The Gospel of John presents a dialogue between Jesus and Pontius Pilate occurring shortly before Jesus is sentenced to be crucified. Pilate comes across as impatient with the proceedings and perplexed by the answers that result from his questioning. As he tries to get Jesus to confess a claim to be king, and thus guilty of insurrection against Roman rule, Jesus instead replies he has come into the world to “testify to the truth.” Pilate’s response to a gruff question, seeming more dismissive than sincere, continues to echo across the ages:

What is truth?

The Search for Truth Across Cultures

In the end, we all face Pilate’s question. Thinkers across millennia of diverse cultures, societies, religions, and philosophies have grappled with the nature of truth. Seeking truth’s definition means understanding truth’s significance and integrating its understanding into daily life. 

Is truth an objective reality that exists independently of our perception? Can human beings really know a such thing as truth? Or might it be a subjective construct we create to make sense of the world around us? 

In Eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism, the search for inner wisdom and spiritual enlightenment often defines the view of truth. The concept of dharma, or righteous duty, underscores the importance of living in accordance with truth and moral principles. In Taoism, zhen represents both truth and reality, the source of all that exists.

The exploration of truth has been a cornerstone of Western philosophy for centuries. Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle contemplated truth as an abstract concept, striving to discern its essence and implications for human existence. For Plato, truth was the transcendent, pure essence of reality, and therefore absolute. For Aristotle, truth and reality had to be in accord. 

Some argue we’ve now entered a “post-truth era” where alleged truth is merely a matter of political preference as clashing sides battle over “fake news” and “alternative facts.” People might speak of their truth being as valid as another’s “truth,” insisting truth is relative and not “absolute.”

Jesus proclaimed he was “the way, the truth, and the life.” Many contemporary Christians see themselves as witnesses to the truth in the face of pluralistic and secular societies that debate and sometimes reject the meaning of truth. 

In the following sections, we’ll explore different definitions of truth before turning to the place of truth in Christian belief and practice.

Defining the Concept of Truth: Philosophical Perspectives

Simply stated, if a statement or belief matches up with reality in some way, philosophers equate it to be “true.” But what does that mean? American philosopher Richard Rorty suggests the study of truth isn’t about discovering what’s out there, but is about finding what works for us as a society. In this subjective truth perspective, each individual’s perception defines their version of reality. Personal experience and perspective help define what truth means.

On the other hand, philosophers like Aristotle argue that truth corresponds with objective reality or states of affairs in the world. This view subscribes to common sense intuition; if something aligns with actual events or facts outside of our minds (like mathematical languages accurately describing natural phenomena), then it is true.

However, philosophical understandings of truth aren’t neatly divided into objective truth or relative truth views. Concepts of truthfulness integrate two major issues in philosophy: ontology, the nature of what is real, and epistemology, how we happen to know what is real. Over time, thinkers have actually developed several different theories of truth. 

Specific Theories of Truth

The correspondence theory of truth from Aristotle’s Metaphysics holds that a statement or belief is true because it corresponds to“the way things are.” In the early 20th century, Bertrand Russell claimed that true propositions mirror facts about reality.

• For example, the truth of the resurrection of Jesus demands that Jesus actually came back to life on the first Easter morning two millennia ago.

The coherence theory of truth suggests that a statement is true because it coheres or fits well with a set of beliefs already considered to be true. Coherence doesn’t necessarily equate to “absolute truth” because someone with a different framework of established beliefs could reach a different conclusion.

• For example, “Jesus rose from the dead” is a true statement because it coheres with other statements that a person already accepts as true, like “God exists” and “The tomb was found empty.”

The pragmatic theory of truth argues a belief may be considered true if useful in practice, or with beneficial consequences for individuals or society. Charles Sanders Peirce first introduced the pragmatic theory at the turn of the 20th century, later developed by William James.

• Within the pragmatic theory, the claim that Jesus rose from the dead is true in the sense that belief in the resurrection positively transforms the life of the person who affirms it.

Postmodern or constructivist theories of truth emerged in the later 20th century, contending that truth or knowledge is relative to one’s circumstances—culture, language, race, gender, etc. Postmodern “truth” doesn’t equate to universal truth. This subjective understanding of truth argues that one’s personal and cultural frame of reference limits the ability to discern absolute truth.

• In a postmodern view, the resurrection of Jesus is “truth” that makes sense within Christian faith and practice, but is irrelevant or meaningless for non-Christians.

