Finding the Truth That Matters

“There is a self-correcting spirit of truth in the universe.”

The Reverend Dr. Robert Allan Hill

Dean, Marsh Chapel, Boston University

I once served on a jury and every time someone was called to testify they were asked to swear that they would “tell the whole truth”.

You have to wonder if someone decided to add the word “whole” because some folks were telling only part of the truth.

The interesting part of the trial was how attorneys would bring witnesses who would offer either different or nuanced versions of the truth. And then the jury retired to determine the truth.

Our jury voted several times and people changed their minds before reaching a consensus on the truth. We never really knew for sure if we got it right.

Mostly, not always, we can get by in society with a lot of wiggle room in knowing what the truth is. Lots of space for recovery if our understanding misses the mark, especially with the small stuff.

But, what about the big stuff. What is the truth on the highest plane, the cosmic level, in its purest form. And why does it matter?

The truth can encompass all manner of beliefs, propositions, and declarations. Perhaps the most famous declaration of the truth is in America’s Declaration of Independence. You probably remember the words from your schooling: