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The truth tag was recently removed by me and another user. For the most part, it was used on Truth questions and the tag's existence seems to imply that Truth questions are allowed.

However, in doing so, I came across a few questions that seems like they could have a legitimate use for the tag:

  1. What does it mean to "worship in truth"?
  2. What is the Biblical basis that prayer is sufficient as a way to recognize truth?
  3. https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/36020/why-does-jesus-say-very-truly-i-tell-you

The first one admittedly seems like it's primarily opinion based, but I'm not sure, so I've not made a close vote.

The other two are certainly on topic. The second without a doubt. Some might object to the third, but it looks like they just would like an explanation on why a particular phrase is continually stressed in the work, so it might be better on Hermeneutics.

The question in this meta post is that they all seem like they could have a legitimate use of a tag. Should we have such a tag despite the pretty much guaranteed misuse of it? If so, what should it be used for and what should the excerpt say?

Update:

I have since created the tag with an excerpt almost exactly like the example in bruised reed's answer below. I have added it to questions that appropriately needed it. Most are listed here.

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  • Maybe the tag could be along the lines of "Truth as a phenomenon"
    – curiousdannii Mod
    Commented Jan 7, 2015 at 22:57
  • @curiousdannii I'm not sure what that means.
    – user3961
    Commented Jan 7, 2015 at 22:57

1 Answer 1

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If they are off-topic (as I agree that 1. is) then the question is pretty irrelevant, but in the case where the question is on-topic and it does have a legitimate focus on 'truth' then I believe tagging it as such should be quite legitimate. It should be fairly clear that 'a truth question' is not determined by a tag or even a reference to 'truth' in it, but whether the primary purpose of the question is to determine what is actually true, rather than what a defineable perspective believes about truth.

Suggested text for tag description:

For questions about beliefs regarding truth (note: questions about what is actually true have been judged to be off-topic - see Meta post: "We can't handle the truth").

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  • So what should the excerpt say? How will that help prevent the misuse of the tag?
    – user3961
    Commented Jan 8, 2015 at 4:59
  • @fredsbendtheGrinch Perhaps: 'For questions about beliefs regarding the nature of truth (note: questions about what is actually true have been judged to be off-topic - see Meta post: "We can't handle the truth")' The last could be linked if the tag excerpt can handle doing that.
    – bruised reed
    Commented Jan 8, 2015 at 5:09
  • I think if you click through to the tag wiki, it is clickable, but the popup is not. At least, I've never seen it. I think that's a good excerpt. It's not too philosophical? The "nature of truth" seems to be an inherent philosophical question, not necessarily a religious or Christian one. I think I'm just having trouble seeing a 'type' of question that would use this tag.
    – user3961
    Commented Jan 8, 2015 at 6:56
  • @fredsbendtheGrinch good point - "the nature of" is unnecessary and can be removed. Perhaps "beliefs" should be italicized for emphasis if that's possible.
    – bruised reed
    Commented Jan 8, 2015 at 6:58
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    Yes, I think that is much better. Perhaps add it to your answer.
    – user3961
    Commented Jan 8, 2015 at 7:02

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