The Counting Crows have come back from the dead!

The last song on their latest album, "Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings" is called
"Come Around."

It's killer.

A minute into this song, I knew it would be a favorite of mine, stored in my memory forever like some of James Taylor's and
Joni Mitchell's.

Wow.

Holy wow.

The soul-sacredness of great art.

Very strong emotion in this song, and I didn't even know what it was about...

Then I found the lyrics.

I think this may be the Counting Crows' best song ever.

Thank God the Counting Crows have come back to life!

So cool to see resurrections.

Renaissances.

How can a song fill your soul with joy and melancholy at the same time?
A melanc holy that somehow increases the joy.

Holy wow.

You gotta hear this one before you go, no kidding.

The CD is on Repeat right now and I've played it about fifteen times in a row already.

The truth of this song is that pieces of you are in the memories of other people and pieces of other people's lives are in you, for the good, for laughter and for joy. For your soul. For love.
Forever.
Laughter and tears.
Memories.
Never gonna die.

An old girlfriend of mine told me once that she still loved other guys she spent huge pieces of her life with. They were part of her forever, even though she was no longer "in love with them."

You know, this didn't bother me at all, and it guaranteed my immortality also in her immortal soul, it guaranteed ~meaning~ no matter what happened after that--and the no matter what did happen, also, of course...

Rose DeWitt Bukater said that a woman's heart is an ocean of deep secrets.

Then she dropped the heart of the ocean into the heart of the ocean.

Compared to love, the largest diamond in the world is just a rock.

Love never dies.

For anyone.

Love and everything good never dies.

All the loving people I have ever known are still with me--aren't yours with you also, even though they are gone, even though they are dead?

Evil and evil people, loveless people, you start forgetting right away, just like pain.

But love never dies.

You gotta ~hear~ this song!!

"Come Around" by The Counting Crows

lyrics are below

I don't think I have plumbed the depths of those last lines... curious what you see...

-Curtis

Counting Crows

"Come Around"


Have you seen the little pieces of the people we have been?
Little pieces blowing' gently on the wind
They have flown down California
They have landed in L.A.
Little pieces slowly settling on the waves

I'm one of a million pieces fallen on the ground
It's one of the reasons when we say goodbye
We'll still come around We will come around

I have waited for tomorrow from December 'til today
I have started loving sorrow along the way
I am calling from some city
And I won't be there too long
I could wait and I could waste away
But what comes back is I hear you say we're gone

For all of the times that I go spinning up and down
When all of the things have died between us
Well, we'll still come around We will come around

After I've been missing for a while
And you hear that summer's song
Haven't all the fading lines lingered on?

What I know is: she's going
When you know it, it's alright
So you put yourself between you and your pride
If you wait for what's coming
And you listen to her lies,
Then she'll say the things you need to hear
And the only one who'll disappear is you

And one of the million lies she said
Is "All of the things you love are dead."
But I've seen what she thinks is love
And it leaves me laughing so we'll still come around

Other "Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings" songs

1492 Lyrics
Anyone But You Lyrics
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Hanging Tree Lyrics
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Le Ballet D'or Lyrics
Los Angeles Lyrics
On A Tuesday in Amsterdam Long Ago Lyrics
On Almost Any Sunday Morning Lyrics
Sundays Lyrics
Washington Square Lyrics
When I Dream Of Michelangelo Lyrics
You Can't Count On Me Lyrics

Coldplay Lyrics
Goo Goo Dolls Lyrics
U2 Lyrics
REM Lyrics
John Mayer Lyrics
Barenaked Ladies Lyrics
Maroon 5 Lyrics
Death Cab For Cutie Lyrics
Ben Folds Five Lyrics
Foo Fighters Lyrics

All lyrics are property and copyright of their owners. All lyrics provided for educational purposes only. Copyright © 2004-2008 MetroLyrics.com
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Question: "Is there such a thing as absolute truth / universal truth?"

Answer: In order to understand if there is any such thing as absolute truth / universal truth, let us first begin by defining what truth is. Truth is defined by the dictionary as “conformity to fact or actuality; a statement proven to be or accepted as true; reality or actuality.” Some people today would say that there is no true reality, only perceptions and opinions. On the other hand, others would argue that there must be some absolute reality or truth. Therefore, when considering the question as to if there is such a thing as absolute truth, we see two diametrically opposed views.

One view says that there are not absolutes that define reality. Those that hold this view believe that everything is relative, and thus there is no actual reality. Because of that, there is ultimately no authority for deciding if an action is positive or negative, right or wrong. This view is simply “situational ethics” in its highest form. There is no right or wrong and therefore whatever feels right at that time is right. Of course this type of “situational ethics” leads to a “whatever feels good” mentality and lifestyle, which has a devastating effect on society and individuals.

