lesson 2: objective and subjective
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Is the Christian Worldview objective or subjective? Does objective truth claims actually exist? This is part 2 in the basic epistomology that is the foundation for Christian Apologetics.TRANSCRIPT
Defining Truth in Scripture and Conversation
Objective and Subjective
What is objective truth?What is subjective truth?Are both necessary in Christianity?
What have you experienced in regards to relativism?
Let’s think…
Introduce our weekly arguments.Know and apply objective and subjective
truth appropriately and with humility concerning:
The ability to know anything at all!The Old and New TestamentThe Church todayThe physical world around usThe plurality of different religious convictions
Practice responding to a relativistic, or Post-Modernist worldview.
Where we are going
We have one belief.This belief has many
different sides of arguments.
Some may be stronger than others.
We may disagree with our approaches.
We are all ambassadors for Christ. (2 Cor. 5:20)
One Belief, Many Arguments
Christ
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Ambassador
You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
"What is truth?" Pilate asked.
What is Truth?
Objective: Existing outside of me and represents the way things really are. “Insulin is a hormone needed for energy”Being Objective is different from being
Absolute It represents the connection between
facts and the declaration of those facts.
Christianity: Objective Justification“Christ died for on the cross for the
world’s sins”A sentence that represents the facts of
the matter.
Objectivity Ambassador
2 major categories of Subjective truth.1. Opinions concerning personal
like and dislike. “I like ice cream”
An objective truth applied to a particular context
Christianity: Subjective Justification“I am saved on account of Christ
alone.”
Subjectivity Ambassador
I find religion is meaningless -- solely defined for myself.This is indirect relativismHow should we respond to this?
What do I know? Ambassador
There is no truth…One must be able to understand the statement,
therefore each word must have truth outside of the sentence.
The sentiment represented in the sentence must also be true in order for the statement to have meaning.
Therefore, it must be TRUE that there is no truth. Stupid.
Question: How do you know that there is no truth? How can you make that truth statement if what you say is true?
What do I know? Ambassador
There are many truths…Possibly true if the truth statements are
completely subjective (definition 1). However, Christianity and Islam cannot be
both true, since both make competing and exclusive claims to truth. One is true, one is false, or they are both false for some third, exclusive claim.
Question: How can something be both true and not true? Is that not a contradiction?
Many Truths Ambassador
Scripture reveals the objective will of God In a particular place and time.Referring to a specific audience
addressed.With the intent and consistent
motivation that Christ is at the forefront of humanity in terms of salvation.
Therefore:We can’t make God’s word
“subjective” to our current time where it has not given us reason to do so.
OT and NT Ambassador
We have an inner testimony of the SpiritThis is a subjective truth that no one
else can share in the same way.However, our inner testimony is
objective in the sense that no other religion has a true experience, but a false one.
Therefore:The inner testimony is a proof of
God’s existence and the truth of Christ, but it may not be a convincing proof for others.
Church Today Ambassador
Unless we can utilize our faculties to understand truth and make truth claims that are consistent with the facts, we have no knowledge of the world.
Cogito ergo Sum: I think therefore I am.
Science, philosophy, and theology are all important truth bearing systems.
The world around Ambassador
Questions to clarify: What do you mean?What do you believe?How do you know what is true?What are your requirements for truth.
Statements to make:Objective truth must exist, or else nothing is
meaningful.Certain objective truths proceed others (Logic
before science).
Ambassador Ambassador
Why is it illogical to suggest that Logic, Reason, and other concepts be subjective? Could society construct their own definitions of Reason, Logic, Morality?
Also! Start thinking about Christ, and the evidences for His death and resurrection!
To think about and discuss