WHO’S LYING?

Is there such a thing as absolute truth? We will probably never know the answer to that philosophical question. So then, what constitutes the truth?

There are some undeniable truths, aren’t there? Such as the proverbial “the sun will come up tomorrow.” But do we even really know that for sure? Maybe it is going to go nova tonight at 8:00PM Eastern Daylight Time  (no film at 11:00).

For most of us, what is true is what we believe to be true. And once we believe something is true, it is doubtful we will change our minds. That’s because we think it’s “true.”

But what if we can be absolutely objective? By what means can we, with 100% certainty, know what is true? Perhaps that’s not really possible.

So, let’s examine a scenario where two people are telling us conflicting information. How can we determine who is telling the “truth” and who is lying?

One person who spent years looking into this problem was James Randi. He spent his life challenging paranormal and pseudoscientific claims and founded the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He was also an entertainer, who called himself the “Amazing Randi,” and performed a magic show, but always maintained there was no such thing as magic. He did tricks anyone could do and challenged his audiences to figure how he did them.

Randi is quoted as saying something very compelling when looking at this problem. He said, “The first thing a cult does, is tell you everyone else is lying.” This suggests a new definition of what a cult is. Basically, any group, organization or institution that tells us their truth is the only truth and everyone else is lying, is a cult.

Based on this definition of a cult, the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, the US government, the CDC, the EPA, FDA, CNN, FOX and MSNBC are all cults.  They are all guilty pf sharing their “truth,” while insisting that everyone else’s is a lie.

It is up to every individual, at this time in history, to question everything they are told, research as much as they can, and make sound decisions on what the “truth” is, without relying on political parties, news organizations, or other “cults” to tell them what the “truth” is.

Because, to some extent, EVERYONE is lying.