How is the Truth determined?

[arthra]

I've been trying to decide what the truth is. The two texts that have been drawn my attention are the Bible and the Quran. I am familiar with the stories so maybe that is why I feel as though there is truth in each book. But I cannot bring myself to say undoubtedly that either one is the Word of God. How can I know if either book is the Truth?

The manner of revelation is to me an important factor.

The Bible had an oral tradition that was passed down over centuries and set down to writing and you have a variety of languages from Hebrew to Aramaic (Syriac) to Greek as in
Septuagint
Definition of KOINE

In the case of the Qur'an the language was Arabic and revealed through Muhammad within twenty years or so. The Uthmanic Qur'an is the standard.

For me the Bible is inspired but not necessarily accurate. The Qur'an is a more direct result of Divine Revelation but to understand it requires knowledge of the context and meaning of the alliteration of the text.

 

[BilliardsBall]

I've been trying to decide what the truth is. The two texts that have been drawn my attention are the Bible and the Quran. I am familiar with the stories so maybe that is why I feel as though there is truth in each book. But I cannot bring myself to say undoubtedly that either one is the Word of God. How can I know if either book is the Truth? How can anyone? I don't think it reasonable to say that one should rely on the feeling of it sounding true. For me they both feel true despite their sometimes conflicting messages.
I know there are other spiritual books and I have not given any time to reading them. Although I have not heard of anything that intrigues me as much as Christianity and Islam.
I am only just starting to really wonder about the world and the more I think about it I feel even more lost. What is going on in this world? I can't make out what I am supposed to be doing in my life. How do I determine what living as a True Human Being is? Hearing about conspiracy theories, the theory of evolution, claims of alien abductions and all types of ideas people have about how to live life, it's too much.....What, if any of it, is Real?

The biblical God invites individuals to personal rapport. You can speak to God and He to you.

The god of Islam offers no such human contact.

Another contrast--one offers fulfilled prophecy, life changes, healing, peace, etc.

Go with the Bible.

 

[arthra]

"The God of Islam offers no such human contact"

Let's take some examples from Islamic sources..

"He hears you whenever you call Him. He accepts your prayer whenever you pray to Him. Invoke Him to grant you your heart's desire, lay before Him the secrets of your heart, tell Him about all the calamities that have befallen you and misfortunes which face you, and beseech His help to overcome them. You may invoke His Help and Support in difficulties and distresses.
You may implore Him to grant you long life and sound health, you may pray to Him for prosperity and you may request Him for such favours and grants that none but He can bestow and award.
Think over it that by simply granting you the privilege of praying for His Favours and Mercies, He has handed over the keys of His treasures to you. Whenever you are in need you should pray and He will confer His Bounties and Blessings."

(Ali b. Abi Taalib, Letters from Nahjul Balaagh)

"And if God were to extend provision to His servants they would be wanton in the earth. But He sends-down by measure what He pleases; verily, of His servants He is well aware and sees. He it is who sends down the rain after they have despaired; and disperses His mercy, for He is the praiseworthy patron."

(The Qur'an (E.H. Palmer tr), Sura 42 - Counsel)

"But God knows best who your enemies are, and God suffices as a patron, and sufficient is God as a help.'

(The Qur'an (E.H. Palmer tr), Sura 4 - Women)

 

[Thief]

We seem to agree

what was useful as 'truth' today
may prove to be tomorrow's lie

The truth can't really be determined by humans. What we do, instead, is try and determine what works within our experience and understanding of reality, and we call that "the truth" until we are forced to replace it with something that works better.

 

[Mxborg]

I've been trying to decide what the truth is. The two texts that have been drawn my attention are the Bible and the Quran. I am familiar with the stories so maybe that is why I feel as though there is truth in each book. But I cannot bring myself to say undoubtedly that either one is the Word of God. How can I know if either book is the Truth? How can anyone? I don't think it reasonable to say that one should rely on the feeling of it sounding true. For me they both feel true despite their sometimes conflicting messages.
I know there are other spiritual books and I have not given any time to reading them. Although I have not heard of anything that intrigues me as much as Christianity and Islam.
I am only just starting to really wonder about the world and the more I think about it I feel even more lost. What is going on in this world? I can't make out what I am supposed to be doing in my life. How do I determine what living as a True Human Being is? Hearing about conspiracy theories, the theory of evolution, claims of alien abductions and all types of ideas people have about how to live life, it's too much.....What, if any of it, is Real?