Seeking Truth: Scientific Approaches

Science pursues truth through the lens of empiricism or the use of evidence derived through sensory observation. The scientific method weighs truth claims on the basis of observable and measurable phenomena. The empiricist relies not on personal feelings or subjective beliefs but on indisputable facts that are tangible and quantifiable.

A cornerstone among methods used by scientists to determine facts is experimentation and systematic observation. These scientific methodologies provide a structured path toward understanding the objective reality around us beyond our own individual perceptions. 

However, even in this quest for empirical truth, challenges abound. Errors creep into even the best-designed experimental processes, and human bias sometimes taints the validity of observations. Furthermore, empirical evidence can’t always unveil the entire nature of truth, as some aspects may remain hidden from sensory perception.

Moreover, scientific “truth” is subject to constant change as new evidence emerges or old theories are revised. Science is an ongoing quest rather than a repository for absolute truths.

Psychology and Truth: Avoiding Missteps

Psychology also plays a pivotal role in the quest for truth, particularly by scrutinizing the cognitive processes that underpin our thinking.

Perception is our sensory gateway to reality. Perception is the mechanism through which we experience the world around us and forms our subjective truth. Memory archives these perceptions, retaining imprints of past experiences that shape how we interpret present situations and predict future outcomes. Attention regulates this complex interplay between perception and memory by determining what information gets processed further into conscious awareness. Attention serves as a gatekeeper, allowing access only to certain information.

Psychologists have demonstrated how certain cognitive biases or errors distort our perception, memory, and attention. Biases can result from previous exposures or experiences affecting present judgments. Heuristic mental shortcuts allow for quick decision-making but also introduce errors as they oversimplify complex matters. The halo effect, for example, causes a positive impression in one area to lead us to presume positivity elsewhere, even if it is unwarranted. The halo effect might convince us that if someone is a true friend, they can do no wrong.

These biases and errors often lead us to accept partial truths or relative truths rather than the whole truth. Consider confirmation bias, a cognitive blind spot that inclines us to favor information reinforcing our existing beliefs while rejecting opposing notions.  Confirmation bias can prevent us from seeing every side of the truth.

Cognitive dissonance, a concept proposed by Leon Festinger in 1957, refers to the mental discomfort experienced when holding two contradictory beliefs simultaneously. This discomfort acts as a catalyst for change as humans strive for inner consistency or coherence within their belief system. Cognitive dissonance explains why people might choose ignorance over acceptance of an uncomfortable truth.

Truth in Society: Law, Justice, and Fairness

The criminal justice system, government, and journalistic media function best when people believe that truth is valued highly and pursued fairly. Conflict arises when such institutions appear to express a bias toward preferred classes, races, or viewpoints.

Evidence plays a pivotal role in determining guilt or innocence in criminal trials or ruling on disputes in civil cases. Trials serve as a conduit through which facts are distilled into an objective or at least an agreed truth, as defined by our societal understanding of fairness and equity. Every individual piece of evidence, from eyewitness accounts to forensic data, serves to help paint a picture of what happened and who is at fault.

Journalists also have a traditional ethical responsibility, with a role that extends beyond simply sharing events and happenings. How reporters present the news shapes social perceptions of truth.

When the media falls prey to biases or propagandistic pressures, it wields the power to distort rather than illuminate the truth. As one ancient proverb of the Old Testament wisely states: “A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful” (Proverbs 14:25 ESV). Consequently, journalistic integrity becomes a crucial aspect of the search for truth within society.

The Significance of Truth in Christian Faith

Historically, Christian theologians and philosophers, as the classical Greek philosophers before them, have advocated the correspondence theory of truth. It is likely that most ordinary Christians think of truth in this way as well, though they may not have a name for it. Many present-day Christian scholars defend the correspondence theory of truth as crucial to faith. However, some Christian thinkers believe alternate theories of truth better serve the advancement of the gospel in an era of competing ideologies and philosophies.

For almost all Christians, truth is not merely an abstract or intellectual concept; it is a foundational element of faith. At the heart of Christian belief lies the conviction that truth is embodied in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Truth encompasses not only the realm of factual accuracy but also the domains of integrity, authenticity, and fidelity. In the Christian context, God’s truth is a call to live in accordance with God’s divine plan, to be authentic in one’s beliefs and actions, and to remain steadfast in fidelity to God’s word.

Central to the Christian understanding of truth is the belief that God is the ultimate source and measure of truth. Jesus Christ is the definitive revelation of God as truth and the bringer of eternal life. This assertion carries profound theological implications. It means that the pursuit of truth in Christianity necessarily links to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Through his teachings, life, death, and resurrection, Jesus provided a blueprint for living a life grounded in truth. His ethical teachings, parables, and interactions with people emphasized the importance of truthfulness, love, and integrity. As Christians seek to understand and live out the truth, they look to the life and teachings of Jesus as the exemplar of authentic and righteous living.

