"Friends, if we be honest with ourselves, we shall be honest with each other." - George Macdonald (1824-1905)

"Friends, if we be honest with ourselves, we shall be honest with each other." - George Macdonald (1824-1905)

Before reading this ask yourself a couple of questions: First, Should truth precede loyalty of should loyalty precede truth?

 
Huxley put loyalty to his beliefs before truth, as did the Nazis, as do the Islamists. 

 
Whether you put loyalty before truth or truth before loyalty will determine how you live your life and whether or not you are willing to change. It will also determine what price you are willing to pay to find the truth. The most important truths always come at a price.

 
How much do you love the truth? Is there anything worth paying everything for, if only you are able to find it?

And here is the second question,

Do you think postmodernism is the correct philosophical view of the world? (Postmodernism is the view that objective truth cannot be known and human reasoning cannot be trusted at all.) If so why do you believe a thing like that?

I think postmodernism has strengths and weaknesses just as modernism has strengths and weakness. Where one is right the other is wrong and visa versa. We fall into error when we embrace one and ignore the other. Yes humans often delude themselves, reasoning alone cannot be trusted, but it does not follow that objective truths cannot be discovered.

No scientists are postmodernists. Some may claim to be but they all believe that truth is there to be discovered (that is why they are always trying to discover new things).

The truth about God is there to be discovered, but reasoning alone will let you down. So be careful how you look.

Seek and you will find.

Finding the Truth in a World of Lies

 
The Hindu says, "If only all people would accept that all ways lead to God, then there would be peace." The Muslim says, "If everyone would accept that Allah is God and Mohammed is his prophet then there would be peace." The atheist says, "If only all people would accept there is no God then there would be peace."

In other words everyone thinks their view happens to be the right one. Everyone thinks that "if only" other people adopted their view the world would be a more peaceful place.

We believe what we believe because we think it is true. If we did not think it was true we would not believe it. In fact, to believe something is to claim that it is so.

But does it really matter if what we believe is true?

What happens when we find out that what we believe is not actually so? What happens if you start driving a car believing the brakes work only to find out they don't? If our beliefs don't conform to reality we run the risk of being hurt. 

If a man in Saudi Arabia turns from Islam to Christianity he has three days to turn back to Islam or they will cut off his head. If he does not turn back to Islam and his head is chopped off does it matter whether his belief about life after death happens to be true or not?

The truth can literally be a matter of life and death.

Some times the truth is not as important, but it is still important. Does it matter to a wife whether her husband is honest with her or not?

Relational pain is often far more painful than mere physical pain. The truth matters in relationships. 

 
The truth matters when you are on the receiving end of a lie (Ravi Zacharias).

Everyone hates it when they have been lied to, especially when it regards an issue that was very important to them. Therefore, everyone believes the truth matters (despite what they claim to believe regarding truth) and that truth, because it is real, can be discovered[1]. Naturally, the bigger the issue is the more important it is that the truth be known.

Claiming there is such a thing as truth (objective truth, some people call it absolute truth) is not bigoted; not listening to others because you believe the truth cannot be known is. If there is no such thing as truth then there is no reason to ever change one's mind because there is no truth to be discovered. Claiming that truth does not exist leads to close mindedness, not honest enquiry.

The truth is not only necessary for individual freedom, it is necessary for freedom of speech and democracy. (If you doubt this watch and listen to an address given at California University by Os Guinness entitled "Time for truth". Watch on-line at ID.Plus.)

 
Unfortunately, some people have foolishly embraced a cynicism which goes something like this, "Because everyone lies there is no way that we can ever discover the truth on any issue, so why bother even looking?"

Even if everyone did lie it would not mean that the truth could not be discovered; it would only mean that the process would be difficult. 

The honest person has to admit that just because some people lie it does not mean all people lie. The belief that all people lie, and therefore no one is to be believed, says more about the person who holds the belief than it does about people in general. George MacDonald, the great 19^th Century author, pointed out that it is easy for those who lie to believe others a lying. (You can count on those who justify lying to lie. If a person says there is no such thing as truth, why believe them? They don't even believe what they are saying is true. Don't believe anything they say without thoroughly investigating it first.)

Without the truth we are all vulnerable to manipulation. Not only is truth important for freedom but without truth there is nothing worth fighting for. Some people will say, "Isn't that a good thing? If there is nothing to fight for there will be no more fighting." People who say such things are telling us why they won't fight, but they can't give any good reason why people such as terrorists will adopt their view. Relativists can't give any evidence to show that terrorists are giving up terrorist activities because they adopting a relativistic view. Even if some terrorists have adopted the view is it realistic to believe that all the people in the world will adopt such a view in time? The view that there is no such thing as truth does not lead to peace; it leads to apathy which allows evil to progress unchecked.

