Post-truth is the Oxford English Dictionary's word of the year for 2016, according to information released last week. The word has been defined to describe a time or era in which "objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief." I think I would concur that post-truth is the word of the year because we are certainly living in a post-truth era.
The word apparently achieved its "word of the year" status as a result of the recent political campaigns and elections. Candidates could say almost anything and were judged more on the basis of whether people liked what they had to say, or if it appealed to their emotions, than on the basis of factual truth and reality.
The word of itself simply means "after truth" and indicates a time in which truth really doesn't matter anymore. Though it once may have mattered, we've moved beyond that now.
Post-truth is a fitting description of our times!
Though the new word may have achieved its status because of unsupported campaign promises and accusations, it is a fitting description of our times. Not only did citizens vote for candidates based on unrealistic promises, political jabs and media spins, people today are often ignorant of or blinded to the truth and are passionate about issues more because of political correctness and emotional appeals than because of truth or fact.
Anyone persuaded by truth would vigorously condemn and oppose abortion because science has made abundantly clear that human life begins at conception and that, by the time most women even realize they are pregnant, the child within has a beating heart, limbs, a developing brain and nervous system and organs, and moves about in the womb. But for so many the truth doesn't matter. What matters is how they feel and how far they would go to alleviate the guilt and shame which comes with taking the life of a helpless child.
Yes, it's not politically correct, but nature itself -- the design of male and female human bodies -- indicates that marriage and the sexual union is to between a man and a woman and not between people of the same sex. But, once again, what's truth got to do with it? The appeal is to emotion, and those who hold to the truth are made to feel guilty for daring to point out the obvious.
It's with emotional appeals, we are told it's bad to own a gun, the government should provide healthcare for everyone, we should quit using fossil fuels, that it's OK to change one's gender, that a free college education is a right, etc., but where are the facts? They don't matter. It doesn't matter that crime is down where people are allowed to protect themselves with guns, that the earth isn't really warming as much as alarmists say, that it's not honest and fair to those who work for their living to tax them and give their earnings to those who do not work.
With no regard for truth or the facts, we are presented with emotional appeals based on race that police are prejudiced and trigger-happy murderers to be ridiculed and shot. Again, what does it matter that the person shot by police had a gun, refused to comply with lawful orders or had just committed a violent crime with a gun?
As a Christian pastor, I see it often, too, in discussing the Bible's teaching with nominal Christians. They claim to believe the Bible and to have faith in God but, when it comes to Biblical doctrine, their feelings and emotions are much more important than Biblical truth. They accept Biblical teaching which appeals to their emotions but question and reject Biblical teaching which is less appealing. Thus, many will believe that God is love but will deny what the Bible teaches about God being just and punishing sin. They'll believe that we've all come short of what God commands and expects but deny that our sins make us deserving of the fires of hell. They'll believe in Jesus as a great teacher and example but don't believe He is the eternal Son of God who was born into this world of a virgin to make atonement for the sins of the world and then rise again from the dead, ascend into heaven and come again as our judge.
Yes, we are beyond truth. Truth doesn't matter anymore. What matters is feelings and emotions!
Truth, however, is not dead. It can be ignored. It can be rejected. But, in the end, it's still truth!
I can believe I should be able to lift up my arms and fly. I can feel I should be able to fly. I can say I was made to fly. I can call those who tell me not to fly hate mongers who speak offensive speech against me and all who think they can fly. I can march in the streets claiming my right to fly. Why, at more than 250 pounds, I could even say skinny people are prejudiced against me as an obese old man when they tell me not to fly. I could leave my church if it tells me I shouldn't try to defy God's law of gravity and go instead to a church which encourages me to fly. But, when I take that leap of faith and try flying, that law of gravity, which I rejected, will prove truthful and bite me in the end!
We may be living in a post-truth era; but, like it or not, truth still matters. Those who reject truth and follow after their emotions and personal opinions will find that out some day -- the hard way.
Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 11/24/2016