In a world that has been described as "post-truth," this message declares that truth does exist, it does matter, and we can discern it.
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"Recently, the Dictionaries announced that the word of the year for 2016 is “post-truth,” a word they define as “an adjective … denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief’.” The President of Oxford Dictionaries, explained the selection: “Fueled by the rise of social media as a news source and a growing distrust of facts offered up by the establishment, post-truth as a concept has been finding its linguistic footing for some time …. I wouldn’t be surprised if post-truth becomes one of the defining words of our time.” Reflecting this view, several commentators have recently asserted that we live in a post-truth world, a world in which truth “has become unimportant or irrelevant.”
Living in a “post-truth” world where there is more information available than there is time to process it presents particular challenges. Many do not know how to determine the accuracy or the truthfulness of new information. Some deal with the matter by looking for reinforcement of their own pre-existing, and sometimes ill-informed, notions, limiting their pursuit of truth to only those sources that support their views. Stuck in an echo-chamber of their own making, they stunt their ability to learn truth by sealing themselves off from any meaningful dialogue with others who may have different viewpoints. A manifestation of this is the increasing polarization in American politics.
Others go to the opposite extreme, finding any piece of information that is not compatible with their prior views as sufficient reason to throw aside, without further inquiry, truths that have provided sure guidance to them and others in the past. These individuals, to use the words of the Apostle Paul, are “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness.” This tendency sometimes manifests itself as a crisis of faith -- triggered by the receipt of pieces of information, true or not, that do not coincide with previously held views.
While there are many causes for political polarization and crises of faith, one common feature is that they are often a partial result of living in a “post-truth” world, where truth seems so difficult to discern that many may wonder whether it is worth the effort – or even possible.
My message to you today is that truth does exist; it can be discerned; and a major part of your purpose here at BYU is to enhance your knowledge of the truth and your ability to discern it. In fact, a major part of our purpose in this mortal existence, is to enhance and refine our ability to discern, apply, and ultimately internalize truth.
Let me provide four concrete suggestions that I believe are specific applications of the “by study and by faith” paradigm I’ve described – four things that may help you better distinguish truth from falsehood and productively deal with the uncertainty inherent in the truth-seeking process.
First, when you receive new information, consider the source.
Second, consider the context in which the information arose and is presented.
Third, be patient, both with yourself and with the process.
Fourth, and most important, if you want to understand truth, draw closer to Him who is the source of all truth and light, who declared Himself to be the Way the Truth and the Life – even Jesus Christ." - President Worthen
Kevin J Worthen, president of Brigham Young University, delivered this devotional address on 12 January 2017.
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