Definition of Truth

Christians may claim they use the same definition of truth that scientists do, or they may think they do, but in actuality they have completely different definitions. To a Christian it would make sense to say Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is true. A scientist would say it is neither true no false because it makes no assertions. A Christian would say it is true because it is beautiful [Beauty is truth, truth beauty, —that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. ~ John Keats Ode on a Grecian Urn]. They would say it was true because it was thrilling and generated intense positive emotions.

Christians use a variant definition of truth, especially when they are talking about the bible. Christians claim a scientific hypothesis is true if it can be understood by a first grader, and if there is no better explanation that can also be understood by a first grader, that is compatible with the bible. Even if there is a ton of evidence against the hypothesis, it still true if it is the best anyone can come up with.

For a scientist, true requires that all observations be in accord with the assertion, that the assertion be in accord with other accepted truth and that several neutral people have verified the assertion. Hearsay, anonymous testimony, anecdotal evidence and the bible do not count. Faith has no part in it.

The Christian definition measures emotional attachment. The scientific definition measures predictive value.

By the Christian definitions of true, creationism is true. By the scientific definition, it is false. By the Christian definitions of true, evolution is false. By the scientific definition, it is true. By the Christian definition, Jehovah does exist. By the scientific definition, there is no evidence for any god.

The frustration and fury comes when Christians claim to be using the scientific definition. From the point of view of science, the Christian definitions have no practical significance determining which theory creationism or evolution actually predicts how nature behaves.

~ Roedy (born:1948-02-04 age:68)