What is Truth?

Kerry from Glenbervie

Because it's Sunday, because Easter is coming up when many will be enjoying extra time off, and because I want to, I'm going to talk about truth.

Someone said that "truth" is the first casualty of war. In a manner of speaking we have seen in recent days on Neighbourly a war of words. In my view that is the most appropriate theatre for any sort of war. Let's resolve our issues with words, as adults, (or do our best to) and not resort even to talk of guns, which has happened here, on this venue. (Goodness, we're not in America are we?)

Of course it may be retorted that talk is cheap and doesn't get us anywhere. Well talk has never been cheaper than on the internet, and it beats the hell out of beating the hell out of someone you disagree with, wouldn't you agree?

Winston Churchill has been widely reported as saying something along these lines re. truth:

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened."

What is truth?

I have asked this question in a group setting and it may surprise people just how such a simple question proves such a slippery eel to get a handle on.

I mention Easter because this same question was asked around two thousand years ago by Pontius Pilate as he contemplated whether or not he would put to death or release a pesky Jewish upstart that arguably might just prove to destabilize the tenuous Roman grip on the occupied territory known then as Judaea. Little did he realize that in just a few generations this "pest" would be the origin of a state sponsored religion that would span the entire Roman Empire.

Here's how it went, (if you trust in the historicity of this account) according to someone named John whom I have translated to some extent:

Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves didn't go into the judgment hall, in case they should be defiled; so that they might eat the passover.
Pilate then went out to them, and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?"
They answered and said to him, "If he were not a wrongdoer, we would not have delivered him up to you."
Then Pilate said to them, "You take him, and judge him according to your law." The Jews therefore said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death": That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying what death he should die.
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered him, "Do you speak your own mind, or did others put you up to it?"
Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me: what have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now- my kingdom is not from here."
Pilate therefore said unto him, "Are you a king then?"
Jesus answered, "You ask that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."

Pilate said unto him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find in him no fault at all. But you have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover feast: will you agree therefore, that I release to you the King of the Jews?"

Then cried they all again, saying, "Not this man, but Barabbas." Now, Barabbas was a robber.

It has often been written that it is a great pity that having asked the all important question: What is truth? that he never stuck around long enough for an answer. Now it is my hope, that having read this far you will not take Pilate's example and leave before we get to define this all important concept.