The other view believes that there are indeed absolute realities or standards that define what is true and what is not. Therefore, actions can be determined to be either right or wrong by how they measure up to those absolute standards. Can you imagine the chaos there would be if there were no absolutes, no reality. Take the law of gravity for instance. If it was not an absolute, one time you might go to take a step and end up miles in the sky, and the next time you would not be able to move your body at all. Or think about the confusion what would happen if numbers no longer had absolute values. For instance 2 + 2 would no longer always equal four. If there were no absolute truths, the world would be in chaos. There would be no laws of science, no laws of physics, everything would be without meaning and there would be no standards of measurement and no right or wrong. What a mess that would be, but thankfully there is absolute truth and it can be found and understood.

The very thought of someone making a statement that there is no absolute truth is totally illogical. Yet today, many people are embracing a cultural relativism that at its heart denies any type of absolute truth. A good question to as people who say “there is no absolute truth” is: “Are you absolutely sure of that?” It is totally illogical to make such a statement, since it is an absolute statement that in itself denies absolutes. It is, in essence, saying that the very fact there is no absolute truth is the one and only absolute truth.

There are several logical problems one must overcome to accept or believe that there are no absolute truths / universal truths. The first problem is that of self contradiction. This is seen in the question posed above and the fact that those who insist that there are no absolutes are in fact themselves believing in an absolute. They are absolutely sure that there is nothing absolute. This type of philosophy is both self-defeating and self-contradictory. The statement that there are no absolutes is in itself contradicting what they say they believe!

The second problem with the denial of absolute truth / universal truth is the fact that all humans have limited knowledge. As human beings with a limited and finite mind, we cannot logically make absolute negative statements. For example a person cannot logically say “There is no God” (even though many do so), because in order to say that they would need to have absolute knowledge of the entire universe from beginning to end. When people say there is no God or there is no absolute truth (which really in essence are the same thing), the most they can rationally and logically say is “With the limited knowledge I have, I don’t believe that there is a God,” or “With the limited knowledge that I have, I don’t believe there is any thing that is absolutely true.”

The third problem with the denial of absolute truth / universal truth is the fact that it fails to live up to what we know to be true in our own consciences, our own experiences, and what we see in the “real world.” If there is no such thing as absolute truth, then there is nothing ultimately right or wrong about anything. What might be “right for you” does not mean it is “right for me.” While on the surface this type of relativism seems to be very appealing, if it is taken to its logical conclusion it soon proves to be disastrous. Just consider for a moment if there really was no absolute truth and that everything really is relative (no standards of any kind). In essence what happens is everybody sets their own rules to live by and does what they think is right. This causes problems as one person’s sense of right will soon clash with another’s. For example, what if it is "right for me" to ignore traffic lights, even when they are red? In this way I put the life of others at risk. Or, I might think it is right to steal from you and you might think it is not right. In the same way one person might decide that killing people is OK and therefore they attempt to kill everyone in sight.

If there are no absolute standards, no absolute truth and all things are relative, then killing everybody is just as right as not killing everybody. Stealing is just as right as not stealing. Cruelty is equal to non-cruelty. What disastrous results the denial of absolute truths can so easily lead to. Because if there is no such thing as absolute truth, then no one can really “You should do that,” or “You shouldn’t do that.” If there is no absolute truth then even government itself cannot or should not impose rules on society. Can you see the problem this causes? Total chaos as each person does what is right in their own sight. If there is no absolute truth, no standard of right and wrong that we are all accountable to then we can never be sure of anything. People would be free to do whatever they want—murder, rape, stealing, lying, cheating, etc. and no one could say those things would be wrong. There could be no government, no laws, and no justice, because one could not even say that the majority of the people have the right to make and enforce standards upon the minority. A world without absolutes would be the most horrible world imaginable.

Today we often hear phrases like "that may be true for you, but it’s not true for me." To those that hold that there is no absolute truth, truth is seen as nothing more than a personal preference or a perception, and therefore cannot extend beyond a person’s boundaries. Because of this there are no final answers to the meaning of life and there could be no hope for any type of afterlife. This type of relativism results in religious confusion, because there can be no one true religion, no one way of having a right relationship with God. All religions would therefore be false because they all make claims to teach or believe in some type of after life, some type of absolute truth. This is why it is not uncommon today for people to believe that two diametrically opposed religions could both be equally “true” even though they both claim to have the only way to heaven or teach two totally opposite “truths.” People that do not believe in absolute truth ignore these claims and embrace a more tolerant universalism that teaches that all religions are equal and all of them will lead to heaven. This is also why people who embrace this worldview will vehemently oppose evangelical Christians who believe the Bible when it says that Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life” and that He is the ultimate manifestation of truth and the only way one can get to heaven (John 14:6).

