It may be true that our favorite pie is apple. And in knowing that, a friend may bake an apple pie for us.
It may be true that we like dogs, and we may own one. We may like to go to nature trails where other people walk their dogs. Our dogs can play together, and we can talk together ...perhaps beginning to talk about our dogs, then talking about other things.
These may be our beliefs, what is important and true about how we feel and some specifics about what makes for a happy life. Yes, these are the things that are uniquely true for us.
There are also beliefs that are based on other things that are not unique to just us ...that are not just true for us. It's not just our feel-good stuff. It is what is truly true.
Seven multiplied by seven is fourty-nine ...and 49 is spelled forty-nine, even if I want to spell it fourty-nine. Likewise, two plus two is not just what I'd like it to be. And a mule comes from a donkey and a horse ...mules can't reproduce, no matter how stubbornly I want to believe otherwise.
So, in this unique category of beliefs ...there are basically two groups. There are things we believe that are true, and there are things we believe that are false. Let me rephrase that ...to say that it's not just the things we believe are true, it's the things that are true that we believe. And there are also false things that we believe to be true. It is important what we believe ...but, truth is not dependent upon what we believe. Truth is true, in and of itself.
In some cases, truth may not matter much. Let's take the example of a diamond. We have many fakes out there ...probably the most commonly known one is the Zirconia jewelry. Perhaps you'd prefer to call it an imitation or a substitute, instead of a fake. After all, many people say that the Moissanite jewelry has more luster, and some people like it better than a diamond.
In our society, we readily accept many imitations such as imitation sugars, butter, syrup, eggs, cheeses, and meats ...to name a few. We feel some are more healthy, yet some are not ...and we often, in a rush, start our day with these or take quick breaks throughout our busy days to fill ourselves with substitutes.
Others are not merely substitutes, but fakes. Most of us have heard of the horrific Haitian dirt cookies. Yet, other countries have also had their occasions ...of trying to pass industrial salt as table salt, putting dirt in black pepper, or even flavoring cardboard. And though many of these may not pass your country's inspection ...how easy is it to pull one over on your dog, as long as it's packaged well and appears to be a bargain? After all, who really does a taste test?
Yes, some substitutions or imitations may matter little to you. But, how about when it comes to God. Just like there is a true diamond, and many others that are not ...you may think the fake gods have a lot of luster. Or you may like the substitute beliefs formulated around false doctrines and religions better than what others may tell you is the truth.
So, in this unique category of beliefs ...there are basically two groups. There are things we believe that are true, and there are things we believe that are false. Let me rephrase that ...to say that it's not just the things we believe are true, it's the things that are true that we believe. And there are also false things that we believe to be true. It is important what we believe ...but, truth is not dependent upon what we believe. Truth is true, in and of itself.
In some cases, truth may not matter much. Let's take the example of a diamond. We have many fakes out there ...probably the most commonly known one is the Zirconia jewelry. Perhaps you'd prefer to call it an imitation or a substitute, instead of a fake. After all, many people say that the Moissanite jewelry has more luster, and some people like it better than a diamond.
Others are not merely substitutes, but fakes. Most of us have heard of the horrific Haitian dirt cookies. Yet, other countries have also had their occasions ...of trying to pass industrial salt as table salt, putting dirt in black pepper, or even flavoring cardboard. And though many of these may not pass your country's inspection ...how easy is it to pull one over on your dog, as long as it's packaged well and appears to be a bargain? After all, who really does a taste test?
Yes, some substitutions or imitations may matter little to you. But, how about when it comes to God. Just like there is a true diamond, and many others that are not ...you may think the fake gods have a lot of luster. Or you may like the substitute beliefs formulated around false doctrines and religions better than what others may tell you is the truth.
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