Opus 2025-348: Roads to Truth

There are different ways to present what to you are logical arguments.  I must confess that I use many of them if not all.

The first way of course is to be very serious and studied in your approach.  You check your sources.  You make sure you are quoting accurately. You try to think about different understandings and interpretations. You make your statement and you stand your ground.  Of course if you’re serious, someone might have a better argument and you need to then be able to listen and learn.  There are times when I approach it that way on this blog.

A variation of this approach is to write tongue-in-cheek.  The writers of the Bible are not the only ones who have the opportunity to use hyperbole or metaphor.  Humor is something that can be a good way to communicate.  Of course, humor requires both sides of the discussion to be willing to laugh at themselves and to see the absurd as absurd.  That is a high expectation.

Another approach is the wild and crazy conversations you get in with people who are wild and crazy about what they believe.  They are adamant.  They know the truth.  They don’t know what the word “listen” means.  They forgot that they’re still a learner.  They have the answer.  I enjoy these conversations because it’s just fun to try and counter what they’re saying.  Of course you also have to realize there comes a point when it’s time to turn and walk away.  I will often stop in the middle of a statement, looked him in the eye and ask, “Are we having fun?”  It becomes pretty clear when it’s time to end the conversation.  Rage and lack of information tend to cut off dialogue.

Another type of face-to-face encounter, which I enjoy are the ones in which both people in the discussion think they know what they believe, but are willing to listen and consider what the other person says.  I will be honest, these are rather rare.  I find that I have to stop and get myself a lecture when I get a little too excited.

Truth exists.  It can be found.  The real challenge is to set aside our semi-truth and recognize the real article.

homo unius libri