And yet despite the fact that denying absolute truth is both illogical and irrational, the view that “all is relative” has become one of the slogans for the generation we live in. In much of the Western World, multitudes have rejected the possibility that such a thing as absolute truth could or does exist. This has resulted in what many refer to as a post-modern society, which is a society that regards all values, beliefs, lifestyles, and truth claims as equally valid. Because of this, those that hold to absolute standards of right or wrong are considered intolerant and are routinely condemned, mocked, and criticized.

In fact tolerance has become the one cardinal virtue of society, the one absolute, and therefore there can only be one evil, that of intolerance. In other words what has happened is that any religious system or individual that believes dogmatically in anything—especially in absolute truth—becomes guilty of intolerance, and the only thing a politically correct, relative society will not accept are those that believe in absolutes. Those that deny absolute truth will often say that it is alright to believe what you want, as long as you don’t try to impose your beliefs on others. But this view itself is a belief about what is right and wrong and those that hold this view most definitely do try to impose it on others and are therefore hypocritical. They set up a standard of behavior which they then insist that others follow—thereby violating the very thing they pretend to uphold.

The question that begs to be asked is why are those that promote tolerance so intolerant of people who believe in absolute truth? And why are people so willing to embrace a belief system that threatens to destroy the very fabric of society and is at its very heart both irrational and illogical? The simple reason is that people do not want to be accountable for their actions. If there is absolute truth then there are absolute standards of right and wrong, and we are then accountable to those standards. This accountability is what people are really trying to deny in their rejection of absolute truth.

The denial of absolute truth / universal truth and the cultural relativism that comes from it are simply the logical result of a society that has embraced the theory of evolution as the explanation for life. If evolution is true, then life has no meaning, we have no purpose, and there cannot be any absolute right or wrong. Man is then free to live life as he pleases and is accountable to no one for his actions. And yet no matter how much sinful men wants to deny the existence of God and of His absolute truth they still will someday stand before Him in judgment. The Bible declares, “what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:18-22).

The final question we should ask when considering whether absolute truth really exists or not, is if there is there any evidence for the existence of absolute truth? If one carefully considers this question it quickly become evident that there is indeed evidence that points to the existence of absolute truth. The first evidence for the existence of absolute truth is seen in our conscience. Our conscience tells us that the world should be a “certain way,” that some things are “right” and some are “wrong.” It helps us to understand that there is something wrong with suffering, starvation, rape, pain, and evil. It makes us aware that love, generosity, compassion, and peace are positive things for which we should strive. The Bible describes the role of the human conscience in Romans 2:14-16, “for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”

The second evidence for the existence of absolute truth is seen in science. Science is simply the pursuit of knowledge. It is the study of what we know and the quest to know more. Therefore, all scientific study must by necessity be founded upon the belief that there are objective realities that exist in the world. Without absolutes, what would there be to scientifically study? How could one know that the findings they made were real? In fact the very laws of science have to be founded on the certainty of absolute truth.

The third evidence for the existence of absolute truth / universal truth is the existence of religion. All the religions of the world are an attempt to give meaning and definition to life. They are born out of the fact that mankind desires something more than simply existing. Behind all religions is a fundamental belief that there must be more to life than simply this physical existence that we now know. Through religion, people are looking for assurance and hope for the future, for forgiveness of sins, for peace in the midst of our struggles, and for answers to our deepest questions. Religion is really evidence that mankind is more than simply a highly evolved animal. It is evidence of a higher purpose, and the fact that there is indeed a personal and purposeful Creator, who implanted into man the desire to know Him. And if there is indeed a Creator, then He becomes the standard for absolute truth, and it is His authority that establishes that truth.

Fortunately for us there is such a Creator and He has revealed not only Himself but also His truth to us through His very Word, the Bible. If we want to know the absolute truth / universal truth the only way to do that is through a personal relationship with the One who claimed to be the “Truth” Jesus Christ. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6). The fact that absolute truth does exist points us to the truth that there is a sovereign God who created the heavens and the earth and who has revealed Himself to us, in order that we might know Him personally through His son Jesus Christ.

Recommended Resource: The New Tolerance, by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler.

