Saturday, July 25, 1998

Conclusions on truth, taste or opinion

By ELBERT N. DOSSEY

Guest Columnist

In the July 11 issue, a casual parallelism is introduced in the column, "People who judge beliefs of others often are wrong" and "America searches for 'all or nothing' religion."

The particular similarity exists in the search for truth in Christianity. This calls for a definition of terms. The concern is whether we can know the truth and how we can tell whether something is true or false.

I belive we can say that in truth the object known must be identical with the percept or concept of it, but in order to validate what it affirms, the thing must also be.

Therefore, there can be no proposition true for me but that true for others. This kind of variance removes the conclusion from truth to taste or opinion.

In the article regarding judgment of beliefs, the author refers to Christian beliefs. I do not believe anyone would question the proposal that Christian beliefs adhere in Christianity, defined in part by Webster as the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture.

This sets a standard on a very firm basis and established by authority as a rule for claiming association with the word Christianity, by either thought or action.

It is not subject to change by any so-called New Age or New Covenant discovery that "has its roots in American culture."

Another reference seems to imply that Jesus' statement, "...the kingdom of God is within you" establishes personal cognition as the originator of the idea rather than the reflection of knowledge concerning the kingdom Jesus so carefully expounded.

In fact, Jesus referred to the kingdom by the terms "is like" or "is as" 14 times in the gospel of Matthew. The kingdom of God, realm, reign and rule of spirit is - totally independent and unchanged by human conceptions of it.

I agree that freedom of belief is a worldwide issue, but at the same time I must acknowledge that man has been free to believe whatever he chooses to believe since the Garden of Eden experience.

The dictates of church or creed or council can do little to reform the egoist - true authority lies in his own experience of Christ's redeeming love. A religion void of a standard and diluted by discussion ceases to be theology and becomes another session where all opinions are equal.

The goal of removing barriers between people and establishing any kind of unity where we can "all come together" is Utopian at best.

I understand the dilemma experienced by D'Agostino, referred to in the "all or nothing" religion article. There is a superabundance of "faith without intellect" all around us.

There is also a school of "intellect without faith." But neither of these are standards on which a judgment may be made. Each individual may decide to work out his own salvation by study and demonstration.

Apparently, D'Agostino is familiar with the teachings of Aristotle - at least in some degree. He knows there is no conflict between faith and reason. Surely he has learned that reason, in fact, is the handmaid of faith.

I would encourage him to "go on" with individual study - to practice Aristotle's fourth definition of change as "coming to be."

He can cross the gap to Christian faith without accepting the formal rites of either Catholicism or Protestantism. He doesn't have to give up all the lessons of Aristotle - rather, use them - to propel himself forward, knowing the philosopher carried them as far as he could at the time.

The life of Christ Jesus, as recorded in the Bible will supply its own proof. He demonstrated the deathless principle of life. He came to show mankind who God is and their inviolable relationship with him. He proved his words by his works.

(Elbert N. Dossey, a native of Mitchell County, is retired from public accounting and has done post-graduate work in philosophy and theology.)