Jesus said to Pilate, “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After Pilate said this, he went out (John 18.37b-38a)
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Pilate asked about truth, but did not await a reply. I dare attempt to answer his question…
If (or so I believe) Truth with a capital T is everything that is existentially, thus, demonstrably real in all circumstances and ethically right at all times (and, I, as a theist, add everything about God), then it seems to me that no one can possess (ever!), according to that olden oath, “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”
So, I ask (for so it seems to me): Why do we humans, whether testifying to our individual truths of how we each perceive and understand life in this world or speaking through the megaphones of our political, social, or racial affinity groups believe and behave as if we have some sole possession of Truth?
© 2021 PRA
#truth #ourindividualtruthsversusuniversaltruth #existentialreality #ethicalrightness
occasional observations of mind and heart, soul and spirit 
I love your writings about Truth Paul!! I wonder what truth would look like if I had people build it in LEGO bricks.
Your point about everyone’s truth being their own truth but not necessarily the WHOLE TRUTH is everything! If more people understood that our current world would be so much better!!!
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Loretta, I understand, I think, what people mean when they say, “There is only one truth.” I believe they infer that something either is true or it isn’t true. However, in my experience, with the inherent limitations of my human senses to perceive the reality around me (and within me!), the best I (believe that I) can do is speculate as to what is true. This leaves me open, always, to the possibility of learning something that I do not know.
Now, having said this, yes, I do wish everyone, all of us might bring ourselves to say, when speaking of what we believe to be true, “This is how I see it (whatever the “it” is) and this is why I see it this way.” I also wish that we could say, “I believe that I understand what you see and how you see it that way. Although I, for these reasons, do not agree.” This kind of sharing/exchange, yes, takes longer and requires more patient listening and charitable speaking, yet, I think, it might bring us closer to the truth.
Love
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