What is Truth?

2004-9-30 06:07:00

The Question:
Jesus gave us the truism: You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32

Question:
In what way does the truth make us free? Give an example.

John C states:
There are two kinds of freedom: Freedom FROM and Freedom TO.

I think it is also interesting that Jesus doesn't state that "knowing the truth shall make you free", but "the truth shall make you free".

Most people know about the truth; fewer know the truth; fewer still are the truth.


JJ:
Great points John.

Ruth W. gives another interesting example:
Every time we are able to see the truth in ourselves, or others, we are able to see what we/they are doing wrong and take corrective action. If I cook something that doesn't taste good, I have to recognize what I did wrong and correct it so that it will taste good. Then I don't have to worry about it anymore.

Tom writes:
Also, the truth gets you closer to the soul which gives out the truth to you.

Daniel who has been providing some great material writes:
The Light is the Truth because the Light shows things as they are; that is what Truth does. It is real knowledge and real knowledge counteracts ignorance. When our ignorance ceases, we are free. AS sons of God, that is continuously conscious, in life or death, on any level or plane we are on. That is our freedom. The Light will show what is real about a thing, and it also shows illusions connected with a thing, in your mind, or in the mind of others. When you see a thing as it is, or hear something without distortion, it corrects your understanding.

Evelyn writes:
Learning to recognize truth is key. Because "Whatever you think and hold in consciousness as being so will outmanifest itself in our actions and affairs." So if you don't like what you're manifesting, perhaps you're not expressing truth. How do you know when you're expressing truth--your life changes for the better; when you get exactly what you ask for. Truth is stable and unwavering. Therefore, we must be unwavering and stable. Truth is freedom from fear.

JJ:
These are all good points. Let us focus on John's statement which reads:

I think it is also interesting that Jesus doesn't state that 'knowing the truth shall make you free', but 'the truth shall make you free'.

Most people know about the truth; fewer know the truth; fewer still are the truth.


So what does it mean to know about the truth? You know about the truth when you have memorized some facts that are true. For instance, Grant is buried in Grant's tomb is a fact of which most of us know, but it does little to make us free.

Jesus says you shall first know the truth, then it will set you free. If you do not know the truth through rote memorization then how is the truth known?

In fact, an alternative meaning of the scripture is revealed with a slight rewording.

"You shall know what truth is and knowing this principle will set you free."

When one reads the regular translation the average reader gets the idea that you are to get some true facts in your head (like Jesus is the Messiah) and this will set you free.

On the other hand, we know that even some good true facts do not necessarily bring freedom. For instance, the Conquistadors enslaved the native American Indians with the idea of convincing them that Jesus was the Messiah. In this case a true fact helped to enslave rather than bringing freedom.

Even though true facts are useful, this is not what brings freedom.

If true facts by themselves do not bring freedom this must mean that truth itself is a principle different than a true fact. What is this principle of truth and how does it make us free?

What is life but a series of inspired follies? George Bernard Shaw