Thinking about new things is always good :).

Truth. Glad you asked that question. The following comments will be in no particular order and express vastly different angles of Truth.

Method of Measuring Truth:
This is interpretation, which quite honestly, is completely relative. In this since, it is true that everybody is "right" in their own way, but this is simply interpretation which is subject to biases, as you mentioned. Because of this, of our fallen nature, there is no formulaic method for finding the TRUE interpretation of Truth. Now I shall shatter this topic into several different concepts. (Note, in discussion of truth, it applies to all types of truth, not just theological or philosophical, but also 'scientific', cultural, psychological, ethical ... etc)
The Truth of Interpretation. Often people miss the truth entirely, that truth isn't necessarily one thing or the other ... but the framework, the ability to make a reference. In a way, sometimes Truth is "meaningless" without a bias interpretation. In order for one to understand the thing that they are looking at, they must create a definition for that thing - but in so doing, they have affected it by simply observing it. This is a frustration to scientists, because scientists are suppose to "observe" from a neutral state, however it has been scientifically proven that observation of an experiment actually changes the reality of the experiment. Think of the dual wave theorem, matter is both a particle and a wave, depending on how you observe it ... it will be a wave, then it will be a particle ... it is both a wave and a particle, although these two things are contradictory because the traits of a particle are vastly different from a wave.


To better illustrate this, think of the "The Lady and the Hag" optical illusion. This not only illustrates analogously how matter can be either a wave or a particle simply based off of observation, but it also goes to show the bigger picture, that the way we perceive reality affects it. I am going to say something that might shock you, however it will hopefully be cleared up as I go on further, that in this little discussion of truth we are dealing with multiple variables and understanding of truth. From this we can see that truth is relative based on interpretation. Utoh, that sounds bad, don't worry though, ... what I'm saying here is simply that if we WERE to see truth itself ... each person might interpret it differently based on their experiences. Meaning, there is no way to absolutely be sure that what you know is true.
So yes I could be wrong, but I can't.
Naturally this leads to a more sensitive question then, what about morals and ethics, what about reality?

Well, we could debate for eternity whether it is a lady or whether it is a hag, whether it is a particle or whether it is a wave ...
but this very process is ignoring Truth.
You see, that observation of truth, that interpretation of truth has nothing to do with Truth itself. Truth is altered by our observation of it, however that doesn't change Truth. Truth is absolute, while truth is not. Truth cannot change, while truth is relative. Note the capital T and the lowercase t. The things I said above about 'truth' being relative were primarily from an observable perspective, even timespace quantities are not true quantities. If you were to accelerate a box exactly a foot long to near speeds-of-light, the box, relative to a box stationary on earth, would have a different size, same with sequence (the correct term for what is most commonly called "time"). Time itself changes, despite it being an absolute measurement, its been proven in experiments that a clock in a jet at high altitudes flying around the world (therefore less pull of gravity) actually counted at a different rate than a clock sitting back on earth, this is called time-dilation, the actual affect is so minimal it is of no significance, but the concept is still there.
In this case, what little t truth is is simply our measurement of Truth, which is how we observe and interpret it - we first must have a definition, a measurement, a standard, of Truth before we can even contemplate what it is. However, because of that, truth is flexible, bendable, differentiable, variable, dynamic, relative.