The world is too dangerous to live in—not because of people who do evil, but because of people who sit and do nothing. —Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

If it is important that we do something then we had better do the right thing, but without truth there is no such thing as the "right thing." So the first thing we must do is find the truth. This raises a very important question.

How are we to find it?

 
The medieval philosopher Peter Abelard wrote, 'The key to wisdom is this—constant and frequent questioning...for by doubting we are led to question, and by questioning we arrive at truth.'

 
I agree that asking questions is the way to discover truth but rather than asking questions only when we doubt, we should also ask questions because we believe. If what I believe happens to be true, then questioning will lead to the discovery of further truth which will serve to deepen my convictions and faith.

No matter what you believe it is good to ask questions about what it is you believe and why you believe it.

I often use the following illustration when I am trying to encourage people to think about what they believe (whether they call themselves Christians, Muslims or Atheists).

Imagine that you not sure whether you want to buy a new or second hand car. You go to the new car yard, see the car you want and decide that this is the right car for you. You make it known to the car salesman that you were thinking about buying a second hand car. He tells you, "You are doing the right thing by buying a new car. It has no past history, there's nothing wrong with it, it’s brand new. It is in perfect condition." But let us suppose the car salesman is lying. The car he's selling you is not new. It is almost new. It was stolen after someone else bought it and it has been tampered with so perhaps it will have mechanical problems sometime in the near future. Does that car salesman want you to ask him tough questions and investigate the car before you make the final purchase? Of course not. He just wants you to believe him that the car is what he claims it is. The more questions you ask and the more you investigate what the salesman has said the more you will begin to doubt him. Questioning will cause you to loose your faith in that car salesman (and difficult questions will probably make him angry).

Now let us suppose the salesman was honest; the car is new and there is nothing wrong with it. Will he mind you asking questions? Not at all, he thinks he is making a sale, he has nothing to hide. In fact the more questions you ask and the more you investigate what the salesman has said regarding the car the more your faith will grow in him.

So the lesson to be learnt is this:

Tough questions can strengthen our faith if what we've been taught is true. If, however, what we’ve been led to believe is false then tough questions will cause us to doubt and we will begin to lose our faith. The person who is afraid to ask the tough questions is already beginning to doubt because he or she is afraid of what they might find.

Buddha taught that we should test the truth claims of anyone laying claim to truth (from a lecture by the Christian speaker Ravi Zacharias).

 
Now many will say, "But the person who told me is honest" or "Are you saying my parents (teacher etc) lied to me?" No, what I am saying is this, even honest people can be deceived by a liar. The problem is that when an honest person repeats the lie it is far more powerful than when a liar speaks it. When a liar lies he knows in his heart that he is lying but when an honest person repeats a lie he speaks it with conviction because he believes it is true. No matter how honest you think someone is it is wise to investigate what they say.

 
All world views (beliefs) should be challenged by those who hold them (naturally this includes humanism and atheism). One of the best ways to do this is to find out what those who accept opposing beliefs believe and by finding out what they think you believe. Are they misrepresenting your view? Are they pointing out real problems with what you believe?

Before I go on the following word of caution must be given: 

Just because someone gives an alternate view to yours (which at first glance seems to explain the facts), it does not mean their view is correct nor does it mean that your view has been refuted. This may seem obvious but the point is important.

"An alternate explanation is not a refutation" — Greg Koukl.

We must ask which explanation happens to be the best one. The only way we can investigate this honestly is to challenge our own views by looking closely at alternate explanations to see which explanation has the least problems and accounts for all the known facts. This is a tough process that will either strengthen or weaken what we believe depending on the truthfulness of what we have accepted as true.

Some people don't like it when tough questions are asked (notably communists and Islamic extremists). I think such people are a bit like the car salesman in the illustration above. They don't like people asking questions, and can become violent, because they have something to hide.

'Let us not forget that violence does not and cannot flourish by itself; it is inevitably intertwined with lying. Between them there is the closest, the most profound and natural bond: nothing screens violence except lies, and the only way lies can hold out is by violence. Whoever has announced violence as his method must inevitably choose lies as his principle....' — Alexander Solzhenitsyn  

Don't let fear get the better of you. Be a real man or woman and ask the tough questions.

The truth is most important regarding ethics. There is no more important question on the ethical issue than those regarding God. Everyone holds beliefs about the existence or non-existence of God which is going to determine what system of ethics they adopt and how they live their lives.  For example, if an Islamist believes that cutting off an infidels head is pleasing to Allah he will cut off heads. Beliefs can motivate us to do great good or great evil. Beliefs led Stalin to persecute those who were religious. And beliefs have led some in the name of religion to commit all kinds of crimes.

