Truth

"Americans Are Most Likely to Base Truth on Feelings," reads the headline of a Barna Research Group update. When "people were asked if they believe that there are moral absolutes that are unchanging or that moral truth is relative to the circumstances," the study revealed "by a 3-to-1 margin (64% vs. 22%) adults said truth is always relative to the person and their situation." When the same question was asked of teenagers, 83 percent "said moral truth depends on the circumstances" (just 6 percent of teenagers "said moral truth is absolute"). (Barna Research, "Americans Are Most Likely to Base Truth on Feelings," February 12, 2002.)

A Barna report observes "people's willingness to draw from a variety of conflicting sources" when determining truth. "This is perhaps most clearly evident through the finding that a plurality of adults (44%) contends that, 'the Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon are all different expressions of the same spiritual truths.' Just 38% of Americans reject that idea." (Barna Research, "Americans Draw Theological Beliefs From Diverse Points of View," October 8, 2002.)