I always cite the trial of Jesus to support the claim that sometimes deception runs so deeply, that it is best addressed not by clarification or argument but by the test of time and scrutiny. Whereas Jesus once boldly and openly claimed to be the truth, at his trial when asked “what is truth?” his answer was to remain silent. Sometimes the truth is more polluted than conveyed in words, hence the saying ‘actions speak louder…..’ and the best way to convey truth is not to verbalize it, but to demonstrate it.
Truth seekers are often daunted by the confusing contrary claims of every religious or political sect to represent truth. And it is almost amusing the extent to which we will go to deceive…or get someone else (or our very selves) to believe our ‘version’ of the truth.
The fact is that when human beings determine to believe a lie, no amount of argument can open the eyes to reality. Words can illuminate reality, but words can also obfuscate reality, and when one has self mesmerized (ie deeply accepted a suggestion) it is impossible for human cognition to distinguish between fact and belief. Both are equally confirmed by the senses.
I wont deny that leadership and lying sometimes seem necessary twins. Explaining everything can indeed sometimes be counterproductive and a sense of responsibility can arguably act to protect those under its charge ….even from their very selves; which truly can be, when judgment has not been fully formed, one’s most effective enemy.
And so creedalism was invented as a way of both protecting and guiding those not yet ready to know. In another blog, I quipped that what some folk call BS is merely other folk’s Belief System (obvious pun).
The assumptions involved in this are of course both uncomfortable as well as harsh realities of social relations at present. Whether our inventions are Santa Claus, a ‘faithful’ spouse, some religious myth, or the cockamamie story of some politician, lawyer, advertiser, advisor….the fact is those who believe a lie, and continue in it, do so for very compelling reasons, whether they can articulate them or not, a lie feels much safer than growing up.
The mature are aware that the crux of human creativity (and divine) involves transmuting one into the other – making that which is not, to be; and that which is, not to be (the only difference is where we choose to place the comma) If a lie is repeated often enough, it becomes a functional truth, and if the truth is consistently ignored, it in effect becomes an illusion.
And since what matters is human attention, over thousands of years we have developed a fairly exact science of its manipulation.
And so like it or not, but as historians and scientists alike can attest, and to the comfort and assurance of every asker, seeker and knocker that needs an answer, the only difference between the truth and a lie…..is consistency. Perhaps then this is why in the face of gross deception, rather than talk, like Jesus, we remain silent….and let the trial begin.
YeKengalé 