The Universal Quest for Truth

• As humans, we naturally seek and depend on truth in every area of life
• We trust doctors to give accurate diagnoses and treatments
• We rely on supermarkets for correct expiry dates and honest product labels
• We expect banks, insurers, and financial advisors to be truthful
• We demand honesty from family, friends, and loved ones
• Yet when it comes to religious truth, many suddenly claim “there is no single truth” – why the double standard?

1. What is truth?

• Truth is telling things as they really are – it conforms to reality and is provable
• Truth is discovered, not invented
• Truth exists independently of whether anyone knows it, believes it, or accepts it
• Truth is constant, cross-cultural, and valid for all people, in all places, at all times
• Truth does not change with emotions, culture, opinions, or personal feelings
• Even if no one recognizes it, it remains true
• Even if everyone rejects it, it remains true
• Even if only God knows it, it is still the truth

Truth is Absolute, Not Relative

• If something is true, it is true for everyone, everywhere, always
• Truth is narrow and precise – it is not flexible or subjective
• Examples of absolute truth:
  • 2 + 2 = 4 (not 3 or 5)
  • Jesus either rose from the dead or He did not – both cannot be true at the same time
• The opposite of truth is falsehood; they cannot both be true simultaneously
• For real knowledge to exist, we need belief, truth and justification.

The Self-Defeating Nature of Relativism

• “There is no absolute truth.” → This itself claims to be an absolute truth → contradiction
• “All truth is relative.” → Is that statement relative or absolute? → self-defeating
• “It may be true for you, but not for me” → logically collapses under its own weight

2. Why Truth Matters

• Without objective truth, education and learning lose their purpose
• Denying truth opens the door to injustice, deception, manipulation, and bullying
• Wrong views of truth destroy the foundation of genuine morality and authentic religious faith
• Truth is not just a philosophical concept – it is the cornerstone of a meaningful moral and spiritual life

Conclusion

Recognising, pursuing, and defending objective truth is essential for:

• A coherent worldview
• A just society
• A vibrant moral life
• A genuine Christian faith built on reason and evidence

“Truth is absolute, unchanging, and discoverable—and our lives, relationships, and eternal destiny depend on embracing it.”

Further reading True for You, But Not for Me: Overcoming Objections to Christian

Faith (Paul Copan)