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Objective Truth: Can Something Be True for Me but Not for You?

Episode Summary

Can something be true for one person but not for another? And when it comes to God, is truth a matter of personal belief, or is there an objective truth?

In this episode of Ask a Priest, Fr. Tim explores the difference between objective and subjective truth and why understanding that distinction matters for Catholics.

Drawing on St. Thomas Aquinas, Fr. Tim explains that truth is our minds conforming to reality. Using some fun examples involving coffee, the Chicago Bears, and even Captain America versus Iron Man, he breaks down the difference between personal preferences and truths that exist regardless of what we think or feel.

But what happens when we apply this distinction to God’s existence? Fr. Tim explains why the statements “God exists” and “God does not exist” are objective claims, and why both cannot be true at the same time.

He leaves us with a question worth bringing to prayer: If God truly exists, how should that change the way we live?

Next episode, he goes deeper into truth, especially for us as Catholics. For now, chew on it.

[00:00:00 –> 00:00:01] can something be true for

[00:00:01 –> 00:00:05] (Music)

[00:00:05 –> 00:00:12] within the Catholic Church, is hugely important.

[00:00:12 –> 00:00:18] Jesus Christ said, I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life.

[00:00:18 –> 00:00:26] And when we get close to truth, we get close to God. When we fall away from truth, we fall away from God.

[00:00:26 –> 00:00:33] incredibly important for our understanding of who God is and the reality of the world around us.

[00:00:33 –> 00:00:34] So what is truth?

[00:00:34 –> 00:00:37] Truth is what is.

[00:00:37 –> 00:00:46] St. Thomas Aquinas really helps us out on this. St. Thomas Aquinas says, okay, truth is my mind conforming to reality,

[00:00:46 –> 00:00:49] my mind agreeing to reality.

[00:00:49 –> 00:00:54] so me sitting on this couch in core coffee or core coffee shop.

[00:00:54 –> 00:01:03] If I was to say I’m sitting on a chair, my mind is not conforming to reality because I’m sitting on a couch.

[00:01:03 –> 00:01:05] Truth is what is.

[00:01:05 –> 00:01:11] Even if I wanted to sit on a chair more than I’ve ever wanted to do anything in my life

[00:01:11 –> 00:01:19] that doesn’t take away from my mind not being conformed to reality. Reality being I’m sitting on a couch in a coffee shop.

[00:01:19 –> 00:01:21] So truth is what is.

[00:01:21 –> 00:01:31] But there are two types of truth, and this is where the answer to the question comes in. There’s objective truth and then subjective truth.

[00:01:31 –> 00:01:33] So objective truth

[00:01:33 –> 00:01:40] is truth that conforms to reality. Is truth that is what is.

[00:01:40 –> 00:01:44] The objective truth that I am holding a core coffee cup right now.

[00:01:44 –> 00:01:49] This is a core coffee cup from our core coffee shop.

[00:01:49 –> 00:02:05] Subjective truth is that’s just what it is. It’s subjective. It is according to the person. It’s according to the subject. For example, I love core coffee more than Starbucks.

[00:02:05 –> 00:02:12] Core coffee is way better than Starbucks. That is subjective truth.

[00:02:12 –> 00:02:20] someone could come into our coffee shop who probably doesn’t love Jesus and says, yeah, I love Starbucks more than core coffee. I’m joking.

[00:02:20 –> 00:02:31] But someone could come into our core coffee shop, probably a demon, and say, I like Starbucks better than core coffee. Again, subjective truth.

[00:02:31 –> 00:02:36] Objective truth is core coffee sells a latte for six dollars and twenty five cents.

[00:02:36 –> 00:02:44] So let’s put this to the test. I’m going to say some statements and you just say is a subjective truth or subjective truth.

[00:02:44 –> 00:02:46] Core coffee tastes way better than Starbucks.

[00:02:48 –> 00:02:55] Subjective. Chicago Bears are the most amazing team in all of NFL.

[00:02:55 –> 00:02:57] Subjective.

[00:02:57 –> 00:03:02] I love litany’s more than novina’s.

[00:03:02 –> 00:03:02] Obviously subjective.

[00:03:02 –> 00:03:06] I think that Captain America would win in a fight against Iron Man.

[00:03:06 –> 00:03:09] Obviously subjective.

[00:03:09 –> 00:03:12] and last but not least, God exists.

[00:03:12 –> 00:03:17] Not subjective. The only not subjective. It is objective.

