There’s a meme I keep seeing that pictures two men looking at a symbol on the ground that could be either a ‘6’ or a ‘9.’ The man at the top says it’s a ‘9’ while while the man at the bottom says it’s a ‘9.’ Both men are correct from their perspective. The picture is a perfect depiction of relativism – “Truth is determined by my experiences and perspective.” This meme is a slam-dunk for you who believe “my truth” can be different than “your truth.”
But before you congratulate yourself for a decisive philosophical victory over people (like me) who are not relativists, allow me to share a couple of thoughts from my narrow, exclusive point of view.
When you replace the symbol with a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7, the meme doesn’t work anymore. You can recognize a ‘5’ even when it’s upside down. Replace the symbol with a ‘0, 1’or an ‘8’ and you see the same symbol whether viewed from the top or bottom. The truth only seems to be relative with one numeral out of 10. In other words, 90% of the time ‘your truth’ and ‘my truth’ will agree.
Hold on, I’m not finished…
The meme doesn’t give us any context about the symbol. There are no other numerals in the vicinity to use as reference. We don’t know who put it there either. If it was one of the guys in the picture, he could tell us whether we are looking at a six or a nine. The person who created the symbol is the authority. That person’s ‘truth’ takes priority over yours (and mine).
When my granddaughter was about 4 years old, she started drawing little symbols on all her papers that looked like crude renderings of male genitalia. Her mother asked about the drawings and Cami informed her that they were, “shampoo bottles.” Not every interpretation of artwork is accurate. The artist’s interpretation is the only true one.
Remember that perspective isn’t fixed. When you rent a car, you are encouraged to check the vehicle for pre-existing damage so that you don’t get charged for dents and scratches that aren’t your fault. You can’t check the car by just standing in front of it. You have to walk around and look at it from different angles.
You can’t accurately evaluate religion from one perspective. As a relativist, you think the opinion you formed about Christianity from your single point of view is ‘just as good’ as my opinion formed by looking at it from multiple angles. You believe truth is something that we make up for ourselves. You believe the symbol is a nine and a six at the same time. You are incorrect.
(Proverbs 18:17) “The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.”
One Response
And this is where people interpret “my truth” wrong by only looking at the car from one angle. What is actually meant by my truth is my experience. My truth means exactly that-no need to make it more than it is with some meme about 6 and 9.
I was diagnosed with cancer at 22 and my Christian community turned their backs on me. Having a baby? Meal train for weeks! Get cancer? Crickets.
I have the medical records, scars, and permanent bald spot to prove it. I have phone records showing only incoming calls from the pharmacy and the medical center. My parents can vouch for the fact that no one bothered to come visit me, nor call them. THAT is “my truth.”
NB: My mother is a squirrel and keeps every piece of paper known to man. She probably has the title to her first car. Phone records from a decade ago? Yup.