“Examining One's Truth Systems”

“Examining Truth Systems”

The following is a quote from a previous blog, "Both sides of the atheism-theism question to some degree must rely upon unfounded belief. To rely upon one’s unfounded belief is to put trust in that belief—that is one puts faith in that belief." (Edited for clarity)

To trust anything or anyone is to place faith in that person or thing.  Take for example, traversing a bridge.  Even though one may not consciously do so such requires several expressions of trust (faith).  There is trust in the bridge itself, faith in the engineer that designed it, confidence in the builder that constructed it, and belief in those who maintainer it. 

The point of the previous blog (“Preponderance of Faith”*) was that beyond the knowable in any truth system, there is an area of unknowns where faith in that system is necessary. To not acknowledge such to be true is to tempt the possibility of naiveté or one might say blind faith.    

However, there is another matter to consider.  It goes something like this.  If a person has placed confidence in some truth system, then at what point is it that such a person to make a choice.  Is he willing or unwilling to interact with the attendant tough question?  It seems to me that among the responses there are five possible to consider.

DENIAL:  At the outset it is not without notice that there are those who will not acknowledge difficulties and disconnects in truth system they embrace.  Such a person is either unknowing or unwilling; either directly or tacitly avoids the tough questions.

That leads then to this.  Socrates is supposed to have said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” (Quoted in Plato’s Dialogues).  Extrapolating the thought yields the following thought, “The unexamined belief is not worth trusting.”

DECEPTION:  Then there is the possibility of being deceived by error.  The greatest of deceptions comes to those who are not willing to ask and seek the answers to the tough questions. Once such an attitude is rooted and grows it seems that such an one as holds to this attitude can become ensnared and thus find escape most difficult. 

DOGMATISM:  Someone once said, "Dogmatism kills." That comment would apply to anyone who has prematurely embraced a particular system without examination.  Once again it is that such a person is not willing to examine their own truth system.  One does not have to have advanced degrees from leading universities to understand the dangers of dogmatism.

DISTRACTION:  Without such an examination, one of the very real dangers is that one can simply gloss over such difficulties as exist.   Such a glossing over can limit one’s perspective and thus distract from another truth system that is much more defensible and thus in greater degree worthy of trust.

DESTRUCTION:  The final point is that of so destroying any and all other truth systems that one has limited his truth options.  It can progress to such a degree that the individual has become blinded to other truth options and in fact proactively destructive of other ways of thinking.  The debate in which the intelligent design people want their theory taught alongside the theory of evolution is an example.  The evolutionist as it turns out spares no effort in blocking such attempts.

The very real danger in denial, dogmatism, deception, distraction, and destruction is that of tunnel vision.  Such then leads to a limited view from which one can choose to never see other possibilities.  Another term for such is blindness.  And here is the real danger.  When the winds and storms of life breakout upon one's particular truth system, such will test the durability and sustainability of that truth system.  Choose wrong and the outcome(s) is/are dire!

*available at http://alviesthots.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-preponderance-of-faith.html

"When Deception Becomes Reality"

Deception is Birthed

 

There is no more serious matter than when deception becomes so ingrained in one’s thinking that it assumes the posture and place of genuine reality.  This is the outcome when one relies so totally upon his or her own mental content and process that there is little room for outside interference and thus intervention. 

Most certainly mental-intellectual function is comprised of at least two separate but related elements.  First there is the content—those things one learns and/or experiences.  Such is than gathered into a set or sets of data or facts.  Second, there is the process or how one acts upon the content.

A breakdown in either area, if left unchecked will result in the most dire of outcomes.  Pushed out to its eventual ends, that breakdown will result in one who is so deceived that the “false” has become the “genuine” and the "genuine" then becomes the "false."

Falsehood Leads Away From the Genuine

Said another way, this is the condition of the person who has come to believe a “falsehood” so thoroughly and deeply that it has gained a measure of control over that person’s life.  Thus there is no volitional capability to question the content or processes of that belief.  Such belief then assumes the great power of reality.  Now to be sure it may not be genuine reality but it assumes the posture of the genuine and the power thereof. 

What is the outcome?  Right and correct belief has the power to lead to greater and deeper insights into reality.  Wrong and incorrect belief has the power to lead into greater and deeper deception and in doing so leads one away from genuine truth.

Exclusive Truth

However, at this point an interesting dynamic begins to unfold.  It is that of superior exclusive truth.  That is to say the one caught in this trap begins to make exclusive truth claims to the point that such a person may even claim superior understanding(s) that are not available to others.   

Illogical Logic Then Isolates

As the process continues to deepen, such an one begins to invest much in such “false” reality that it becomes logical.  Now it may not be logical to others but it is to that person.  The outcome is that person becomes isolated in their illogical notions.  However, once again the process does not end there but continues on.

That “truth,” as false as it is has becomes so real that it now is the paradigm, through which life is viewed.  An attendant outcome is that the one who holds such “false” reality can no longer see nor embrace genuine truth.  Thus there is no challenge and therefore nothing to hold at bay, the ever deepening decent into deception. 

A Sobering Warning to All

While this is not the sum of all the Apostle Paul had to say on the matter in Romans 1, it certainly is a part of that of which he wrote as directed by the Spirit of the Lord.  Such a warning is not limited to those who reject the notion of God but to all who deal in that which is not genuine.  Thus it should be a sobering warning to all.