[00:03:17 –> 00:03:28] So we can see that there are objective truths in our life and there are subjective truths. But when it comes to God existing,

[00:03:28 –> 00:03:30] is that objective or subjective?

[00:03:32 –> 00:03:34] It’s an objective statement.

[00:03:34 –> 00:03:38] God does not exist, that is an objective statement.

[00:03:38 –> 00:03:41] As Catholics, not an objective truth.

[00:03:41 –> 00:03:46] either God exists or God does not exist. Both cannot be true.

[00:03:46 –> 00:03:52] A person cannot honestly and irrationally say,

[00:03:52 –> 00:03:57] for me, Jesus is real. For you, Jesus may or may not be real.

[00:03:57 –> 00:04:00] whether God exists or God does not exist.

[00:04:00 –> 00:04:07] are objective statements and we have to figure out which is the objective truth.

[00:04:07 –> 00:04:32] This can be a great thing to pray about. Next episode, we’re going to go deeper into truth and what that looks like, especially for us as Catholics. But for now, great thing to pray with. Great thing to take to your prayer or even just to think about is, okay, the statement God exists is objective. The statement God does not exist is objective.

[00:04:32 –> 00:04:45] if God does not exist, if that’s the objective truth, then play that out. What does your life look like if God does not exist and that’s objectively true for you, for me, for everyone?

[00:04:45 –> 00:04:46] But then,

[00:04:46 –> 00:04:53] ask the question, okay, God exists, that’s objective. That’s the objective truth.

[00:04:54 –> 00:05:02] So what does your life look like? What does my life look like? What does everyone’s life look like? Knowing that this is objectively true.

[00:05:02 –> 00:05:08] Chew on it, pray about it. Love you, praying for you. This is Spirit Juice. Peace.

Watch: Objective Truth

YouTube

A priest explains the difference between objective claims and personal opinions, and why “God exists” is a claim about reality, not a matter of taste.

Key Takeaways

  • Truth matters in the Catholic Church. Jesus said he is the way, the truth, and the life, and growing in truth draws us closer to God.
  • St. Thomas Aquinas described truth as the mind conforming to reality.
  • Wanting something to be true does not make it true. Reality does not change because of what we want.
  • Objective claims concern what is the case, such as the price of a latte. Personal preferences and opinions, like a favorite coffee shop or team, can differ.
  • “God exists” and “God does not exist” are both objective claims. They cannot both be true in the same sense. As Catholics, we affirm that God exists.
  • People may hold different beliefs about Jesus, but their beliefs do not make his existence true or false.
  • A good way to pray with this is to think about what your life would look like if God did not exist, and what it looks like if he does.

What This Means for Prayer and Daily Life

This week, listen for the phrase “my truth” or “your truth.” When you hear it, ask yourself a simple question: is this a personal preference, like a favorite food, or is it a claim about what is real? Preferences can differ from person to person. Reality does not change because of what any of us believe.

Then take the priest’s invitation into prayer. As Catholics, we affirm that God exists. This exercise is a way to see what difference that truth makes in your life. Set aside a few quiet minutes and think it through in two steps.

First, imagine that God does not exist. What would your life look like? What would you hope for, and what would you build your life on?

Second, remember that God does exist. What does your life look like now? What changes?

Take both answers to Jesus and be honest with him about where you are. You do not have to have it all figured out. He can handle your questions.

A simple prayer for this week:

“Jesus, you are the way, the truth, and the life. Help me to love what is true, even when it is hard. Show me where my life needs to line up with reality, and draw me closer to you.”

FAQ Section

Truth is our mind conforming to reality, which means understanding things as they are. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that truth is found in the intellect when it conforms to what it understands.

Objective claims concern what is the case, whether or not someone believes them. Personal opinions or preferences express an individual’s judgment or taste, such as liking one coffee shop more than another. A claim about someone’s preference, like “I like this coffee shop,” can still be true or false as a statement about that person.

Personal preferences can differ. You can like one team more than another. But a claim about reality is not made true or false by someone’s personal belief. People may disagree about what is real, but contradictory claims cannot both be true in the same sense.

It is an objective claim because it makes a statement about reality. As Catholics, we affirm that God exists.

Yes. It makes a claim about reality, so it is objective in that sense. But an objective claim is not necessarily a true claim. As Catholics, we affirm that God exists, so “God does not exist” is not true.

Truth matters because our faith concerns what is real, and God is the first truth. Jesus says he is “the way, and the truth, and the life.”

Think it through in two steps. Imagine your life if God did not exist, then remember that he does. Bring both pictures to Jesus in prayer, and ask him to show you what is true.

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