The Oxford English Dictionary's top new word of the year two years ago was "post-truth," defined as "relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotional and personal beliefs." In a word, ideology taking priority over reality -- a dangerous thing.
Jesus is quoted as saying that "truth will set you free." If that is the case, then it seems logical to conclude that lies enslave people. In our world of fake news, it seems that indeed emotions and personal beliefs trump all else and, if they run afoul of reality, the wicked purveyors will invent "alternative" facts, i.e. lies to take the place of truth.
The President of the United States has already been documented as making more than six thousand statements that are not factual and, thus, intended to compound our truth problem instead of helping to resolve it. That suggests a style of leadership in which the leader's elf-interest is the only real consideration.
Let us seriously consider seeking and following the truth, trusting that when we do we will be liberated from our prison of popular lies and set free to make a positive difference in the world, to bring unity where division is now being sown, bringing friendship and mutual respect where hatred and derision rule, changing monologues of self-interest into dialogues of bridge-building. We can become a part of the solution, while there is still time.
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