If we don't have the same set of truths, we have nothing to say, we won't get along. Truth has become perspectival . Everything depends on your perspective, and since we all see the world differently, we come with different experiences, and arrive at different truths. It's not a matter of being a pessimist or an optimist, but how we see reality and discern what is true. When we deal with religious truth, it is even more difficult to come to firm conclusions in the world today.
People form their own personal belief systems to support their own agenda, and worldview.
Religion in America has become like a smorgasbord table where you can take from the religions of the world whatever truths you find appetizing, and create your own plate of spiritual food - spoon a few Buddhist ideas here, and take a little Zen idea there, maybe a few Christian ideas, and throw on a little New Age astrology to give it a little zest. This sounds like the strategy of the Christian Coalition. Preserving the truth then sounds like we're going on the defensive. This sounds like the strategy of fundamentalism. All of this has led me to conclude this week that, with all due respect to the beloved Book of Order , I'm not sure if God calls the church to preserve the truth.