Perhaps you misunderstand me. Your words do not "determine" truth... rather, truth is a property of language. In this case, your first statement would be true, and the second statement would be false. However, if there were no sentient beings, there would be no language at all, and thus nothing to which to ascribe the properties of truth or falsehood.
Your logic is like Zen. Hence I would venture to presume this question might make your point? If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it does it make a sound? The point of that question is also the point you are making I take it, albeit you are more definitive by answering the question with No. This is a subjective view that does not factor in the fact that their are sentient beings and they don't all agree what the Truth is. So I respectfully ask again do you believe in a Truth, as in that which we attain knowledge and destroy ignorance by?
Yes, I understand that. On the other hand, I've lost count of how many times someone has "done unto me" what they thought they would have wanted, and instead caused me great pain. I would be very surprised if you could not say the same, unless perhaps you are very young, or you're a hermit, or something.
I'm definitely something without a doubt even if I don't make a sound. If what was done to you was for your best interests I'd say it is what you would want done to you even though at the moment it might not seem like it. If however that which was done to you was calculated by a perverse intellect I get your point. My point however is not to imply any such truth would mean anything profitable to a perverse mind. I am not meaning to say a twisted mind will not twist things. I only wish to point out that true love cares about others and how our actions affect them. Do you agree with that?
No. My sense of compassion and empathy comes from a completely different source, specifically, a metaphorical acceptance of Schopenhauer's metaphysic. (Which, being atheistic, cannot have anything to do with deities.)
I see. So you do believe in something true that precedes us so that we may aquire knowledge of and that would be Schopenhauers metaphysic. I would respectfully submit that Schopenhauer's metaphysic is your god for all intensive purposes.
We in skeptical circles like to call this "having the magic decoder ring". If we point out that Christ said you cannot be his disciple unless you hate your family and even your own life, for example, Christians who are uncomfortable with that concept (which would probably be most of them) always try to explain it away
It should be called the magic obscurer ring.
While I will readily admit that there wasn't much chance of my becoming a Christian in any event,
I respectfully submit you do not know exactly what a Christ is nor why he exists, nor therefore do you know what a real Christian is, hence you say "there wasn't much chance of my becoming a Christian in any event". I am at risk of appearing to talk down to you by making that statement so I beseech you to understand that it is no one's fault that some people know things that others don't know. For this I apply the Truth that battles such a divisive spirit by saying, a wise man receives instruction with joy but a fool despises correction.