Now what about Truth itself?
Aah, now hopefully I'll make some sense (non of this timespace curvature blather). Remember that photo of the Lady or the Hag? This is where it should be crystal clear:
Have the lines that formed the picture changed?
Forget the face, forget it all. Just look at the composition, the structure. The very framework of the image does NOT change, from person to person. Every person sees the same thing. However, their brain is pre-conditioned (because this is how the brain works, it is a social network of data, recognizing patterns) to "see" the image. The physical image passed to the brain is actually "upside-down" (because of the way light comes into your eye, when it bounces the captured image is flipped because of the reflection), but the brain, before you can even realize it, flips it into a non-vertigo, biologically, chemically proper perspective. (actually, if you wear glasses non-stop that mirror everything, after a while your brain will flip it again, I forget how long this takes, whether it is just hours, days or months).
What I am saying here, is every perception, regardless if it is sight or even sensory, is altered - that perceiving reality alters reality (this is a very important Christian concept too, but this is far beyond the initial scoop of the topic, besides, you might even ask me "well how do you know it is an important Christian concept?" .... anyways, the idea is just walking empowered in the glory of God will cause reality to be transformed before you.)
Meaning what each person "Sees" is not what they "see", because each person is wired differently they all "See" the same thing but each person "sees" something different.
Keeping this in mind, look again at the picture. The only way you recognize it as even being a picture is because you "see" it, you are able to identify it, however if you were to "See" it in its natural sense, in its Truth, you would not be able to understand it, it would be meaningless.
The point here is that TRUTH is absolute, the lines of the picture do not change or bend, the lines that compose the picture, that are the framework of it, never change, it is Absolute. However, the way people define those lines as being lines inevitably varies.

I hope that makes sense. I've had these thoughts running through my head for numerous years ... so its probably messy.



"So Mark, if reality is transformed before our very eyes, how can one perceive or 'transform' reality into being the one with the most accurate truth?"
Absolute Truth dictates the laws of the universe, and the laws of the universe include morals and ethics. Just because perception is relative doesn't mean that whatever a person does is actually Right. However the only way to gauge this would be to compare it to God, since God is Truth. But since humans aren't very good, and wind up distorting Truth to their own truth ... what are we to do? Just all give up and die and sell our hats to Britain and stuff our noses with bananas?
No! Stuff them with raspberries!!
Anyways. Its a good question, how can a person know if their lenses, their perspective, the way they interpret and define reality and inevitably "transform" it ... how do they know if it is the best and most right and True one or not?
I've developed a pretty simple system, which is quite obvious, so I can't claim it is mine per se, but its what I consider the most efficient.

Since we are dealing with beings that perceive, we are going to have to analyze all the different aspects of that being. By harnessing all of the human, we can be reassured on our perspectives. The keyword is "Consistency", or you could call it moderation. The whole human being is composed of these five aspects:
Spiritual
Physical
Emotional
Mental
Volition
The first four, spiritual (soul), physical (body), emotional (heart), mental (mind) are the cores, while Volition (will) encompasses all of them, its the glue that sticks them together. Now, whether your a Calvinist or not, volition is a legitimate aspect, however, you may be beginning to sense why I argue Free Will is the most important/accurate/consistent perspective and while Calvinism is not. But either way, even a Calvinist will not disagree with Volition, they agree to Will (thus Will Power), but just not to what some people call "free" will or "autonomy".
This Quad-Core, Volition Unifying analysis is the most efficient way to calculating consistency with Truth.
Most of my works, arguments, statements ... are ALL only mental. The mind is the unit that carries out conversation, (yes, the Physical [body ... verbal words, mouth] is the most used medium of it ... the mind is still the command center for it, it is what understands it and enables you to converse). So people may only know me as being "Philosophically, Rationally, Logically, Reasonably" bent (all of those are Mental categories) ... but that is because it is the only means of expressing the others. In reality, even after (and I do intend) I spend my whole life and put down all my arguments, my reasons, my proofs, my logic into a book ... a whole life of work ... is only 1/5 of what is necessary to be confident in what you believe. It is very critical.
If I could, it would be wonderful to have an Emotional banter with somebody and develop Emotional proofs ... however, Emotions just don't work this way. So there is no way in my book, or in this email, that I can prove to you my other 4 vital aspects. I CAN prove to you, mentally, absolutely, by logical arguments, however ... if these aren't equally balanced, in moderation, and consistent with the other 4, it can be fallacious.
I hope you understand what I am saying.
That THAT everything I am saying can only help you in 1/5th of an area, the mental.
Now, I can help you in the other 4/5ths, but usually they are either only expressed through the capacity of the 1/5th (mental) or they are too different/difficult to deal with. For instance, in an emotional sense, I can be your brother, out there to help you, however ... even in the emotional way, I can only really communicate this through a mental aspect. And especially in American society, emotions are often misinterpreted because America is obsessed with incorrect notions of "love" ... so emotions, in America, is thoroughly a hard arena to express with in their native sense, and very confusing by communicating them through the mental port because the mental port is inadequate in expression emotions (if they were adequate, the "Emotion" category of the human wouldn't exist). Spiritually I have the ability to pray for you and sorts, and this will affect you, however due, once again, to a Nation, as I state in my speech, that is watered down in materialism, the Spiritual capacity is often ignored ... and. Well, I hope you are getting the picture that utilizing and analyzing and balancing all of these 5 aspects is horrifically difficult.
So primarily, in helping people, the easiest form is the Mental 1/5th, in reason and logic, because people have been able to find universal standards for these things to be expressed. While these universal standards do exist for all the others, they are often muddled and confused with most people. Such universal standards are (though inadequately expressed now through Mental terms) are Love, Hate, Chaos, Peace in Emotion; Morals, good bad, right wrong in Spirit. Science, earth water air fire in Physical. Belief, focus, synergy, in Volition.

