I don't blindly follow my faith. Like you guys, I want to understand things better. This post is a reminder of the different ways we can understand that God exists and that the Bible is true. I hope it helps you too if you have the same questions or doubts. I hope you can find the time to read and think about it.

Thanks for reading this. Remember, I love you all very much.

The Big Question

Is the Bible true? That's a big question people have been trying to answer for a long time. Some people see the Bible as the ultimate guide to what's right and what's wrong. Others see it as a book of stories that we can interpret in many ways. But what does "true" really mean? In this post, we're going to dig deep into this big question and try to understand different ways to think about truth. By doing this, I hope we can approach the Bible with a more open and critical mind.

What Does Truth Look Like?

Let's start with a great quote about truth.

"In the end, we arrive at a kind of truth by way of a million little lies." - Haruki Murakami

In the world of social media and news outlets, this quote by Haruki Murakami takes on a new level of relevance. The information we receive from these sources is often made up of smaller, potentially inaccurate or incomplete pieces, similar to the "million little lies" that the quote refers to. These pieces are curated from various perspectives, biases, and interpretations, and when presented to us, they are often claimed as the 'truth.'

However, the subjective nature of these fragments can result in a distorted representation of reality. This distortion can be due to several reasons. For example, social media algorithms are designed to show us content that aligns with our existing beliefs and biases, which can lead to echo chambers where our views are constantly reinforced and rarely challenged. News outlets, on the other hand, may present information from a specific angle or bias, either intentionally or unintentionally, impacting the way we perceive the truth.

Consequently, the 'truth' we absorb from these sources is like a mosaic built up from these smaller pieces of information. We piece together these fragments to form our understanding of reality, an understanding that is inevitably personal and subjective. The danger here lies in accepting these pieces as the whole truth, without questioning their context, origin, or reliability.

Diagram Explanation: In the diagram below, you can see the dynamic relationship between ourselves, the social media algorithms, and the truth. It starts with an individual issue, which is then filtered through social media algorithms and our inherent biases. This process often distorts the issue, resulting in a perception of the truth that is influenced by numerous small, potentially inaccurate pieces of information. Importantly, notice the feedback loop that illustrates how our engagement with these distorted truths further informs and shapes the algorithms, creating a cycle that can perpetuate and amplify our existing biases and beliefs.

This is particularly significant when it comes to complex and subjective topics like politics, social issues, or scientific debates that are often the hot topics on social media and news platforms. Each person’s interpretation of the facts can differ greatly based on their unique experiences, biases, and beliefs, making it even harder to discern a clear, objective truth in these matters.

Therefore, it's crucial to approach information on social media and the news critically. We must remember that while these sources can provide us with valuable insights and information, they should not be the only factors shaping our understanding of the truth.

The Role of Confirmation Bias and The Challenge of Acceptance

It's important to remember that our interpretation of the 'truth' is not solely influenced by external sources like social media and news platforms. Our own cognitive biases play a significant role too. One of these is confirmation bias, which is our tendency to seek out, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms our existing beliefs and values.

Confirmation bias can be particularly potent in the context of social media and the news. It's a common human trait to be more comfortable with information that aligns with our existing views, rather than information that challenges them. This can lead us to unconsciously choose sources of information that reinforce our beliefs and ignore those that dispute them. It also means that we may dismiss new information that contradicts our viewpoints, even if that information is valid and reliable.

This bias can make it incredibly challenging to admit when we're wrong. It can lead us to cling to outdated or disproven beliefs simply because they're familiar and align with our worldview. Overcoming confirmation bias requires conscious effort, humility, and the willingness to be wrong.

The key is to always be open to new information, to question our assumptions regularly, and to actively seek out different perspectives. By doing so, we can continue to grow and learn, and develop a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the world around us. This is particularly essential when it comes to interpreting complex and subjective topics, such as those presented in the Bible.

