If you’re like me, you probably have several, or at least one, friend who is very much into conspiracy theories. These theories abound on almost every topic. Most are centered around some grand conspiracy that is being master-minded by an elite few, or by one person, who’s goal is the demise and/or takeover of the whole world with only a few who know about it. Some of the evidence presented is sometimes very convincing, and I don’t doubt there may be some level of truth, or partial truths, in all of these theories. I know of one person who recently spewed a whole host of conspiracy theories on Facebook, and when confronted said they had “done the research.” What does that mean when we swim in an ocean of information everyday that almost chokes us? One can find any amount of information on any topic, but how do we know what is “true”?

Then, there is the “fake news” label. What really is fake news? It seems to be put on news that, I imagine, contains false or twisted information, is strongly biased politically, or is disreputable in some way. Many believe that true reporting is dead, where once reporters used the freedom of the press to seek out truth and expose lies and corruption, today it seems the news creates more issues than it exposes, and is used to promote and advance the desired political agenda of the writer. So, who do we believe? How do we know something is “fake” or false unless we ourselves are witnesses? Or are we free to label anything “fake” that we don’t like or don’t want to believe?

The internet, likewise, overflows with information on any and all topics. You can find contradicting information on the same topic, both sides presenting their version of research and “proof.” One such theory that I thought was settled long ago was that the earth is a round globe, not flat. This I learned since I was a kid when the teacher had a round globe in the classroom. But, there are a substantial number of folks today that are positive that it is all a hoax. Who knew? I mean, after all the space flights, mathematics, satellite pictures, and even trips to the moon, this whole thing is a hoax and the real flatness of the earth is being intentionally hidden from the general public, and unless you are in the “know” you’re doomed to deception that we live on a big ball in space. But in all fairness, what if they are right? How many folks have been to the moon, or in space? All we’ve seen are photos, right? And along comes a new generation to swim in this ocean of information with us, but how are they to tell what is right and what is not?

So, we ask the question: What is truth? It seems that what is “true” to one is not true to someone else. That makes truth relative. But if truth is relative, is it really truth at all? Can we make our own truth as we go along? When I was a child, I would get in deep trouble for telling a lie. At the time I understood “truth” to be what actually happened, or what was actually said or done. But this, too, becomes relative to the people involved, for each one wants to create their own version of the story they swear is true. Likewise, eye witnesses to crimes or accidents can have very different accounts, both convinced that what they saw, or thought they saw, was true, even if it contradicts another eye witness.

Again we ask the question, “what is truth?” Does truth exist, and if so, where can it be found? I find it quite disconcerting to think that there is no such thing as truth. There seems to be some part of me that needs to know that truth exists, what it is, and where I can find it. Why does that need exist? What do I do about it? What if it doesn’t exist? Does it change anything?

Categories: Discovery

Tags: Kingdom