The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Shaina D. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research on "Truth"
As Christians believe in absolute truth, however many in the secular world believe in pragmatism, or relativism. According to Webster's Dictionary, pragmatism is "an American movement in philosophy founded by C. S. Peirce and William James and marked by the doctrines that the meaning of conceptions is to be sought in their practical bearings, that the function of thought is to guide action, and that truth is preeminently to be tested by the practical consequences of belief." Professor of Philosophy, Douglas Groothius, gives a concise description of pragmatism in his article "What is Truth?" in which he states: "A pragmatic view of truth may be implied in some kinds of relativism. This view holds that a belief is true only if it works for a particular person. Therefore, Christianity may be "true for me" if it helps me, but false for another if it doesn't help her". A good example of this idea was expressed at Woodstock 50 years ago. At this event, hedonism was acceptable. Because there was no truth, there was no wrong.
Relativism is cited in Webster’s Dictionary as "a theory that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of the mind and the conditions of knowing" or "a view that ethical truths depend on the individuals and groups holding them." Relativists believe that your culture defines what truth is. For example, In India the primary religion is Hindu. Those who practice this religion believe that the cow is sacred. In our predominantly Judeo-Christian culture, beef is a staple in many diets. Those who believe in relativism would accept both points of view as truth based on what each culture believed to be acceptable. In contrast to the relativist theory, Douglas Groothius states, "Truth is a quality of statements, not a matter of subjective response or majority vote or cultural fashion."
The founding fathers clearly believed in absolute truth. The constitution was founded to uphold truths, as we see in this excerpt: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
We, who are in Christ, believe that as we build a personal relationship and grow in Him, His truth will be revealed to us through His word. In John 14:6; Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
