(Note: There are two items to note: 1. If your belief does not fit into the broad category of Judeo-Christian belief, may I suggest that you read the following for an understanding of those who embrace such. However, may I also suggest that you consider fitting your religious truth system into a similar presentation format and forwarding it to me. 2. The material in this section serves as something of an introduction the the next two sections)
Returning to the subject of the previous blog, consider again the external versus internal origins of truth only this time focusing upon the Judeo-Christian belief. Certainly there elements common to both. Rationally discovering trends and systems of truth is not the private property of Judeo-Christian Theology. However, there are at least two distinctive which will be considered below.
TERMS TO CONSIDER
Before giving consideration to a very general overview of the History of Truth/Reality the following terms are offered as a starting place.
§ The Great Enlightenment
§ Rational Optimism
§ Skepticism
§ Pessimism
§ Pragmatism
§ Modernism
§ Post-modernism
In broad brush strokes, Judeo-Christian belief held predominance in the West even into and through the Dark Ages. Then in the period between 1650-1750, rationalism began to offer other alternatives to the faith view. The result was that in time this rationalism took precedence to
The following quote by John MacArtheur, pastor, commentator, and author will put some of these terms in perspective.
“The belief that mankind, on his own, could formulate the perfect philosophical system—one that would fully explain all of reality—reached its peak during the Enlightenment. Human reason, it was thought would eventually discover the answers to all of life’s questions, and thereby solve all of society’s problems. The assumption was that through intellectual achievement and the growing body of scientific knowledge, humanity would eventually bring about a utopia. Hence there was no need for religion, which had kept people in stifling darkness for centuries. There was no interest in divine revelation or salvation, since man believed he could save himself from his problems.
“But the optimism of the Enlightenment has faded to black in recent times. The unimaginable slaughter of two world wars, the unfathomable evil of the Holocaust, and the terrifying reality of nuclear war quickly shattered the unrealistic idealism of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In its place, skepticism and pessimism began to take old, as feelings of uncertainty (about life and even reality) became more and more widespread. Increasingly, the very concept of truth itself came under fire, especially the possibility of knowing absolute truth...
“The skepticism of the twentieth century culminated with the rise of postmodernism, a worldview that is still in vogue today. In contrast to the modernists, whose rationalistic optimism flowed out of the Enlightenment, postmodernists reject the notion that ultimate truth is knowable or even exists. Rather, they contend that the “truth” people believe are merely societal norms created by the culture in which they live. Thus there are no timeless truths, only ephemeral preferences. Whatever works for people is truth for them; pragmatism and relativism reign supreme. (Ironically, the only thing postmodernists are absolutely certain of is that nothing is absolutely certain. As a result, they are forced to defend an illogical position—namely that it is a universal, comprehensive truth that there are no universal, comprehensive truths.)
MacArthur, John The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, John 1-11 (Chicago: Moody Press, 2006) pp. 351-53.
AGE SUGGESTS THE DURABILITY OF JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRUTH
Far older in age than Modernism and Post-Modernism, which will be consider a bit later, there has existed the belief in Judeo-Christian truth. Most certainly there are those who argue against age as a validating factor in order to favor some notion of progressive thought as being superior. However, consideration must be given to the durability of truth as compared to the more recent thought fads that seem to be in vogue.
THE BROAD ACCEPTANCE OF JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRUTH
When consideration is given to the numbers of adherents to Judeo-Christian truth, it is apparent that it has been embraced by a higher number of people than any other religion. Even today, when all Judeo-Christian faith groups are totaled something over 2.1 billion label themselves as Christian or adherent to Judaism (Judaism alone has on the order of 13-15 adherients).
USER FRIENDLY JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRUTH
It is Judeo-Christian truth that requires no particular level of intelligence or education for understanding and yet when mined for deeper truth, their depth is inexhaustible. The fact is that these Scriptures and the truths and principles contained therein come of transcendent revelation and are nothing short of miraculous in nature. That transcendent revelation contains two elements which are supernatural in nature.
Judeo-Christian Truth is Transcendent
The first supernatural element is that its origins are from the exterior of the universe or the previously mentioned box as we know it. Indeed it finds its origins in the Divine.
Judeo-Christian Truth is Accessible
The second supernatural element is that it is revealed to the believer on his level of comprehension. That is to say that the Scriptures are made available to everyone upon his level. That is exactly why the child who is learning to read can comprehend the Scriptures as can the intellectual.
Thus the mystery and the miracle of Divine revelation is that such revelation is made available to all people of all times on their level. Take for example the simple statement "God is love." From the earliest days of a child's understanding, through the developing years, the productive years, the retirement years, all the way through to last days of one's life, that statement can be understood, the only difference is in the depth of understanding. So it is with other elements of Judeo-Christian faith.
UNIVERSAL JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRUTH
Too basic Judeo-Christian belief is universal in that it applies to all. That is to say that it may find cultural application but the basic tenants and principles present are universal.
OBJECTIVE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRUTH
This is a truth that is objective in that it does not depend upon circumstance. It simply exists without regard to time, culture, and the individual. It is as eternal as the God whose character and nature it reflects. While nuances of application may vary over time, according to culture, and in the individual, the basic elements of its existence does not! Thus love is always love, murder is always murder, deceit is always deceit, etc.
The best way to describe such truth/reality is that it is not so much a belief in God as it is a belief with God. In other words, it is completely compatible and consistent with the nature and character of the Divine, the God who is!
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