RATIONALITY OF RELIGIOUS TRUTH CLAIMS

A blog titled Truth vs. Truth that recently appeared on Mormon Metaphysics gives an interesting interpretation of the “I know the church is true” comment that is commonly spoken in LDS testimony meetings.  The author suggests that rather than construe this statement in a Greek absolutist fashion (where truth is agreement between thought and external facts), we may interpret “true” as reflecting an existential commitment to the church of Christ.  Thus, when someone says, “I know the church is true,” that statement may be interpreted as expressing a commitment to the church in much the same way that a husband is “true” (committed) to his wife.  

This new way of interpreting the “I know the church is true” statement will surely bring comfort to those who criticize by saying: “You can’t say that because you don’t know for sure.”  Yet sometimes it is appropriate for people to say “I know it is true.”  They really do know something to be true.  

Take the statement, “I know that God lives.”  Now, personal knowledge in the existence of God exists on a continuum (excuse the linear analogy).  Every point along that continuum is called faith, except for the endpoint where faith gives way to absolute knowledge.  Absolute knowledge is reached once we receive a physical AND spiritual manifestation that He lives.  The Nephites who touched the nail prints and thrust their hands into His side (physical), AND received a witness from the Holy Ghost that they were looking at the Lord of heaven and earth (spiritual) no longer required faith – they had reached the end point and knew for certain that He lives.  

What about the rest of us who are still going on faith?  Can we say that we know He lives?  Can we find certainty in our faith?  Yes, we can.  Our knowledge can be perfect in the evidence that we have received.  Those of us who “see” evidence of divine design in the world around us and have felt spiritual witnesses from the Holy Ghost have certain knowledge of those things.  In other words, we KNOW that an orderly universe evidences intelligent design and we KNOW that we have felt feelings of love, joy, and peace that come from the Holy Spirit.  The limited knowledge that we have received is certain.  Granted, we have not reached complete knowledge where faith is no longer required, but as any good scientist will attest, you don’t have to have absolute and complete knowledge before you claim to know something is true.   

So when people testify that they know that God lives, are they are justified in making such a claim?  Yes, in cases where their physical and spiritual evidence is sufficient to lead them to believe in a supreme being.  It is important to remember that what is sufficient evidence for some may not be sufficient evidence for others.  Doubting Thomas is a good example.  He was not willing to accept the testimony of others that Jesus was resurrected from the dead, and until he saw the savior he could not testify that he knew that Jesus was resurrected.  However, for many people, the testimony of prophets and spiritual witnesses are sufficient for them to say that they know that Jesus lives.  It is possible to know that Jesus lives without having seen and touched the resurrected Lord.

In religious matters we should be careful to not criticize people for failing to meet our personal criteria for establishing truth.  There is great diversity in the power of personal spiritual manifestations and in people's interpretation of the strength of the data.  We should not allow ourselves to become "criticizing Thomases" and criticize others for making religious truth claims based on evidence that does not live up to our standards.   (Mormons and Science 08.08)