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Sunday, February 10, 2013

Truth

Truth
truT

A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.


 

Principles and Guidance: Truth has a variety of meanings, such as the state of being in accord with fact or reality.  It can also mean having fidelity to an original or to a standard or ideal. Honesty and authenticity as a subset of courage means more than simply telling the truth. It involves integrity in all areas of one’s life and the ability to be true to oneself and one’s role in the World across circumstances.  In a common usage, it also means constancy or sincerity in action or character. 

 

Various theories and views of truth continue to be debated among scholars and philosophers. There are differing claims on such questions as what constitutes truth; what things are truth bearers capable of being true or false; how to define and identify truth; the roles that revealed and acquired knowledge play; and whether truth is subjective or objective, relative or absolute.  Religious views on truth vary widely between different religions.

 

The Four Noble Truths are the most fundamental Buddhist teachings and appear countless times throughout the most ancient Buddhist texts, the Pali Canon. They arose from Buddha's enlightenment, and are regarded in Buddhism as deep spiritual insight.


There is no unilateral agreement amongst the different denominations of Judaism concerning truth. In Orthodox Judaism, truth is the revealed word of God, as found in the Old Testament, and to a lesser extent, in the words of the sages of the Talmud. For Hasidic Jews, truth is also found in the pronouncements of their spiritual leader, who is believed to possess divine inspiration.  Kotzk, a Polish Hasidic sect, was known for their obsession with truth.

 

Kemetic ethics are based in the Egyptian concept of Ma'at, which is truth, justice, order, and that which is right.  In addition, Kemetics look to ancient Egyptian law texts such as the Declaration of Innocence, which contain a list of 42 sins a deceased person claims not to have done, and the Wisdom Texts, which are pieces of advice written by Ancient Egyptians.

 

The central person in Christianity, Jesus, claimed to be truth when he said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through me."  Truth is thus considered to be an attribute of God.


In the Norse Nine Noble Virtues, truth is the honesty and integrity in one's words as well as one's actions.  It is a word that holds much in its definition and includes a wide variety of moral and philosophical beliefs.  Our ancient ancestors valued truthful speech and honest deeds.  A lying oath breaker would face severe consequences.  In a society where one might have to prove one's word by risking their life, there was no room for idle lies.  Today we should respect other people's truths while seeking our own truth. 

 

Probably the most important thing to know about practicing truth is that not everyone agrees about what is true.  Sometimes things that seem to contradict each other can both be true.  There is a story about a group of blind men who "looked" at an elephant and then argued about whether an elephant was like a snake, a wall, a tree, or a vine.  Each one had an idea that was true based on what they touched (the elephant’s trunk, body, leg, and tail), but none of them had the whole picture.  If you really believe something is true, you don't have to make other people agree with you.  You are only responsible for yourself.  Maybe the people you disagree with know something you don't.  Maybe they aren't ready to see what you do.  Good friends can "agree to disagree" on lots of things without having to quit being friends.

 

Vor is one of the handmaidens of Frigg, with Var and Eir.  Var and Vor are invoked to witness oaths and to punish oath breakers.  Vor, Goddess of truth, is wise and inquiring, and nothing can be concealed from her.

 

Balder was a God of truth, love and light.  Balder was also knowledgeable in healing herbs and runes, which made him a favorite among the people of Midgard.  Balder lived in a palace named Breidablik with his wife Nanna, a vegetation Goddess of joy and romance.  It was believed that no lie could pass through the walls of Breidablik, home of the God of truth, so when Balder started having frightening nightmares about his own demise, the other Aesir Gods took them seriously.


Syn ("truth") is a Guardian Goddess of doorways and of love.  An attendant of Frigg, Syn guarded the door of Frigg's palace, refusing to open it to those who were not allowed to come in.  When she had once shut the door upon a would-be intruder no appeal would prevail to change her decision.  She therefore presided over all tribunals and trials, and whenever a thing was to be vetoed the usual formula was to declare that Syn was against it.

 

Live according to what you believe in your heart to be right and you will have no reason to lie about your actions.

 

There should be truth in thought,
truth in speech and truth in action.
~Gandhi





 
 

 
Wisdom

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