The most important question is this "Does God exist?" If he does exist the next most important questions are, "What is he like?" and "What does he want?"

Be careful regarding this issue because you may have believed something which is false in your youth and you won't know if it is false until you challenge it.

 
Because everyone chooses to believe something in their youth they will accept views which affirm their chosen beliefs and reject views which conflict with those beliefs.

Ask yourself, "Am I becoming more open minded as I get older?" In other words, "Am I more willing to talk with those I strongly disagree with than I used to be?" If not, I'm becoming more closed minded and am part of the problem and not part of the solution. If I am not able to talk with those I strongly disagree with what does that say about me? It shows that I'm not very mature. We should not only talk to others for our own benefit but for theirs. The more extreme someone is the more they need those with opposing views to talk with them about difficult topics. See Extremism. Isn't it odd how most people think that it is best not to talk about difficult things? They think they are being nice but at best they are only postponing conflict and ultimately war. G.K. Chesterton had this to say about the topic:

“…Prejudices are divergent, whereas creeds are always in collision. Believers bump into each other; whereas bigots keep out of each other’s way. A creed is a collective thing, and even its sins are sociable. A prejudice is a private thing, and even its tolerance is misanthropic. So it is with our existing divisions…. Genuine controversy, fair cut and thrust before a common audience, has become in our special epoch very rare. For the sincere controversialist is above all things a good listener. The really burning enthusiast never interrupts; he listens to the enemy’s arguments as eagerly as a spy would listen to the enemy’s arrangements. But if you attempt an actual argument with a modern paper of opposite politics, you will find that no medium is admitted between violence and evasion. You will have no answer except slanging or silence. A modern editor must not have that eager ear that goes with the honest tongue. He may be deaf and silent; and that is called dignity. Or he may be deaf and noisy; and that is called slashing journalism. In neither case is there any controversy; for the whole object of modern party combatants is to charge out of earshot” (G.K. Chesterton, What’s Wrong with the World, 1910).

Unfortunately, most people will not even attempt to understand what others believe because they have made up their minds and that is all there is to it. For example, How many Christians make an honest attempt to understand Islam from an Islamic view point (by reading the Quran and Islamic authors such as Ahmed Deedat)? How many Muslims attempt to understand Christianity by reading the New Testament and Christian authors such as Ravi Zacharias? How many atheists read works by those who challenge the atheistic world view? (e.g. Can Man Live Without God by Ravi Zacharias) We should not be afraid to find out what others believe directly from them. Just because I understand what someone believes it does not mean I have to accept their view as true. We shouldn't be afraid of being brain washed. (Ironically, people who are afraid of being brainwashed usually have already been brainwashed. They will have accepted many false beliefs about the world, without realizing it, because they will have never challenged those views.) Many foolishly think that if they understand what someone else believes they will be converted to that belief, but that is just another way of saying, "I am afraid that I will be converted because I know that I am weak minded." Keep this in mind, no one was ever brain washed by asking tough  questions. People are only brain washed if they aren't. (It is for this reason I always investigate the questions atheists raise. For example, when they say the Bible has been changed I want to know when it was changed and how it was changed. When someone says science has proven miracles are not possible I want to know the scientific experiment they did to prove that miracles are not possible.)

The only way to guard against being brainwashed is to continually ask the tough questions about what we believe. We can do this by listening to the arguments of those with alternate views. Listen to debates. Listen to debates where those who hold your views win, also listen to debates where your side loses (after a while you will begin to understand whether a person lost because they were ill prepared or because their view happens to be false).

The more a person is willing to ask the toughest questions about what they believe and admit their own mistakes as well as the crimes committed by those who claim to believe what they believe, the more trustworthy he or she is.

It's a matter of personal integrity.

Remember what Buddha said? We should test the truth claims of anyone laying claim to truth.

Christians claim that Jesus rose from the dead. If you are willing to find out whether it is true that the eternal God, the creator of the universe, became a man and died for you even though you have ignored and disobeyed Him, then I suggest the following. There are many pieces in the puzzle. How are you going to make out the picture if you only look at one piece? Like a court case you must get your hands on as much evidence as possible.

