Hi, yesterday we talked about why truth matters,
that truth gives us something solid to stand
on. But that naturally raises the key question.
What do we mean when we say something is true?
Because not all truth works the same way. Think
about science. In science, truth is based on
observation and evidence. We run experiments,
test ideas, and gather data. Over time, we develop
explanations that best fit what we see. But those
explanations can change. As new evidence arrives,
our understanding improves. So, scientific truth
is strong, but it is also open to revision. Now
think about a courtroom. In a trial, the goal
is not absolute certainty. It's reaching a conclusion
beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury listens to
evidence, considers arguments, and makes the
best possible decision based on what they know.
That's a different kind of truth. Careful and
practical, but not absolute. And then there is
math. In math, truth works differently and in
a way that is inviting. We do not rely on experiments
or opinions. We start with assumptions and prove
what follows. And once something is proven, it
holds, not just for today, but always within
that system. 2 plus 2 equals 4. That does not
change with new data. It does not depend on perspective.
It is true because we can show, step by step,
why it must be true. And that is what makes mathematical
truth unique. It is not based on observation.
It is based on reasoning. And that highlights
that truth is not just what we believe, but how
we reason about what we believe. In math, reasoning
has to be clear. Each step follows from the previous.
If the reasoning breaks, the conclusion, no matter
how appealing, does not hold. But outside of
math, We do not always notice that. Sometimes,
something is called true because it comes from
a trusted source, and then that source is trusted
because it is assumed to be true. That kind of
reasoning circles back on itself. Now, that does
not mean the conclusion is wrong, but it does
mean we have not actually shown why it is true.
And math trains us to notice that difference.
Not to dismiss belief, but to examine how we
arrive at belief. Truth is not strengthened by
avoiding questions. It is strengthened when we
follow the reasoning wherever it leads. Okay,
and then there's another area where we often
talk about truth. Faith. Faith is not the same
as mathematical proof, but it is also not blind.
It is trust that develops over time through experience,
relationship, and reflection. And this is where
confusion appears. Sometimes when people talk
about truth, especially in areas like religion,
it does not feel like something we are invited
to explore. It can feel asserted, or even imposed.
And when that happens, it is easy to step back.
Not because we are against truth, but because
of how it is being presented. But maybe part
of the issue is not all truth is known in the
same way. In math, truth comes through proof.
In science, through observation. In relationships
and in faith, Truth is something we come to trust
over time. Not because it is forced, but because
it is experienced. And that changes how we approach
it. Because truth at its best is not something
we're pushed into. It is something we are drawn
toward. So my question today is, do I recognize
the kind of truth I'm relying on? And what it
can and cannot give me.