© Copyright 2002-2008 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.
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"The Christian faith will always exist because people have an undying hunger for meaning, truth, morality, mercy and grace which rationality and science cannot satisfy."-Curtis Smale

Absolute Truth - Inflexible Reality

"Absolute truth" is defined as inflexible reality: fixed, invariable, unalterable facts. For example, it is a fixed, invariable, unalterable fact that there are absolutely no square circles and there are absolutely no round squares.

Absolute Truth vs. Relativism
While absolute truth is a logical necessity, there are some religious orientations (atheistic humanists, for example) who argue against the existence of absolute truth. Humanism's exclusion of God necessitates moral relativism. Humanist John Dewey (1859-1952), co-author and signer of the Humanist Manifesto 1 (1933), declared, "There is no God and there is no soul. Hence, there are no needs for the props of traditional religion. With dogma and creed excluded, then immutable truth is also dead and buried. There is no room for fixed, natural law or moral absolutes." Humanists believe one should do, as one feels is right.

Absolute Truth - A Logical Necessity

You can't logically argue against the existence of absolute truth. To argue against something is to establish that a truth exists. You cannot argue against absolute truth unless an absolute truth is the basis of your argument. Consider a few of the classic arguments and declarations made by those who seek to argue against the existence of absolute truth…

"There are no absolutes." First of all, the relativist is declaring there are absolutely no absolutes. That is an absolute statement. The statement is logically contradictory. If the statement is true, there is, in fact, an absolute - there are absolutely no absolutes.

"Truth is relative." Again, this is an absolute statement implying truth is absolutely relative. Besides positing an absolute, suppose the statement was true and "truth is relative." Everything including that statement would be relative. If a statement is relative, it is not always true. If "truth is relative" is not always true, sometimes truth is not relative. This means there are absolutes, which means the above statement is false. When you follow the logic, relativist arguments will always contradict themselves.

"Who knows what the truth is, right?" In the same sentence the speaker declares that no one knows what the truth is, then he turns around and asks those who are listening to affirm the truth of his statement.

"No one knows what the truth is." The speaker obviously believes his statement is true.

There are philosophers who actually spend countless hours toiling over thick volumes written on the "meaninglessness" of everything. We can assume they think the text is meaningful! Then there are those philosophy teachers who teach their students, "No one's opinion is superior to anyone else's. There is no hierarchy of truth or values. Anyone's viewpoint is just as valid as anyone else's viewpoint. We all have our own truth." Then they turn around and grade the papers!

These two pages were taken from absolute truth.com and are copyrighted by them, and were not written by Curtis Smale


Absolute Truth - Moral Reality

Absolute Truth - Morality

Morality is a facet of absolute truth. Thus, relativists often declare, "It's wrong for you to impose your morals on me." By declaring something is wrong, the relativist is contradicting himself by imposing his morals upon you.

You might hear, "There is no right, there is no wrong!" You must ask, is that statement right or wrong?

If you catch a relativist in the act of doing something they know is absolutely wrong, and you try to point it out to them, they may respond in anger, "Truth is relative! There's no right and there's no wrong! We should be able to do whatever we want!" If that is a true statement and there is no right and there is no wrong, and everyone should be able to do whatever they want, then why have they become angry? What basis do they have for their anger? You can't be appalled by an injustice, or anything else for that matter, unless an absolute has somehow been violated.

Relativists often argue, "Everybody can believe whatever they want!" It makes us wonder, why are they arguing? We find it amusing that relativists are the ones who want to argue about relativism.

If you attempt to tell a relativist the difference between right and wrong, you will no doubt hear, "None of that is true! We make our own reality!" If that's true, and we all create our own reality, then our statement of moral accountability is merely a figment of the relativist's imagination. If a relativist has a problem with a statement of absolute morality, the relativist should take the issue up with himself.

Absolute Truth - The Conclusion

We all know there is absolute truth. It seems the more we argue against it, the more we prove its existence. Reality is absolute whether you feel like being cogent or not. Philosophically, relativism is contradictory. Practically, relativism is anarchy. The world is filled with absolute truth.

A relativist maintains that everyone should be able to believe and do whatever he wants. Of course, this view is emotionally satisfying, until that person comes home to find his house has been robbed, or someone seeks to hurt him, or someone cuts in front of him in line. No relativist will come home to find his house robbed and say, "Oh, how wonderful that the burglar was able to fulfill his view of reality by robbing my house. Who am I to impose my view of right and wrong on this wonderful burglar?" Quite the contrary, the relativist will feel violated just like anyone else. And then, of course, it's OK for him to be a relativist, as long as the "system" acts in an absolutist way by protecting his "unalienable rights."

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