What is truth? The Colins English dictionary defines truth as: – “Truth, the quality of true, genuine, actual, or factual. A proven or verified fact, principle, etc.” In today’s world, it seems that the word truth has been transformed to mean what an individual wants to believe rather than a reflection of reality. In 2016, the Oxford dictionary international word of the year was “post-truth”, after the acrimonious US presidential election, and the BREXIT referendum caused a stellar increase in the word’s usage. Post-truth is defined as “objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Again, this was highlighted in the 2020 US election, where the loser claimed foul play in the election process without providing a shred of evidence to substantiate these claims. Deadly consequences ensued as his followers went on a rampage. It seems that the one thing I have been looking to find, the truth is now not as important as a person’s emotions. How did this happen? Why are people more concerned with their feelings than the truth? Steve Turners satirical poem, “Creed,” describes the modern mind beautifully. Below are the last few sentences, but I recommend reading it in full.
We believe that each man must find the truth
that is right for him.
Reality will adapt accordingly.
The universe will readjust. History will alter.
We believe that there is no absolute truth
excepting the truth that there is no absolute truth.
Is the last sentence of the poem true? “We believe that there is no absolute truth excepting the truth that there is no absolute truth.” Extract from the book “Finding Truth in Life and Love: One Man’s Journey.” by George Kyriacou
‘United wishes and good will cannot overcome brute facts,’
‘Truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it. Ignorance may deride it. Malice may distort it. But there it is.’
Churchill wrote in his War Memoirs on the truth.
There is an exchange of words between Jesus and Pilot. Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” Pilot said to Him, “What is truth?” Pilot never waited to hear the answer and walked away from the one person, Jesus, that knew the truth. Will you do the same?
Imagine a world where people could only tell the truth because the truth mattered rather than in this post-truth world we live in where emotions are more important than facts. Imagine a world where we knew all truth. But, of course, the most crucial truth of all is the ultimate question. “Is there a God?”
Quotes on the Truth
“An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it.” ~
Mahatma Gandhi