Over the course of six plus years since understanding these principles, I have very carefully and cautiously tracked everything, most notable obviously is my Mental records with vast philosophical collections. However great my Mental compositions may be, the only way to know if they haven't gone helter-skelter is if I check and balance them against the other vital cores. About half a year ago I started realizing that my Mental abilities in my Theology were far outweighing my Emotional, I had frighteningly discovered that for the last two years ... I was severely lacking "feeling" God, I had, at times, of course, but compared to prior to those two years I was very emotionally close to God. One of the most horrifying sensations is when you cease to feel God's presence. Emotionally, God didn't exist for me, a black hole had turned in my heart and the dark knight rode in the night of my heart. Now note, the last few sentences probably seemed very overly-dramatic and passionate ... but thats exactly my point, there I am consciously expressing poetically my emotional notions.
If however, I were to allow my emotions instead to outweigh me, (which, ahum, no offense, seems to be a problem with many girls), I would be a disaster, rollercoasters and flippancy and finickiness.
Same and vice-versa with all the cores, they most be balanced ... and when you find these sense of balance you realize that Christian principles are the most coherent. I can prove the logic (mental) side for Christianity, however I do not have effective persuasive skills over the other 4/5ths of most humans as people have developed for the 1/5th of mental reasoning. Obviously we get into some sensitive areas when we discuss other aspects, like the Physical (body) and Emotional (heart). I do have effective power in emotion, vastly trivial compared to mental abilities, but every human we come in contact with we are able to tug (or set fire to) their heart, I can and do and have utilized the emotional aspect as much as I can, as a Christian I am called to love people, so as much as I am graced, I try to love people, because I find humans amazing and beautiful ... made in the Image of God - which if you note, is the 5/5 aspects. Physically, though most of this usually is in reference to factual data like archeology and sorts which is mostly a co-operation with the mind (mental), when it comes to communicating (which in turn is a co-function with the heart) there is an opportunity here to, like hugs! I honestly believe that if people were to give more hugs, if there were to be more tangible expressions of agape brotherly/sisterly love crime rates would plummet and wars would stop. By expressing myself physically I can entertain people, fascinate people with unique abilities (ear twitching, nose bobbing, eyebrow rolling...) - I can act, I can perform. If you note, that each of these five aspects can be used in itself for good and bad, they are all tools, and that the good and the bad of each is determined by the moderation of each. You must balance all five, but even within each of those being balanced, in order to achieve that balance you must moderate each one itself. If I were to go around being promiscuous and sexually active I would have put an over-emphasis on Physical (body), which in turn will (and does) hurt the rest of your being due to an improper balance, emotionally my heart would be shredded. These concepts have a dramatic impact on your every day life, every moment decisions and actions, and an extensive consequence on your family and friends. In one way, it is way marriage is so sacred, it requires two individuals of moderated balance, but the beautiful thing is that each other then becomes able to be united coherently, just as each 5/5 needs to check/balance the other 5/5, marriage allows two souls to check/balance/watchoutfor/

I'm back.

And I have some incredible news that has been developing over the last four months. But it must wait. Patience, Patience. (God has blessed me with this, too).

I <3 God.
Love you!