The Book of Mormon can shed light on your question, that which is good can come only from God, thus by observing the fruits of the Christianity and the fruits Islam, you can ascertain which of those two religions are from God.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Hearing about conspiracy theories, claims of alien abductions

Well, that crap isn't true. As for the rest (besides evolution which is just scientific reality), it's a matter of the heart.

 

[Dantedeven]

What is the truth. Well what is the question? We all want the ultimate truth. Because the truth is true and honest. Both noble traits. Is Islam the definate religion of God? Is Buddhism evil? Do i need to light insence before a statue of in order to please God? What is the truth! We want the truth!


Well what is it, you know the truth already.
Whatever works for you personally, and gives sukha out of nothing, that is the truth.
It is that thing that works wonders for you and you know it works because when you experienced it, you felt it, and people said that have improved dramatically, but somehow you keep forgetting it and so you suffer again until you remember to never forget the truth. And that is the truth.

If I was looking for the ultimate truth, i might be looking for a different ultimate truth then you.
I have had many different truths. And i have found truth in the Quran, the bible, Dharma you name it.
Whenever you feel these questions you do not have the insight to answer.
Let your intuition guide you.

Today i will draw a tarot card.
Today i will open my bible and read the sentence i blindly pick.
Today i don't want to have the answer nor the question, so i will sit and meditate.
Today i need support from above, so i will pray and thank God.
I sense negativity in my mood, i will say a mantra.
My mind is wandering away, thinking about stuff that is irrelevant. Time to perform a incense ritual.

Religion is not the ultimate word of God.
Religion contains the ultimate word of God.
Religion has God, but God does not have a religion.
Religion teaches you to satisfy God and love him.
For to satisfy the Lord, whom you love so much, means
nothing else but satisfaction to yourself.

 

[Whitestone]

(2Ti 3:15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
(2Ti 3:16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
(2Ti 3:17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
(Isa 9:6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
(Joh 8:23) And Jesus said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
(Joh 8:24) I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
1Pe_1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe_1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Rev_1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

 

[Dropship]

I've been trying to decide what the truth is. The two texts that have been drawn my attention are the Bible and the Quran..

Think "credentials"..
Jesus's arrival was foretold multiple times in the Old T-
Jesus said:- "All things about me in the law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.....the scriptures testify about me..Moses wrote about me" (Luke 24:44 John 5:46)

Whereas Mohammed just arrived unheralded out of nowhere.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

I've been trying to decide what the truth is. The two texts that have been drawn my attention are the Bible and the Quran. I am familiar with the stories so maybe that is why I feel as though there is truth in each book. But I cannot bring myself to say undoubtedly that either one is the Word of God. How can I know if either book is the Truth? How can anyone? I don't think it reasonable to say that one should rely on the feeling of it sounding true. For me they both feel true despite their sometimes conflicting messages.
I know there are other spiritual books and I have not given any time to reading them. Although I have not heard of anything that intrigues me as much as Christianity and Islam.
I am only just starting to really wonder about the world and the more I think about it I feel even more lost. What is going on in this world? I can't make out what I am supposed to be doing in my life. How do I determine what living as a True Human Being is? Hearing about conspiracy theories, the theory of evolution, claims of alien abductions and all types of ideas people have about how to live life, it's too much.....What, if any of it, is Real?

We have two fairly reliable sources of truth -- science and reason. Neither is infallible--science may arrive at incorrect conclusions as it only has limited evidence to work from (which is why science self-corrects when new evidence comes to light), and many times an individual does not have good logic (we are much better at rationalizing than reasoning lol).

However, there are many issues that science and reason cannot provide answers for. In such cases, we are justified in looking to our intuition. Intuition is not entirely reliable. BUT it has evolved because it has helped to keep us alive.

Most of what we call belief or faith is intuited. For example, you do not accept the Quran or the Bible because science or reason proves them. You accept them because you have placed your faith in them -- your inuition tells you that this or that book can be trusted. Usually this happens because we are born into a community that trust a particular text, and so our default position is to trust that text.

I wouldn't stress too much about whether the texts are "the word of God." Instead, see them as texts that God can speak to you through, even though they are written by men. Ask yourself, "What can I get out of this passage?" They are texts that have proven their uselfulness in meeting our religious needs because they have withstood the test of time.