Nothing is more important than the truth…
It is impossible to prove anything in our culture. Don’t get me wrong, there is objective evidence, and there is absolute truth. The problem is: no matter how much evidence or “proof” you provide, in the absence of a general belief that absolute truth is possible, there is neither an obligation nor a desire to accept that evidence. And even if that evidence should happen to be accepted, it is subject to arbitrary re-interpretation.
Now, certainly all evidence is subject to interpretation. However, there seems to be a particular fascination with completely arbitrary re-interpretation. This comes from a flawed philosophy that all interpretations are equally valid. This is an obviously false assumption. Why? Frankly, because certain interpretations/beliefs/theories are more logical than others. Some interpretations make more sense than others… and some make little sense at all.
For example, the belief that babies are found under a cabbage leaf, no matter how sincere the believer, is neither true nor valid (validity is not based in mere existence of the belief - but on whether it is sound, well grounded, and effective). The existence of mathematics and scientific observation/testing prove to us that all opinions are not equally valid or true. Few people would contest the claim that the earth revolves around the sun as opposed to the sun around the earth. The reason? Observation and study have proven this beyond reasonable doubt.
In the same way, the belief that all religions are true and valid is false. Why? Because if Christians (and Jesus himself) claim Jesus is God, and Jews and Muslims say he isn’t… the two beliefs conflict and they can’t both be right! If Buddhism claims that the ultimate goal/end of existence is Nirvana (the emptying out of the self and all individuality) and Jews, Christians, and Muslims all believe that the ultimate goal/end of existence is Heaven (of sorts) where the individual consciousness will be retained (at least to a large measure) – these beliefs conflict and they can’t all be right. If the pagan believes that the world is controlled by spirits and natural forces, but the monotheist believes it is controlled by one God – there is conflict, and they can’t both be right! Do you catch a theme developing?
And yet, those who would claim a higher level of civilized nature and moral superiority (an odd claim considering there is nothing on which to base those morals other than personal opinion) insist on promoting this idea that all religions are equally true and valid. In spite of the fact that this is falsifiable and absolutely untrue.
Now, anyone who knows me well knows that I am a fan of the sci-fi television series Andromeda. If you have never seen the program. You have my apologies for the vague sci-fi subculture reference.
However, in one particular episode of the show, the main character - Dylan Hunt - is faced with the decision of whether or not to lie and cover up a murder in order to avoid a major diplomatic incident and avoid a civil war.
His final decision: “Nothing is more important than the truth.”
There is an important lesson to be learned here.
Consider this: almost (important key word - almost) all people across the world would agree that the ultimate goal of a good and civilized society is to hold truth as the ultimate value. In practically all societies, deception (excepting playful deception such as jokes, surprises, etc…) is considered immoral and wrong behavior. To believe in something false is generally considered foolishness or ignorance and to lead others into believing something false is considered impolite at best, and more often wrong, criminal or even evil. And yet, many of the people we look to as leaders in our modern society have embraced or are being pushed to acknowledge the idea that all beliefs are equally true and that all truth is relative.
Please follow me… we (humanity in general) understand truth – in it’s essence – to be that standard or ideal against which all uncertainty is measured and by which all falseness or deception is identified. Yet, if all truth is truly relative (a statement that contradicts itself, by the way) then there is no standard or ideal. There is no means of clarifying uncertainty or identifying/correcting error. Justice, morality, peace, harmony all mean nothing in the absence of truth. There are no just causes, no righteous sacrifices, no value in human life – the defense of liberty holds no validity over the tyranny of oppression.
Nothing is more important than the truth… because without truth, we have nothing.
Tags: News and Media, Politics, Theology