Thinking Clearly by Greg Koukl
The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus  by Gary Habermas
The Resurrection Factor by Josh McDowell.
The Books the Church Suppressed by Michael Green
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
What we can't not know by J. Budziszewski
Responding to Relativism by Beckwith and Koukl
The Meaning of Meaning by Dr Michael Bauman
Unlocking the Mystery of Life; The Privileged Planet and Icons of Evolution see on-line).
Secularism and the Illusion of Neutrality by Ravi Zacharias
What if Jesus had never been born? by James Kennedy
Six Modern Myths about Christianity and Western Civilization by Philip J. Sampson
Psychology as Religion: The cult of self worship by Paul C. Vitz (Professor of Psychology)
Legislating Morality (politically relevant)
My Grace is Sufficient for you (experientially relevant)
Unspeakable: Facing Up to Evil in an Age of Genocide and Terror by Os Guinness (Which worldview most adequately addresses the most difficult issue of our time?)
Globalization and its Human Consequences by Os Guinness part 1 and part 2
See also The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics for free MP3 on Richard Dawkins book The God Delusion

Remember, I'm not asking you to believe the authors and speakers above, I'm asking you to be open minded enough to find out what they have to say.

 
So who shouldn’t you trust in your search for truth?

If a person claims to know the truth, but they are afraid to ask the tough questions about what they believe, treat what they say with caution.

If people threaten violence toward you in an attempt to stop you asking the tough questions, be careful, but be sure to investigate the issue in private.

If someone says there is no such thing as truth don't believe anything they say without investigating it first. 

Because the truth matters we must begin by being truthful people.

"Friends, if we be honest with ourselves, we shall be honest with each other." - George Macdonald (1824-1905)

   
A liar does not love truth, if he did he wouldn't lie. If we are to discover what is true we begin by being honest with ourselves and also be honest with others. We must admit when we are lying to ourselves about what impact our behaviour has had or is having on other people, particularly those who are closest to us.

 
So why do we lie to ourselves?

 
We lie to ourselves because we like to think we are better than what we actually are. We are all trying to protect our own self image. If we admit the bad we have done to others, particularly those who are closest to us, we might not be able to accept ourselves, our self image and will to live will take a dive (without forgiveness and acceptance from God we cannot accept what we are).

So is it good to lie to oneself to keep our poor self-esteem in tact? I think Dietrich Bonhoeffer was right when he said it is better to have a bad conscience than a deluded one. Denying the wrongs we have done to others just so we can have a sense of peace is not a mark of maturity, and it is certainly not evidence of a healthy self esteem. Denying personal sin is a mark or immaturity not maturity. It is better to admit our wrongs and ask for forgiveness (see Salvation).

We usually lie to others because

1. We are ashamed of something we've said or done (e.g. like a kid lying about his homework) or
2. we lie to keep something or get something we cannot have by telling the truth

 
It is important to note that everyone who lies believes they are lying for a good cause, there own. Lies are always connected to morality. The better a person is the more trustworthy they are. A person's word is only as good as they are.  (Note: Jesus  said whoever listens to truth listens to  Him.  But Jesus claimed to do more than speak the truth; He claimed to be the truth. In other words He was saying you can trust Him because of what He is like. God has no reason to lie.)

Closing thoughts: Why people might lie to themselves and others.

 
If atheism is popular at a university while faith is seen as backward, what might a professor risk if he openly identifies himself as a Christian who believes that Jesus physical body rose from the dead? (Wouldn't it be easier to lie about what he believes in order to maintain his position?)

 
If a Christian pastor believes Christianity is not true, What would it cost him to leave the church? (Might that be a good reason for him to lie about what he believes so he can keep his position in the Church?)[2]

If a Muslim Imam in Saudi Arabia comes to the conclusion that Islam is false what does he stand to lose if he admits it publicly? [3] What would happen to him if he wrote something like this.

Footnote:

[1] Not only is there such a thing as truth but all scientists believe that truth is there to be discovered. What would be the point of investigation and experiments if there was nothing to be discovered? If there is no such thing as truth then there is no difference between a true story and a fairy tale. If there is no such thing as truth then there is no difference between reality and an illusion and therefore no difference between sanity and insanity.

[2]  Many scholars reject the Bible because they believe miracles are not possible and the Bible claims they are. If one accepts the opinions of these scholars then the Quran must also be rejected because it claims miracles happened. But they are not really being honest with themselves. If they were honest each of them would say something like, "I don't know if miracles are possible. I'll look at the evidence to see what it suggests." That's honest. That's the attitude a scientist should hold. To make a claim without looking at the evidence is nothing but bigotry. The Bible claims Jesus rose from the dead, if that's true Christianity is true, if its false then the New Testament is nothing but a fairy tale. Which is the best explanation given that the disciples payed for their beliefs with their lives?

By the way, there was a very interesting debate entitled Atheism versus Christianity: Where does the evidence point? between William Lane Craig and the editor of the American Atheist Magazine and director of American Atheist Press, Frank Zindler. 

[3] I am not arguing that just because a person stands to lose something that they are automatically lying. I am merely saying that there is a cost involved if a person decides to go against any accepted view. 

"Neo you must understand, there's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path." - Morpheus

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