Navigating Various Perspectives on Truth

There are a lot of different ways to think about what it means for something to be "true." Here are some of them taken from philosophy:

Coherence theory of truth: Truth is when what we say or believe makes sense and fits with other things we know to be true. For example, if you say that lying is bad, but then lie to your friend to avoid hurting their feelings, your beliefs aren't making sense. This theory has been discussed by various philosophers but is often associated with the work of the German philosopher G. W. F. Hegel, whose philosophy emphasized the interconnections of all aspects of the universe.

Correspondence theory of truth: Truth is when what we say or believe matches up with the real world. For example, if you say "the sky is blue" on a clear day, your statement matches the real color of the sky. This is one of the oldest theories of truth, going back to ancient philosophers like Aristotle and Plato, though it has been further refined by later thinkers.

Pragmatic theory of truth: Truth is when what we say or believe works well in achieving what we want. For example, if taking a medicine helps your headache, even if it didn't find out why you had the headache, it was still true in the sense that it worked. The American philosopher William James is one of the key figures in pragmatism, and he argued for a conception of truth in terms of its usefulness and practical consequences.

Alethic pluralism: Truth can be different depending on the situation. For example, a scientist can explain a sunset by talking about the weather, and a poet can describe a sunset by talking about beauty and feelings. This is a more recent development in philosophy, championed by philosophers like Michael P. Lynch who argue that there might be more than one way in which a statement or belief can be true.

Relativism: Truth can change depending on where and when it's used. For example, in some cultures, making eye contact when you talk is rude, while in others, it's a sign of honesty. The notion of truth being relative and varying depending on context has been discussed by numerous thinkers across different cultures and eras, but is often associated with postmodern philosophers like Jacques Derrida and Michel Foucault.

Trying to understand truth is like trying to give a cat a bath. It's tough, and it can be messy, just like our cat doesn't like water. Just like there are many ways to think about truth, there are many ways to think about whether the Bible is "true."

Is the Bible True?

Answering if the Bible is true is tricky. It depends on how we define "truth." Let's use each way of thinking about truth we discussed to approach this question:

With the coherence theory of truth, the Bible would be true if its stories and lessons make sense and fit together.

The correspondence theory of truth would require us to look at the real-world facts and evidence to see if the Bible's stories match up with what we know about history and science.

The pragmatic theory of truth would evaluate the Bible based on how well it helps us reach our
goals or live a good life. For many, following the teachings of the Bible can lead to a life of compassion, love, and a sense of purpose, which may make it true in this sense.

Alethic pluralism would say that the Bible can be true in different ways depending on the context. For example, a historical analysis might conclude that some events described in the Bible didn't happen exactly as written, but a moral or theological analysis might still find great truth in the lessons those stories teach.

Relativism might view the Bible's truth as dependent on cultural and personal perspectives. For some cultures and individuals, the Bible may hold deep truths, while for others it may not resonate as much.

Truth and Science

The question of whether the Bible is true can become particularly complicated when we consider scientific knowledge, like what we know about dinosaurs and DNA. This is where we can think about the relationship between faith and science.

While some people see science and religion as conflicting, others see them as complementary. Francis Collins, a famous geneticist and Christian, describes his belief in "BioLogos," the idea that God is the source of life and that evolution is the process by which life developed. According to this view, there's no conflict between believing in God and accepting scientific evidence for things like evolution or the age of the Earth. I happen to fall into this category of believers.

So, if you're puzzled about where dinosaurs and DNA fit into the Bible, remember that many religious people and scientists don't see a conflict between their faith and scientific knowledge. They see the Bible as teaching important spiritual and moral truths, and science as revealing how God's creation works.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many ways to think about whether the Bible is true, and it doesn't have to conflict with scientific understanding. Each person needs to find their own understanding of truth and how it relates to their faith.

Remember, it's good to ask questions and have doubts. Just like you guys, I'm always learning and growing in my faith. It's a journey we're all on together, and I hope this post has given you some new ways to think about your own beliefs.

Let's continue to have these important conversations. Don't hesitate to come to me with any questions, doubts, or thoughts you have. And always remember that no matter what, you are loved by God and by me.

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