Truth as a Way of Life

Christianity considers honesty and integrity as fundamental virtues. Believers are called to emulate the truthfulness and moral character of God in all aspects of their lives. This commitment to honesty requires integrity and the authenticity of one’s character and actions.

In practical terms, Christians are to be candid and credible in their dealings, to speak honestly, and to live transparently. When Christians embody these qualities, they reflect God’s truthfulness, providing moral clarity and ethical uprightness in a world often characterized by moral ambiguity.

For Christians, “speaking the truth in love” (from the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:15) means communicating honestly and authentically but doing so with a genuine concern for the well-being of others. It signifies a commitment to building relationships based on trust and transparency. This approach to communication acknowledges that truth is not a weapon but a means to foster understanding, reconciliation, and growth in others.

Sources of Truth

Central to the notion of truth in Christianity is the belief in the authority of the Bible. The Bible is regarded as inspired by God, complete in its revelation of God’s character and purpose, the life of Jesus, and the teachings of the Christian faith.

Christians differ among themselves about the exact nature of the Bible’s relationship to other sources of truth. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox believers understand the Bible to be a supreme aspect of an entire body of tradition that includes authoritative teachings and interpretations inspired by the Holy Spirit and passed down over time. 

Protestant Christians have typically held to a view called sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”) in which the Bible is the only definitive source of religious truth. Conservative Protestants understand the Bible to be inerrant, meaning it is completely trustworthy and without error in any statements of fact. Others, including some Catholics and Orthodox, accept that the Bible is a complex anthology developed over time that may contain possible errors of fact or contradictions. Individual passages must be interpreted according to the overall message of Scripture and Christian theology.

Additionally, subjective or personal experience also plays a vital role in an individual’s faith journey and understanding of Christian truth. Personal experience may encompass dramatic conversions, profound feelings during worship, discernment of inner leadings, and other felt encounters with God. It is often within the realm of “subjective truth” that individuals find a deeper, more intimate understanding of the “objective truths” found in Scripture or Christian proclamation. In such experiences, faith becomes personal and experiential, moving from intellectual understanding to heartfelt conviction.

Theological Debates and The Nature of Truth

Differences in the interpretation of Scripture and Christian doctrine need not be obstacles to the pursuit of the definition of truth. The Christian tradition acknowledges that the pursuit of truth often involves grappling with complex and nuanced theological questions. 

Debates over matters of doctrine or ethics can serve as opportunities for refining and clarifying not only what is believed but also what is lived as Christian truth.  Theologians, scholars, and believers should wrestle with challenging issues and seek clarity within the framework of their faith. Engaging in critical discussions and challenging one another’s perspectives help Christians discover a deeper understanding of the truths embedded in Scripture. Such debates, far from undermining faith, contribute to its vitality.

Seeking Truth through a Relationship with God

Christianity offers an intimate relationship with God the Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. This relationship moves beyond an intellectual or philosophical pursuit of truth to spiritual understanding, allowing believers to seek truth in a holistic manner. Christians seek to know God intimately and to align their lives with divine truth.

Christians believe that God reveals truth through the Holy Spirit’s illumination of the scriptures as well as other material, a work that combines intellectual effort with spiritual attunement. The Spirit of truth guides believers, convicts them of truth, and empowers them to live in accordance with God’s revealed truths.

At the core of Christian ethics lies the greatest commandment, a foundational precept that Jesus emphasized during his ministry: to love God with all one’s heart, soul, and mind and to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:36-40). This commandment underscores the inseparable connection between love and truth in the Christian faith.

While they may differ on philosophy or the interpretation of the Bible, Christians generally share a dynamic and transformative approach to truth. This approach invites believers to embark on a lifelong quest, anchored in faith, guided by love, and illuminated divine grace. As they navigate the complexities of the world, Christians continue to seek truth with a steadfast commitment to faithful and loving ways, reflecting the character of God, the embodiment of all truth.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts below.

Too often, people answer faith questions with dogmatic certitude and neglect the historical diversity and complexity of Christian ideas. The Questions Project is a resource that responds to questions about faith, history, and scripture in a way that honors the historical diversity and complexity of Christian thought. But this is a work in process, and we need your help. Please provide feedback. We would love to know what you think we might have missed, and how we can improve our responses. Please keep all comments kind or risk deletion.

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