Should religion be focused on finding the truth?

[SabahTheLoner]

Something I noticed is that many religious leaders and strong religious believers seem focused on concepts such as "the one truth", "enlightenment" and "undefiled wisdom". While freedom is offered by a method that allows us to discover such concepts, it seems that more often than not the methods are incomplete, extreme or sometimes even impossible. While seeking higher truth and wisdom seems very exciting and rewarding, it usually comes with great sacrifice and obedience from the devotee.

Should we be concerned about the truth? Is there even such a thing that exists? Can we actually be sure we can find it?

 

[Mister Silver]

The problem with religion is that it claims to have already found the truth through god and therefore it has stopped seeking wisdom and knowledge outside of that religious context.

“Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.”
~ Andre Gide

 

[allfoak]

Should we be concerned about the truth? Is there even such a thing that exists? Can we actually be sure we can find it?

Look to no man for the truth.
The truth is found within.
Seek and you shall find does not mean look for someone else to tell you what the truth is.
The only thing that anyone can do to help is to guide someone into knowing the truth for themselves through the use of questions and such things as koans.

The truth is not something we find, it is something we live.

 

[Kenny]

The problem with religion is that it claims to have already found the truth through god and therefore it has stopped seeking wisdom and knowledge outside of that religious context.

“Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.”
~ Andre Gide

Love the quote. But a better one "Those who are seeking truth doubt the ones that found it". KenS

Not sure about the first thought. It isn't that one necessarily stops seeking wisdom and knowledge outside of the religious context but rather judges the wisdom and knowledge within the context of truth found in the religious expression for it is their plumb line

 

[Skwim]

Something I noticed is that many religious leaders and strong religious believers seem focused on concepts such as "the one truth", "enlightenment" and "undefiled wisdom". While freedom is offered by a method that allows us to discover such concepts, it seems that more often than not the methods are incomplete, extreme or sometimes even impossible. While seeking higher truth and wisdom seems very exciting and rewarding, it usually comes with great sacrifice and obedience from the devotee.

Should we be concerned about the truth? Is there even such a thing that exists? Can we actually be sure we can find it?

The notion of "the truth" is only a gimmick to assure believers and would-be believers they're in the right place.

.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Something I noticed is that many religious leaders and strong religious believers seem focused on concepts such as "the one truth", "enlightenment" and "undefiled wisdom". While freedom is offered by a method that allows us to discover such concepts, it seems that more often than not the methods are incomplete, extreme or sometimes even impossible. While seeking higher truth and wisdom seems very exciting and rewarding, it usually comes with great sacrifice and obedience from the devotee.

Should we be concerned about the truth? Is there even such a thing that exists? Can we actually be sure we can find it?

Asking about a truth we say is supposed to be unknown is like saying tell me the directions to this place without telling me where you going. Religious leaders all know they are on the road To truth. Some have faith that truth is X. Some have experience that truth is Y. All say they dont know until they get to the destination. Anyone who says they have the truth is saying I have an idea what truth/destination is but only "god" knows for sure type of thing.

Reading too much into religion can make one ask many of questions. But I would think after awhile we would stop asking,

Are we there yet?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Should we be concerned about the truth? Is there even such a thing that exists? Can we actually be sure we can find it?

Sure, we should be concerned with it. What does this have to do with religion?

 

[Nakosis]

Something I noticed is that many religious leaders and strong religious believers seem focused on concepts such as "the one truth", "enlightenment" and "undefiled wisdom". While freedom is offered by a method that allows us to discover such concepts, it seems that more often than not the methods are incomplete, extreme or sometimes even impossible. While seeking higher truth and wisdom seems very exciting and rewarding, it usually comes with great sacrifice and obedience from the devotee.

Should we be concerned about the truth? Is there even such a thing that exists? Can we actually be sure we can find it?

The truth of what?

 

[Quintessence]

The problem with religion is that it claims to have already found the truth through god and therefore it has stopped seeking wisdom and knowledge outside of that religious context.

Which religions do you mean? This has certainly not been my experience with religious traditions such as Unitarian Universalism, Judaism, or contemporary Paganism.

 

[PureX]

Something I noticed is that many religious leaders and strong religious believers seem focused on concepts such as "the one truth", "enlightenment" and "undefiled wisdom". While freedom is offered by a method that allows us to discover such concepts, it seems that more often than not the methods are incomplete, extreme or sometimes even impossible. While seeking higher truth and wisdom seems very exciting and rewarding, it usually comes with great sacrifice and obedience from the devotee.

