Interesting read! I resonate with a lot of what you said, especially in regard to people having their own truths even if those truths aren't some kind of ultimate, absolute and universal truth.
I do have one question though, it seems like you are making a distinctino between true and truth and when I look at the modern and etymological dictionaries I'm not sure I see that distinction. Furthermore, the words true and truth both have distinct historical connections to "faith", isn't that interesting?
Faith is associated with trust and oftentimes believing in something even if there isn't sufficient evidence, like in a God or Heaven or Devil and things like that, they can't prove it is true, yet they have "faith" that it is.
So... What is truth really? If even the etymological history suggests a strong connection to faith which from my perspective is often almost opposite the of such? Hmm. Interesting to think about. Thanks for sharing.
truth (n.)
Old English triewð (West Saxon), treowð (Mercian) "faith, faithfulness, fidelity, loyalty; veracity, quality of being true; pledge, covenant," from Germanic abstract noun *treuwitho, from Proto-Germanic treuwaz "having or characterized by good faith," from PIE *drew-o-, a suffixed form of the root *deru- "be firm, solid, steadfast." With Germanic abstract noun suffix *-itho (see -th (2)).
true (adj.)
Old English triewe (West Saxon), treowe (Mercian) "faithful, trustworthy, honest, steady in adhering to promises, friends, etc.," from Proto-Germanic *treuwaz "having or characterized by good faith" (source also of Old Frisian triuwi, Dutch getrouw, Old High German gatriuwu, German treu, Old Norse tryggr, Danish tryg, Gothic triggws "faithful, trusty"), from PIE *drew-o-, a suffixed form of the root *deru- "be firm, solid, steadfast."
Interesting, indeed.
The distinction I make does not start from a past or present use of the word, but from the premise that the truth is one, eternal and immutable, while there are many true things, and that those true things are also part of the truth.
Thanks and regards!
I see. Thanks for clarifying. You're welcome and regards to you as well. :)