile as you're saying this.) At this point, I would attempt to cut to the real issue. I might say, "The real question is not, does truth and reality objectively exist or not. The real question is, 'What must we do with the objective truth we already know? Will we continue playing mind games pretending it doesn't exist or will we "get real" and begin living consistently with the truth as it is?
J. Budziszewski (pronounced Boojee-shefski) encourages us, "Our lives shouldn't be based on what can't be doubted, but on what we have the best reasons to believe. All other ways lead to insanity." We simply can't live a moment without believing that truth and reality objectively exist. Even the Hindu guru who denies that truth and reality exist objectively looks both ways before crossing the street. Everyone, whether or not they admit it, believes that truth and reality exist objectively.
Conclusion
Finally, Jesus is the ultimate example of objective truth and reality. He made the shocking claim, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life." Why is this so shocking? Partly because He claimed that there is an objective way of salvation outside of our self efforts, that there is an objective truth outside of our minds and that there is real life not just an illusion of life. But the shocking thing about His claim is that He claimed to actually be that objective way of salvation, that objective truth and that objective life. He is the source of all true salvation, truth and life. No other religious leader, when asked, would even come close to making those claims. The religious leaders of Jesus' day also knew that only one person in the whole universe could rightfully make that claim--God Himself. They understood Jesus to be claiming that He was God in the flesh. To attempt to punish Him for His blasphemy, they tortured and executed Him. When He was dead they thought, "Well we showed Him and everyone else that only God can rightfully make those claims and get away with it." But ironically Jesus rose from the dead to prove His claims to be the only true way of salvation, the ultimate source of truth and the ultimate source of life. He proved, by His resurrection, that He is God. What is more, when we have a relationship with Jesus we have a direct relationship with the source of salvation, truth and life.
More resources:
Budziszewski, J. How to Stay Christian in College. Colorado Springs: Navpress. 1999, p. 71.
Copyright 2005. Gary C. Burger and New Media Ministries. This article may be reproduced and distributed freely as long as it is done so in its entirety. If quoted it must be properly cited as a reference.
