By: Kyle Austin

Here's a statement we hear often today, "That may be true for you, but it is not true for me." The person claiming that all truth is relative to each person. So that brings up the question, "Is truth really relative to each person?" I submit to you that truth is not relative to each person and here are four reasons why.

1. If something is true it is true for all people in all places at all times. The amazing thing about truth is it transcends all people, places, and times. What is true for one person in Africa in 1920 is true for another person in Mexico in 2021. An example is: The freezing point of water is 32° Fahrenheit or 0° Celsius. This is true for someone in 1818 in Venezuela, in 1920 in Africa, and also in America in 2021. It can be tested and determined whether it's true or false. Another statement would be that Apple makes the iPhone and the latest model is the iPhone twelve. That's true for somebody in Japan, somebody in the Middle East, and also somebody in South America.
2. Truth is discovered, it is not invented. Think about this. Gravity existed long before Sir Isaac Newton ever discovered it. People thought for years that the world was flat when in fact the world was round. Those truths were discovered not invented. When we think about truth, it is that which corresponds with its object. It tries to describe the true reality of that object. And the great thing about truth is it can be tested and proven as fact or false.
3. Truth does not change even though our beliefs about truth may change. No matter how hard we believe something, we can't believe it into being true. Beliefs can't change facts no matter how hard a person believes or how sincere they are in their belief.
4. All truths are absolute. There is truth and there is error. There cannot be many variations of a truth. Think about a courtroom that is trying to find out if a person is innocent or guilty of murder. What are they looking for in the witnesses? They're looking for them to give the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Why is the courtroom and the judge looking for that? Because they know truth is not relative to each person. If truth was relative to each person then the courts could never count on witnesses nor could the courts accurately determine the guilt or innocence of a person. The judge understands what is true for that situation is true for all people in all places at all times and can be discovered.

If someone makes this statement to you, "All truth is relative." How should you respond? Ask them this, "Is that a relative truth?" Notice they're making an absolute truth claim when they say all truth is relative and that statement defeats itself. I guarantee you that person will expect absolute truth from their spouse not engaging in a extramarital affair or their banker handling their money.

They're going to want absolute truths with those areas of their life. 

If someone makes the statement to you, "There is no truth." Ask them this, "Is that true? How do you know that is true if there is no truth?" Again they're making an absolute truth claim that there is no truth. If someone makes this statement to you, "Truth cannot be known." Ask them this, "How do you know that truth cannot be known if there is no truth?" All three of these statements are self-defeating. Each one does what it claims cannot be done. Many times you and I just need to bring that to people's attention to how illogical and unreasonable the statement that they're basing their belief on is.

So is truth relative to each person? No! Truth is absolute and exists independent of our beliefs or feelings.