In the past I have referred to truth in the lower case sense, and in the upper case sense.
‘truth’ having to do with what is factual, while Truth generally referring to what is real on a deeper and ultimate level. In or pursuit of either form, there are things that threaten our ability to move along our journey to a greater understanding of what is real. Obviously I wasn’t born with the qualifications to tell you what these are, and I imagine that they can differ for everyone, however, there are somethings that have affected my pursuit towards either end. In some shape or form, these impediments have promoted apathy, where critical thinking was required, and blind obedience, where a deeper wrestling with deep assumptions was preferred.
As I work through what these things are for me, and what I continue to do about them, I am also curious about what challenges you face.
7 Things That Can Plague A Continued Pursuit of Truth
Apathy
From the Apology of Plato comes the famous saying, “the unexamined life is not worth living”…or is not human. But to examine takes a degree of commitment and courage. For we are faced with an overwhelming and momentous current of ideas that tell us otherwise. These forces encourage living simply in the moment, and adopting an unquestioning, uncritical orientation. A place that leaves the human vulnerable to lies, half-truths, and just plain mediocre living.
Fear
For me, this has gone hand in hand with apathy. I’ve had to ask myself, what is at the root of my lack of motivation or interest in areas of my life, that I’ve identified as being of paramount value to me. It appears that fear keeps us from branching out beyond our current position. I think implicit in the decision to seek out the truth, we threaten our current position of comfort and familiarity.
Education
There is what formal and traditional education should ideally be, and what it is, in many ways, turning out to become today. What was meant for good, has become a compromised institution. In its most basic sense our educational system is the means by which society transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one generation to another. Today we have a failing primary and secondary educational system, and a growing economic barrier into higher education around the USA. If we cannot more fully and confidently depend on established educational systems, we need to rediscover a love for self-education.
Traditional Media
Where academia may fail us, we turn to journalist and media, entrusting them with the critical task of pursuing the truth, translating the world around us and helping us keep and rediscover lost components of our democratic process. The last decade has revealed serious issues with this institution dedicated to truth, and one must consider what this means to being a free, and aware citizen in America.
Entertainment
At times, entertainment has been the scape goat for moral and political agendas, and the validity varies across the board. However, as it pertains to you continuing to be a fully aware, engaged citizen in this world, our entertainment consumption, or over-consumption, has truly warranted a closer look.
I’m all for a free society to choose whatever content they want to consume, and however they choose to use their time, but a distracted society will be a vulnerable one. When its become easier not to think, who can share the blame when the thinking powerful use this to their advantage. When fear is used to stifle the questioning mind, we all share in the after effect. When our political and economic system is shrouded in mystery and bureaucracy, self-medicating our cynical brains with a pure diet of reality tv, doesn’t lead to a cure. It only leads to a quieter death.
Over complication
If you’re anything like me, you are faced with information throughout your life, that just seem overcomplicated. You turn on the news attempting to understand what is going on in your world, politically, economically, and environmentally. And still at times, it seems that you come away with more questions than answers. It almost begs the question, how vested are the powers that be, in you fully understanding what is going on?
The role of the press, in recent times, seems to have compromised this even more. It is a journalist job, ideally, to (omit) take that middlebrow place in translating some of these highbrow concepts in such a way that actually helps us in fully grasping our world, and arriving at educated conclusions. Since 9-11, it has become grossly clear to many, that conflicting pressures of financial gain threaten the news business form purely seeking the truth. So where does that leave us?
Religion
Now this one comes with a mixed bag, which isn’t unlike most things in life. In our efforts, to not only pursue the visible realities around us, it is also important to continue to grow and solidify where we stand in the areas of Truth with a capital T. The ultimate, and often less tangible realities. This claims to be the realm of philosophy and religion. In a nation, whose citizens claim to be 80% Christian, religion in particular holds an increasingly vital role in helping us make sense of the deeper aspects of Truth in our lives.
As of late, I’ve really tried to see the benefits and not just the downsides to many of our major institutions. The temptation for me has been to, with a greater understanding for what is going on, to become impatient, and overly cynical of anything large and influential. Religion can often be attacked in this way. But it seems to me, that what you have is a very complex institution that both aides people in the spiritual journey, but can also be the very thing that stands in the way. This paradox can lead people to blindly attack the whole thing, throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Here I only aim to comment on the aspect of religion that subtly and overtly suggest that you, the individual, cannot aggressively seek the truth for yourself. Sometimes the architecture, or atmosphere of a system can foster an over-dependence on the “spiritual expert”. Isn’t it easier, to just accept what you have been taught as a child? Isn’t it more convenient to just go with what the pastor, priest, teacher, or guru is telling you? My beef goes beyond the doctrine being taught, and also includes any environment that, ever so gently, is comfortable with a complacent and docile constituency.
And unfortunately, sometimes the religious experience is just that. It’s up to you, to choose, and its hard work, to continuously seek, “with your whole heart” what is right, and true for you. Having the integrity and courage to continue down that path, despite who it may displease, threaten, or concern.
Written by Veron Graham
Topics: truth/Truth