Torch, Fall/Winter 2012

Fall–Winter 2008 17 I was talking with a man who taught at another university about the wonderful opportunities we have to interact with young people as they mature into adults. “That’s the best part of working in the university setting,” he agreed.” But when I said, “There’s nothing like guiding students to know and live the truth,” he looked almost panicked. “Truth,” he said. “We can’t use that word at our school. It’s too divisive.” Truth — divisive? The very idea of the university is to be the complete opposite of divisive (uni=“one”; versity=“truth”). But in our postmodern culture, even the idea of truth causes battle lines to be drawn. The following article by Cedarville Distinguished Professor Dr. Dan Estes provides brief academic and biblical perspectives on why the issues of truth and certainty are so confusing and troublesome and clears away some of the fog. In this article, Dr. Estes reflects the position and teaching of those who serve on the faculty of the School of Biblical and Theological Studies at Cedarville University. The bottom line is this: Does objective truth exist? Yes! Has God communicated it? Yes! Can we know it? Yes! — Dr. Bill Brown