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Truth in postmodern society

Eurasia

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The issue of grace versus karma seems a constant struggle in seeking understanding of how the world works in postmodern era. Also,the idea that
there are many truths out there or many paths to find God seems commonly accepted notion. Unbelievers reason why should we believe in the Christian God when there are many paths out there. Do you think modernism movement has a part in this deception ? What are your thoughts? How does this affect how the gospel should be presented ?
 
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GrowingSmaller

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Ty for bringing the subject up!

Personally I wish that Christianity (and the other faiths for that matter) was more theologically and practically open, such that I could go to a Buddhist temple on Monday, a Sikh gurdwara on a Tuesday and church on a Sunday. I think that the Masons have had the idea of "one God, many names" for a long time now, and I like the idea. I believe that demonising people as "unbelievers" under the influence of the devil on purely theological grounds institutionally dedredes people in our communities, and that can't be a good thing. Interfaith dialogue and the promotion of elementary levels of respect and decency, human rights etc, is a progressive measure. I know that the critical skeptic (or the true believer) might ridicule the pet idea of 'many truths', but the idea of truth does not necessarily have to be understood as correspondence. There is moral truth, truths of practical reason, true happiness etc all of which are linguistically valid but do not relate to theoretical truth of correspondence between statement and fact. Maybe the argument about truth, if it surfaces, might implicitally support the idea that philosophical concepts such as "truth" or "human nature" etc, are utilised in expressions of power and serve certain factions whilst costing others - a point where the postmodernist might say be aware, be cautious of what you are told and sold. I don't mind too much if the term "truth" is used flexibly if that helps to promote cohesion and prevent conflict whilst all else remains pretty much the same! Don't worry philosophers and theologians, you can have your time with truth as well, it's just that possibly she is such a beauty in high demand that monogomay is strictly forbidden.
 
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SithDoughnut

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Admitting that you know nothing is the first true sign of wisdom.

I've always considered that line to be one of those sentences that sounds profound but doesn't actually make much sense when you think about it. There are some things that we do know.
 
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2PhiloVoid

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The only truth is that there is no truth, as far as anyone knows. Admitting that you know nothing is the first true sign of wisdom.

If there is no truth, shouldn't you stop using the word 'is'?
 
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2PhiloVoid

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The issue of grace versus karma seems a constant struggle in seeking understanding of how the world works in postmodern era. Also,the idea that
there are many truths out there or many paths to find God seems commonly accepted notion. Unbelievers reason why should we believe in the Christian God when there are many paths out there. Do you think modernism movement has a part in this deception ? What are your thoughts? How does this affect how the gospel should be presented ?

The fact is, there is only one reality, but many attempts to articulate expressions that approximate reality, which we call 'truths'.

The fact that many paths make a claim for reality in no way indicates that everyone is actually living in the world they perceive.

Modernists tore down the assertions of the Church, while Postmodernists attempt to empower each individual with license to assert individual expressions of 'truth'.

As Christians, we should gently move people to question their underlying assumptions, as well as their emotions. No so much as to change their minds, but to sensitize them to the possibility that they could be wrong about 'something'.
 
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UnReAL13

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If there is no truth, shouldn't you stop using the word 'is'?

I guess I should clarify. Truth as in the "ultimate truth", the ultimate answers to reality. Not what we perceive as "knowledge" but what we admit to being "unknown".
 
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2PhiloVoid

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I guess I should clarify. Truth as in the "ultimate truth", the ultimate answers to reality. Not what we perceive as "knowledge" but what we admit to being "unknown".

That's better. I can hang with that. :thumbsup: The only caveat is that I would maintain that some people do in fact have clearer, or more accurate, perceptions of reality than other people.
 
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bricklayer

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The issue of grace versus karma seems a constant struggle in seeking understanding of how the world works in postmodern era. Also,the idea that
there are many truths out there or many paths to find God seems commonly accepted notion. Unbelievers reason why should we believe in the Christian God when there are many paths out there. Do you think modernism movement has a part in this deception ? What are your thoughts? How does this affect how the gospel should be presented ?

Postmoderism plays no part in the condition unto which we are born.
We are all born spiritually-dead and unable to see/hear the truth of God.
Postmodernism is an expression of the natural condition of unregenerate people.
Post modernism is an effect not a cause of man's inability to know the Truth.
 
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Resha Caner

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The issue of grace versus karma seems a constant struggle in seeking understanding of how the world works in postmodern era. Also,the idea that there are many truths out there or many paths to find God seems commonly accepted notion. Unbelievers reason why should we believe in the Christian God when there are many paths out there. Do you think modernism movement has a part in this deception ? What are your thoughts? How does this affect how the gospel should be presented ?

The Gospel is the Gospel. It should be presented for what it is.

I'll admit that postmodern views on truth put me off for a time. From a very young age I've always wanted to find something unshakable. It played a role in the career I chose. But, when I finally conceded they were right about truth - at least to the extent that when the system only includes man, no one knows the truth - my world seemed more sure, not less. It caused me to put more faith in God, not less.

The church does become a bit disingenuous from time to time, and challenging that is good. It returns the church to the essentials. But, there is only one path, not many. I agree with what Philo has said.
 
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variant

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The issue of grace versus karma seems a constant struggle in seeking understanding of how the world works in postmodern era. Also,the idea that

there are many truths out there or many paths to find God seems commonly accepted notion. Unbelievers reason why should we believe in the Christian God when there are many paths out there. Do you think modernism movement has a part in this deception ? What are your thoughts? How does this affect how the gospel should be presented ?

What does this have to do with post modernism or a post modern era?

There being one path to God was not a notion of modernity it was a notion many milena old.
 
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variant

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Variant I think the idea is tha PoMo has endorced truth pluralism.

Yes the post makes more sense in that light, thanks.

I was thinking of post modernism as a reaction to modernity but I entirely didn't think about the overlaps between modernity and religious traditionalism.
 
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