• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Jared Dees

Author. Speaker. Teacher.

  • About
    • Now
    • Projects
    • Speaking
    • Contact
  • Books
    • Beatitales
    • Tales of the Ten Commandments
    • Take and Eat
    • Do Not Be Afraid
    • Pray without Ceasing
    • Prepare the Way
    • Advent with the Angels
    • Take Up Your Cross
    • 15-Minute Stations of the Cross for Kids
  • Articles
  • Worksheets
  • Children’s Stories
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

Objective & Subjective Truth

By Jared Dees

He doesn’t think of doctrines as primarily ‘true’ or ‘false’, but as ‘academic’ or ‘practical’, ‘outworn’ or ‘contemporary’, ‘conventional’ or ‘ruthless. Jargon, not argument, is your best ally in keeping him from the Church.

C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, Chapter 1

Like a lot of people, I grew up with an education that was steeped in objective truth. This is the keystone principal that guided all public education.

We should all be grateful for the focus on objective truth. That seems to be the one thing missing within a world of “fake news” and individualism.

Yet, we have to be careful not to go too far.

Yes, truth must be objective, but many truths–especially the spiritual ones–must also become subjective without losing their universal truthfulness. What I mean is, we have to work towards belief with our whole hearts and not just our minds.

While this might not be the way C. S. Lewis would phrase it, rereading the first chapter of The Screwtape Letters made me realize the dangers of exclusive attention to academic, objective truth.

We need to challenge ourselves and others to ask not only objectively, “What do Christians believe?” or “What should a Christian say or do?” but “As a Christian, what do I believe?”

We can certainly accept something as objectively true even if it is difficult to believe. A much bigger challenge and a hurdle for atheists and outsiders is to accept something as subjectively true in our hearts.

There is a balance that we must achieve and model for others and it only comes through active learning and discovery.

You cannot be a passive Christian.

March 6, 2018 Filed Under: On Spirituality

About Jared Dees

Jared Dees is passionate about sharing practical resources to teach faith. He is best known for his website The Religion Teacher and is the author of many books including 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator, To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach, Praying the Angelus, Christ in the Classroom, and Beatitales: 80 Fables about the Beatitudes for Children.

Previous Post: « Get the Other Person Saying “Yes, Yes” Immediately
Next Post: The “Meet the Characters” Email Autoresponder »

Primary Sidebar

Jared Dees

Author, Speaker, Teacher

📬 Tools to Teach Faith 📬

I send many weekly email newsletters every week with tools to pass on faith:

👨‍🏫 The Religion Teacher’s Sunday Planner 👨‍🏫

Lessons, activities, videos, and worksheets for religious educators.

Get teaching resources here >

📖 God’s Word Wednesday 📖

Bible stories for kids.

Get Bible stories for kids here >

🏰 Formative Fiction Friday 🏰

Short stories to help kids find confidence, character, and a relationship with Christ.

Get stories for kids here >

Jared’s Newest Books

  
    
 
 
   
 
 

Jared’s Popular Website for Religious Educators

Search the Site:

Footer

Connect with Jared Dees

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Jared Dees is passionate about sharing practical resources to teach faith. He is best known for his website The Religion Teacher and is the author of many books including 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator, To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach, Praying the Angelus, Christ in the Classroom, and Beatitales: 80 Fables about the Beatitudes for Children. See all of Jared's Books →

Stories for Children

Copyright © 2023 · Jared Dees