Speaking truthfully is just one aspect in the spectrum of what constitutes moral behaviour. One of the great quandaries of this "post-truth" era must be how do you get people to behave morally and at least accept the idea that it is preferable to tell the truth, even if we fail to do so on occasion? Note the inverted commas are necessary as there is no such thing as "post-truth", truth being an absolute. The idea expressed when people say "that's your truth not mine" is illogical nonsense as a thing is either true or not, there can be, by definition, no subjectivity. Of course such notions would inflame the emotions of the woke crowd who fervently believe in moral relativity and give themselves permission to re-define the meaning of words a la 1984. This denial of absolutes which goes against natural law permits moral relativity where each human gets to choose where they are on the sliding scale of morality. If there were absolutes and acceptance of the validity of natural law, there would have to be consequences to immoral behaviour. Even a quick survey of modern society shows how the idea that there should be negative consequences to bad moral decisions has been rejected. And humans without an anchor to absolutes have a very strong tendency to slide down the slippery slope of moral relativity. Consider the question of sex. Hetero-sexuality used to be the norm and any deviation was regarded by society as perversion. Slowly male homosexuality was introduced (e.g.comedy TV shows) and accepted, then lesbianism, then sodomy between men and women, pornography, pedophilia, bestiality, "thruples", transvestites, transgenderism, and so on until we now have children being "persuaded" they are not what they were born and some children even undergoing irreversible surgery. Such are the repulsive natural law consequences of relative morality as exhibited in directionless and weak human beings.
Rare is the eccentric person today who engages in the quest of seeking truth and concluding life calls us to a higher morality. Yet this is what is necessary of each and every person.
Apologies for rant, but this is a sore point in my family, and so I would conclude by recommending a film called The Time Changer: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0295725/ . This film makes the point that you cannot teach people to behave morally without an anchor, which the film posits is Jesus Christ. Based on what we see around us, I have to agree. And as Ali's previous comment and the quote from Gandhi, Jesus is the truth and there is no higher God.
Oct 16, 2022·edited Oct 17, 2022Liked by Alex Krainer
over coming self deception is a big part of telling the truth. so many people's conceptual construct of themselves and the world is full of lies. effort directed at becoming aware of these falsehoods within ourselves should be the corner stone of any religious/spiritual practice.
too often what one believes to be true is the thing they want to believe is true.
Oct 16, 2022·edited Oct 16, 2022Liked by Alex Krainer
Excellent article. I'm telling you the truth! Also, wanted to mention that I liked your conversation with Vanessa Beeley. That's what inspired me to subscribe to your substack. Thank you for both.
We either admire or hate those who tell us the truth. To those of us who want to live we will die for the TRUTH.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus said in chapter 14 and verse 6: I am the way, the truth and the life.
He also states in chapter 8 and verse 44:
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Can any good ever come from a lie?
I am more convicted that the TRUTH matters and is worth everything even if it cost my life.
Here, Here, let the truth be known.... Refreshing when I just read this: Dr Naomi Wolf being told, not that she is wrong about her finding with respects to the possible damages caused by an experimental medical intervention, but that the truth is harmful and should therefore be censored.... There are loads of other lies I kind of buy into, like the cheap clothing and consumer goods I enjoy beeing manufactured in third world sweat-shops. Supporting this or that military intervention that is done to help the local people beeing shelled... But yes let's start by looking in the mirror and ask our selves is this the truth! Thank you Alex!
Beautiful- thank you!
Speaking truthfully is just one aspect in the spectrum of what constitutes moral behaviour. One of the great quandaries of this "post-truth" era must be how do you get people to behave morally and at least accept the idea that it is preferable to tell the truth, even if we fail to do so on occasion? Note the inverted commas are necessary as there is no such thing as "post-truth", truth being an absolute. The idea expressed when people say "that's your truth not mine" is illogical nonsense as a thing is either true or not, there can be, by definition, no subjectivity. Of course such notions would inflame the emotions of the woke crowd who fervently believe in moral relativity and give themselves permission to re-define the meaning of words a la 1984. This denial of absolutes which goes against natural law permits moral relativity where each human gets to choose where they are on the sliding scale of morality. If there were absolutes and acceptance of the validity of natural law, there would have to be consequences to immoral behaviour. Even a quick survey of modern society shows how the idea that there should be negative consequences to bad moral decisions has been rejected. And humans without an anchor to absolutes have a very strong tendency to slide down the slippery slope of moral relativity. Consider the question of sex. Hetero-sexuality used to be the norm and any deviation was regarded by society as perversion. Slowly male homosexuality was introduced (e.g.comedy TV shows) and accepted, then lesbianism, then sodomy between men and women, pornography, pedophilia, bestiality, "thruples", transvestites, transgenderism, and so on until we now have children being "persuaded" they are not what they were born and some children even undergoing irreversible surgery. Such are the repulsive natural law consequences of relative morality as exhibited in directionless and weak human beings.
Rare is the eccentric person today who engages in the quest of seeking truth and concluding life calls us to a higher morality. Yet this is what is necessary of each and every person.
Apologies for rant, but this is a sore point in my family, and so I would conclude by recommending a film called The Time Changer: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0295725/ . This film makes the point that you cannot teach people to behave morally without an anchor, which the film posits is Jesus Christ. Based on what we see around us, I have to agree. And as Ali's previous comment and the quote from Gandhi, Jesus is the truth and there is no higher God.
So beautifully expressed and inspiring, Alex. Thank you!
over coming self deception is a big part of telling the truth. so many people's conceptual construct of themselves and the world is full of lies. effort directed at becoming aware of these falsehoods within ourselves should be the corner stone of any religious/spiritual practice.
too often what one believes to be true is the thing they want to believe is true.
Hell yeah.
Excellent article. I'm telling you the truth! Also, wanted to mention that I liked your conversation with Vanessa Beeley. That's what inspired me to subscribe to your substack. Thank you for both.
Love of truth must at the same time be love of man and vice versa.
Excellent!
We either admire or hate those who tell us the truth. To those of us who want to live we will die for the TRUTH.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus said in chapter 14 and verse 6: I am the way, the truth and the life.
He also states in chapter 8 and verse 44:
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Can any good ever come from a lie?
I am more convicted that the TRUTH matters and is worth everything even if it cost my life.
Here, Here, let the truth be known.... Refreshing when I just read this: Dr Naomi Wolf being told, not that she is wrong about her finding with respects to the possible damages caused by an experimental medical intervention, but that the truth is harmful and should therefore be censored.... There are loads of other lies I kind of buy into, like the cheap clothing and consumer goods I enjoy beeing manufactured in third world sweat-shops. Supporting this or that military intervention that is done to help the local people beeing shelled... But yes let's start by looking in the mirror and ask our selves is this the truth! Thank you Alex!