May 23, 2012 Lesson 1 – Veritology: What is Truth? The Truth Project begins by defining truth as “that which corresponds to reality.” This absolute and eternal truth, at the heart of Jesus’ mission on earth, continues to be the focal point of the Cosmic Battle in our own time. The Truth Project is broken down into 12 video sessions. Each lesson is around 1 hour long. We picked one day a week to watch the video and do a discussion. It took us about 3 months to complete. Here is a breakdown of each Truth Project Session.

Click on individual lessons in the image below for a brief description or scroll down to view lesson overviews.

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Lesson 1 – Veritology: What is Truth?

The Truth Project begins by defining truth as “that which corresponds to reality.” This absolute and eternal truth, at the heart of Jesus’ mission on earth, continues to be the focal point of the Cosmic Battle in our own time. Back to top

The Truth Project is a DVD-based small group curriculum comprised of 12 one-hour lessons taught by Dr. This study is the starting point for looking at life from a biblical perspective. Each lesson discusses in great detail the relevance and importance of living the Christian worldview in daily life.

Lesson 2 – Philosophy and Ethics: Says Who?

Truth is not simply an academic concept. The way we think about truth has a direct bearing upon the way we live our lives. What’s more, our understanding of right and wrong is directly dependent on our worldview: is the universe God’s creation or a closed cosmic cube? Back to top

Lesson 3 – Anthropology: Who is Man?

The Bible tells us that man was created in God’s image but fell from innocence through sin. Modern psychology, on the other hand, asserts that man is inherently good and behaves badly only under the influence of social or institutional pressure. This lesson explores the implications of both views.Back to top

Lesson 4 – Theology: Who is God?

Eternal life, according to Jesus, is knowing God in an intimate, personal, and relational way. Such knowledge, which is possible only because of divine revelation, transforms us from the inside out as we begin to see ourselves in the light of His majesty and holiness. Back to top

Lesson 5 – Science: What is True?

Science, the “systematic study of the natural world,” brings to light innumerable evidences of Intelligent Design. But Darwinian theory transforms science from the honest investigation of nature into a vehicle for propagating a godless philosophy. (Part One)

A careful examination of molecular biology and the fossil record demonstrates that evolution is not a “proven fact.” Meanwhile, history shows that ideas, including Darwinism as a social philosophy, have definite consequences that can turn ugly when God is left out of the picture. (Part Two) Back to top

Lesson 6 – History: Whose Story?

Does the past have an objective actuality and significance? Or does it, as postmodernist philosophy asserts, exist primarily inside our heads? This tour considers the meaning of history as God’s story and shows us why remembering is so important. Back to top

Lesson 7 – Sociology: The Divine Imprint

The order we observe in the natural realm is even more apparent in the social systems God has established: family, church, community, state, labor, and the union between God and man. Life is a series of relationships that flow out of and reflect the Trinitarian nature of the Creator. Back to top

Lesson 8 – Unio Mystica: Am I Alone?

Is it possible for the infinite, eternal Creator to dwell within the heart of an individual? The implications of this great mystery, which represents the very core of the Christian faith, are explored at length in this examination of the most intimate of the social spheres. Back to top

Lesson 9 – The State: Whose Law?

Of all the social spheres, the state, to which God grants the power of the sword for the punishment of evil and the preservation of the good, has the greatest potential to go awry if it oversteps its authority. The civil magistrate must always remember his place under the sovereignty of God – otherwise, havoc will ensue. Back to top

Lesson 10 – The American Experiment: Stepping Stones

America is unique in the history of the world. On these shores a people holding to a biblical worldview have had an opportunity to set up a system of government designed to keep the state within its divinely ordained boundaries. Tour #10 follows the history of this experiment and explores what happens to freedom when God is forgotten. Back to top

The Truth Project Lessons Videos Online

Lesson 11 – Labor: Created to Create

Contrary to a great deal of contemporary popular opinion, work is not a “curse.” God Himself is active and creative, and He calls man to share in the joy of His activity and creativity. Labor, economics, media, and the creative arts all have a role to play in magnifying the glory of the Creator. Back to top

Lesson 12 – Community and Involvement: God Cares, do I?