Should we be concerned about the truth? Is there even such a thing that exists? Can we actually be sure we can find it?

The problem is that "truth" is not a singular absolute. It's a dynamic and relative phenomena that, although universal, is experienced by we humans individually and uniquely.

I, personally, find this amazing and fascinating, but for those among us that want to own the truth, like a pet rock, it must be an endlessly frustrating pursuit.

 

[DavidFirth]

The truth isn't something you find but rather the truth finds you.

 

[SabahTheLoner]

Sure, we should be concerned with it. What does this have to do with religion?

Should religion make it a goal to seek "the one truth", by means of a set method all followers should use?

 

[SabahTheLoner]

The truth of what?

That's what I would like to know. People keep throwing around phrases like everyone "knows" what "the truth" is, even if they "deny" it. If there really is a "one truth", why bother with "finding" it? If things really do have the "one truth" as the ultimate source, shouldn't we all know it by now?

 

[Mister Silver]

If things really do have the "one truth" as the ultimate source, shouldn't we all know it by now?

Indeed, which makes it more believable that each people find what they perceive to be "personal" truths as opposed to a universal truth.

 

[Mister Silver]

Which religions do you mean? This has certainly not been my experience with religious traditions such as Unitarian Universalism, Judaism, or contemporary Paganism.

When I use the umbrella term "religion" I mainly mean christianity.

 

[DavidFirth]

When I use the umbrella term "religion" I mainly mean christianity.

Of course you do. Isn't that the one that bothers you the most?

 

[Jumi]

Religion is not philosophy, at least not most religions.

 

[Quintessence]

Something I noticed is that many religious leaders and strong religious believers seem focused on concepts such as "the one truth", "enlightenment" and "undefiled wisdom".

Talk like that tends to make me shudder. Why do I have that response? It's something of an unfortunate result of involuntarily perceiving those who use such terms as:

• ... saying such things to increase their perceived status or importance, whether to themselves (ego stroking) or others (peacock posturing).
• ... a way of evoking power over others' thoughts and behaviors by claiming to command some sort of special authority or knowledge that they do not have.
• ... disregarding or dismissing that others have their own way and that attempting to replace their ways with yours is not necessarily better or more right.

Perhaps this isn't necessarily the case, but the moment someone starts talking about special wisdom, my eyebrow shoots up and I go "oh, really?" Narratives like the one below only further this suspicion for me:

While freedom is offered by a method that allows us to discover such concepts, it seems that more often than not the methods are incomplete, extreme or sometimes even impossible. While seeking higher truth and wisdom seems very exciting and rewarding, it usually comes with great sacrifice and obedience from the devotee.

It is claimed that the methods are difficult or that the path is difficult. It seems to me claims like this feed into that overarching "I have special knowledge so you should look up to me and listen to what I say" rubbish. I couldn't begin to tell you what a "higher" truth is; sounds like ego stroking gobbledygook to me. I could begin to tell you that wisdom and inspiration are literally everywhere. Your milage may vary, though.

Should we be concerned about the truth? Is there even such a thing that exists? Can we actually be sure we can find it?

I think that we should speak solely for ourselves on such matters and do what is in keeping with our own individual natures. Speaking personally, I do not make "the truth" any sort of goal. Generously granting that "the truth" even exists, I do not believe for a moment that humans - being non-omniscient, non-omnipresent, and non-omnipotent - can know it (or know that they know it). What I find important is... well... see my signature about stories. We tell ourselves stories. Be mindful of your stories.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Should religion make it a goal to seek "the one truth", by means of a set method all followers should use?

I don't see why "seeking one truth" or even "seeking the truth" in a general sense should be any more the goal of religion than it should be the goal of any other hobby.

As for "a set method"... the best method to find the truth is to allow every valid means of inquiry and to reject every invalid means. Anything other than that is asking for trouble when looking for "truth".

 

[sun rise]

Should religion make it a goal to seek "the one truth", by means of a set method all followers should use?

To me there is no 'set method' for all. People are very different so what they need is very different. "There are as many paths to God as there are souls on earth." Paths can include any of these: selfless service, meditation, devotion, use of the arts to evoke the divine, studying nature as God's creation, science to understand the conceptual beauty of creation and so forth.