GROW IN FAITH: YOUTH – Does Truth Exist?

Beyond “My Truth” and “Your Truth”

Opening Prayer

Lord,
You are Truth itself.
Free my mind from confusion.
Help me think clearly,
seek honestly,
and love what is true.
Amen.

Part One

What the Church Teaches

The Church teaches that truth is real.

Truth is not invented.
It is discovered.

Truth is the correspondence between what we think
and what actually is.

If something is real,
it is real whether we acknowledge it or not.

If something is false,
it does not become true because many people believe it.

Christ said:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”

The Church does not claim merely to offer helpful advice.

She claims to teach what is true
about God,
about the human person,
about morality,
and about destiny.

If truth exists,
then belief matters.

If truth does not exist,
then nothing ultimately matters.

Pause and Reflect

Have I ever assumed that truth is relative?

Do I treat religious belief differently from other truth claims?

What would it mean if objective truth did not exist?

Part Two

The Appeal of Relativism

Relativism is the idea that truth depends on the individual.

It says:

“What’s true for you may not be true for me.”
“Everyone has their own truth.”
“There is no absolute truth.”

At first, this sounds tolerant and generous.

It avoids conflict.
It avoids judgement.
It avoids responsibility.

But examine it carefully.

If someone says:

“There is no absolute truth.”

Is that statement absolutely true?

If it is absolutely true,
then at least one absolute truth exists —
and the statement contradicts itself.

If it is not absolutely true,
then it does not need to be taken seriously.

Relativism collapses under its own logic.

Further:

If truth is purely personal,
then injustice is only wrong for those who dislike it.

If morality is invented,
then cruelty can be justified by opinion.

But we instinctively know:

Some things are wrong everywhere.
Some actions are always unjust.

That instinct points toward objective moral truth.

Consider

If morality is only opinion,
can we condemn slavery?

If truth is relative,
can human rights exist?

If good and evil are invented,
what protects the weak?

Part Three

Truth and Freedom

Many people fear objective truth
because they think it limits freedom.

But consider:

If a map accurately reflects reality,
it helps you reach your destination.

If a map is false,
it misleads you.

Truth does not restrict freedom.

It makes freedom meaningful.

If gravity exists, ignoring it does not increase freedom.
It increases danger.

If moral truth exists,
ignoring it does not create liberation.
It creates harm.

The Church teaches that freedom
is not the power to invent reality.

It is the ability to choose what is truly good.

Freedom without truth becomes confusion.

Truth without freedom becomes coercion.

Catholic faith insists on both.

Reflect Honestly

Do I sometimes prefer ideas that remove responsibility?

Do I avoid asking whether something is objectively right or wrong?

Have I accepted slogans without examining them?

Part Four

Why This Matters for Faith

If truth exists,
then religious belief cannot be reduced to preference.

The question is not:

“Does Catholicism suit me?”

The question is:

“Is it true?”

If Christ rose from the dead,
then His authority is real.

If He did not,
then the Church is mistaken.

If the Eucharist is truly Christ,
then worship is not symbolic routine.

If moral teaching reflects objective truth,
then it remains binding even when unpopular.

Relativism may feel comfortable,
but it dissolves conviction.

Objective truth requires courage.

It means:

Some ideas are wrong.
Some actions are harmful.
Some beliefs contradict reality.

But it also means:

Justice is real.
Human dignity is real.
God is not an invention.

Truth grounds hope.

Quiet Reflection

Sit quietly for a moment.

Ask yourself:

Do I believe truth exists?

If it does, am I willing to follow it even when it challenges me?

Where have I accepted “my truth” language without thinking carefully?

Remain in silence.

This Week

Choose one:

• Notice when you hear “my truth” or “your truth” and examine what it assumes.
• Read John 18 (Jesus before Pilate) and reflect on the question: “What is truth?”
• Identify one belief you hold and ask: why do I believe it is true?
• Pray each day: “Lord, guide me into truth.”

Choose deliberately.

Closing Prayer

Lord,
You are Truth.
Free me from confusion and fear.
Give me courage to seek what is real
and fidelity to follow it.
Amen.