The ethical law and the meaning of the Christian life are summed up in the commandment to love God and one’s neighbor. This command is the source of the believer’s motivation for self-sacrificial service to the needy and their personal involvement in our culture. Back to top

Focus on the Family's 'The Truth Project' is a DVD series taught by Dr. Del Tackett of the Focus on the Family Institute. The series is pitched to churches throughout the nation and presented through small groups led by 'facilitators,' folks officially trained at Focus on the Family Regional Training Conferences.

The program is a slick, media-rich presentation of the Christian worldview according to Dr. Tackett and others at Focus on the Family, including their views on philosophy, science, and sociology. It pushes a strong bifurcation between 'the true worldview' and 'the false worldviews,' arguing both that there is a crisp division between the two and that the program represents the former side impeccably. It is claimed that the views of Dr. Tackett and his associates represent reality, while those who disagree subscribe to 'pernicious lies.'

This is the teaser trailer for The Truth Project:

Looks pretty cool, right? Many participants I've talked to have emerged from the series excited and feeling educated.

First, it is problematic with regard to intrachristian issues. Several of the philosophies and doctrines promoted by The Truth Project -- at the expense of others -- are in alignment with some Christian traditions. But the program packages them in language that suggests that these philosophies and doctrines are universally accepted as 'essential Christianity.' This overlooks the fact that other legitimate Christian traditions hold different positions, inhibiting open and critical examination of these disputed issues. It is an attempt at Christian unity by way of unjust exclusion (1 Cor 3:4-10).

Second, it is problematic with regard to factual information. In the series, many different beliefs about science, doctrine and philosophy are attacked. Unfortunately, they are also misrepresented; the attacks are upon 'straw men.' Opposing views should always be fairly and accurately represented, not only because it is wrong to give false testimony (Exod 20:16), but also because the believer's faith will suffer when he later discovers the actual truth (Matt 18:6).

Last year I participated in a Truth Project group and emerged discouraged. Dr. Tackett made many false claims about many things, all in the name of absolute truth. And the bifurcative nature of the program made these lies even more frustrating. My Christian brethren were being misled, and I subsequently saw more and more churches incorporate The Truth Project into their ministries.

The Truth Project Lesson 1

I built this web site with a Christ-centered, truth-centered intent. It is my first attempt at reaching churches, pastors and laypeople whose foundation for their faith may have been inadvertently weakened by The Truth Project. In propagating untruths, Dr. Tackett and Focus on the Family, in this case, have provided Christians with foundations of sand, and I'm genuinely worried about its effects on American Christianity in particular.

Now, don't get me wrong -- much of The Truth Project is moderately valuable for Christians. But there are many factual blunders taught in the program as well, and those blunders are used as premises for later claims, devaluing them. Those who susbcribe to all of the program's claims will find themselves with a worldview based partially on false teachings.

Like Dr. Tackett, I do not have a degree in any of theology, philosophy, natural science, etc. Dr. Tackett's degree is in management, and mine is in software engineering. But even as someone who is limited to personal study and conference with folks more knowledgeable than I am, I feel that this DVD series is demonstrably misleading in many of the points it makes.

The Truth Project Lessons Videos Online

This site contains five sections.

Two are 'Fact Check' sections. In them, I rebut several false claims made by Dr. Tackett in the program. Although there are non sequiturs and bad implications in several of the Tours, most of the demonstrably untrue teachings can be found in Tours 2 and 5.

These two sections should be enough to sufficiently concern those interested in The Truth Project. Even if you come to the same conclusions as Dr. Tackett in the end, you should agree that the deceptive means by which he arrives at those conclusions are irresponsible and dangerous.

The other three sections are essays that confront some of the overarching, worldview-defining cases made by the program. These 'Other Christian Viewpoints' sections are less cut-and-dry than the 'Fact Check' sections; the intent is merely to cogently present some legitimate Christian viewpoints that Dr. Tackett brazenly calls anti-Christian.

I pray that, after reading the material on this site, you'll agree that The Truth Project both is unreliable in much of the information it presents and needlessly attacks some genuinely Christian views, and is thus not a good fit for your church or small group.

The Truth Project Lesson 2 Full Episode

If, however, your church or small group is already invested in the series, you might consider compiling lists of errata so that group leaders can correct the program's mistakes in a cool and casual manner.

The Truth Project Lesson 7

You can leave feedback at my e-mail account for this site:

TheTruthProblem @ gmail.com

The Truth Project Lesson 6

I'm interested both in constructive criticism and in encouragement!

Truth Project Lesson 3 Complete

(c) 2009 The Truth Problem.