What is truth

Someone told another person the "truth." It was a hurtful statement. The originator of the statement claimed that it was okay to speak those words because it was the truth. Them's fighting words.

Off on a tangent go I. In my mind, I'm hearing, does anyone have the "right" to speak whatever is on their minds to anyone they want without consequence because they label it the truth. And while we're at it, what is the truth? Not talking about God's Truth, that's a whole other topic for another post.

Truth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Truth can have a variety of meanings, from the state of being the case, being in accord with a particular fact or reality, being in accord with the body of real things, events, actuality, or fidelity to an original or to a standard. In archaic usage it could be fidelity, constancy or sincerity in action, character, and utterance.[1] The term has no single definition yet about which over fifty percent of professional philosophers and scholars agree[who?], and various theories and views of truth continue to be debated. There are differing claims on such questions as what constitutes truth; what things are truthbearers capable of being true or false; how to define and identify truth; the roles that revealed and acquired knowledge play; and whether truth is subjective, relative, objective, or absolute.

Too many times when people speak the "truth", they are just stating an opinion, an impression, a concept, a perception, or using logic. That's a toughie to decipher. They may actually believe that they "know" the truth. Not an actual lie.

I once told someone that a certain phrase he just used (and that many attribute to the bible) is not actually biblical. Nope not in there. He responded yes, it is. And he believed he was right, that he was telling the truth. It sounded good, everyone says it, so it must be truth. I researched it because I too thought at one time that it was biblical. (Turns out that a man who did not believe in God was cited as the author of the words.)I was able to make up my own mind, and decided to drop it... No one was hurt by this particular exchange.

Not too long ago, a friend of mine was in the back seat of a car. Another persons purse was back there. The wallet that should have been in the purse was not there when she got out. Logic led to a very hurtful situation. The whole truth will never be known, because the person who was missing the wallet just did not know if it was left at a store she had been at earlier.

A few people became involved and insisted that my friend hand over her purse to make sure the missing wallet was not in it. They were sure of the "truth" because of logic. The wallet was not in my friend's purse. She was hurt and embarrassed to think that they assumed she would steal.

I told them that it would probably make me leave the church if someone accused me of stealing. I was told that people who have a defensive attitude have a problem. The "truth" of that statement eluded me as well. I took offense and had to ask God's forgiveness.

Bottom line, if we claim something is the truth, and believe it, that is fine, but nothing gives us the freedom or permission to hurt someone irresponsibly. I am setting a new standard in my life... wish me luck.