In today’s media-rich world, in which corporations and politicians appear to manipulate facts and opinions for their own ends, and where claims of fake news and conspiracy theories dominate social media, the words of the Hebrew prophet Isaiah seem particularly pertinent:
Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands at a distance;
for truth stumbles in the public square, and uprightness cannot enter.
(Isaiah 59: 14)
Living in our twenty-first century cultures, it can be challenging to embrace truth in our own lives and to discern truth in those around us and in the things we read, see and hear.
So how can we seek truth in our daily lives?
Here are a few suggestions to help guide us.
1. Take time to listen.
Our natural tendency is to grab the first thing we hear/read, judge that in the light of our own opinion, and on that basis either accept it as the truth or dismiss it as false. We need to take time to listen to others, to hear fully what they are saying. There will always be more than one side to any particular story, so taking time to listen to different perspectives is important. It is particularly helpful to listen to those who are ‘experts by experience’ (for example, listening to disabled people on issues pertaining to accessibility). When listening to others, it can help to summarise or reflect back to them what you have heard – this can help us to clarify that we have truly heard them: ‘So what I’ve heard you say is… is that correct?’
2. Look for the source of any claimed truth.
It is worth spending a bit of time probing for the source of any claims, particularly on social media where it is so easy to re-post something we have seen. How valid and reliable is the source?
As a general rule, evidence from relevant experts (particularly where this is published in a reputable scientific journal or endorsed by a larger body of experts in the field), from a public (and publicly-accountable) body (such as the Office for National Statistics or the Care Quality Commission), or from a judicial process (for example, an independent inquiry or court ruling) are the most reliable and trustworthy sources.
In contrast, social media posts from unknown people or self-proclaimed experts should be treated with caution.
Politicians, pressure groups, opinion pieces in the media, and any individuals/groups with a vested interest tend to fall somewhere between the two. They deserve to be listened to, but may select evidence and present things in a way that supports their own particular viewpoint. Ask yourself, ‘whose interests are being served here?’
3. Be aware of our own biases.
We all carry our own set of perspectives and biases. Often these are so deeply ingrained that we are unaware of them. It is worth taking time to consider our own biases, where they have come from, and how they influence both what we hear/see and how we interpret it. For example, we might want to ask ourselves ‘what does it mean to me to be educated/white/male (or the converse of any of those)? What privileges or disadvantages does that bring? How does it affect how I read and interpret the news?’ It is helpful to reflect on what we hear in the light of our own experience, while recognising that our experience will only be one example and others may have different perspectives.
It is worth remembering that truth comes in different guises: the truth expressed in a poem or a piece of art will be different to that of a scientific formula or an historical account, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Learn to value different expressions of truth.
4. Appraise what we hear in the light of what we know of God and of Jesus’ life and teaching.
For those of us who are followers of Jesus, we will want to consider how what we are hearing bears up in the light of God’s revelation through the Bible. For those of us from other faith traditions or philosophical stances, we may have other reference points from which to appraise what we are hearing. We need to be aware, however, that we all have our own perspectives on who God is and how we interpret the Bible or other scriptures. Be cautious about using isolated verses of scripture to justify particular positions, and appraise what you read in the light of the overall revelation of God and God’s will for our world. How does it align with the revelation of God as our loving creator who wants to reconcile the whole of creation? Is it in keeping with justice, mercy and humility; with loving our neighbour; with the ten commandments or the Beatitudes? How does it match up to what we see in the life and teaching of Jesus, and his death and resurrection?
5. Look for the fruits of truth.
The fruit of the Spirit [the Spirit of truth] is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5: 22-23). Are those the fruits that you see arising from what you are hearing? Does it lead to love, joy and a sense of peace? Or does it lead to division, a sense of despair, or to turmoil (inner or outer)? Does it lead to freedom for yourself and for others (John 8: 32)?
6. Test it out with others whom you trust.
Find other people whose character and opinion you trust. Listen to their perspectives. Sound out your ideas and opinions and be open to change. Be wary, though, of the little echo-chambers we tend to build around ourselves (on social media and in our friendship groups), surrounding ourselves with others who share the same views and opinions. It is helpful to actively seek out those whose views differ to ours and take time to listen, graciously, to what they are saying.
Some suggestions for taking this further:
· Do a word study on truth using a concordance or digital Bible
· Pray a prayer of examen relating to a particular theme (e.g. http://www.ecologicalexamen.org/)
· Choose one topic that you are concerned about and seek out resources to listen and understand (e.g Ben Lindsay (2019) We need to talk about race)
· Pray, asking the spirit of truth to lead us into all truth.
God of truth, whose word is truth
Grant me the grace to seek for truth
To listen and to look with gentleness, humility and wonder
That I may know your truth
That I and others may be set free by that truth
I pray in the name of the one who is the way, the truth and the life
Amen