it's new

Yesterday I spoke of absolutes and the search for them. We do that individually as well as scientifically. The greatest accomplishment is to have absolute faith. Not many of us achieve that. What you believe is not as important as the belief itself! That's the irony in it all. Epictetus said, "all religions must be tolerated for every man must get to heaven in his own way." He was really talking about belief.  He wasn't advocating for any one belief to harm others with that belief, something that all religions have managed to achieve throughout history. It's a fine line indeed between the Evangelists and the Zealots! The truth is what we individually perceive it to be. That's just how it works. The majority of us will have ever changing, ever evolving beliefs and our truth will change. The determination of absolute truth is the goal. Absolute truth is the providence of prophets. Separating the true prophet from the false can only be done on an individual basis. It is something you simply must do for yourself. You may be convinced by the testimony of others, at least temporarily, but the hardest person to convince is yourself. Self-sacrifice is the hardest sacrifice of all. Giving of our time or money isn't that difficult. Denying yourself, that is just a bit harder. 

 The thing is we all know right from wrong. We are born with that knowledge; it is intrinsic to the nature of man. It is our parents, siblings, and society in general that defines the exceptions, what is allowed. From our earliest moments we begin to learn that. Our first cries are cries for help. We begin to learn what is allowed to gain that help, and what is expected in return. You are supposed to operate within those boundaries. 

 Governments and Religions serve the same purpose. Our government was the first to separate the two. That was the result of abuses over centuries of rule. Clerics ruled over the everlasting, while emperors and kings ruled the everyday. The premise with our government is that the individual will rule the whole. Not that much different than the Christian view that Christ rules the whole. The one God theory, monotheism. as it is called by the scholars. The ancient Greeks, among others, had polytheism. The problem with that system was the Gods fighting among themselves, at the expense of the mortals.

 But society itself is ever changing, ever evolving and the absolute truth evades us. Either that, or we choose to not accept the truth. The latter I believe, is closer to the reality of this world. The truth being, all men are created equal. Well, except they are not born into equal circumstance. It is our response to circumstance that will eventually define our character. We may, or may not, become successful as defined by society in general. The truth, the absolute truth lies somewhere between the truth we are taught, and the truth that we live. 

 When are we successful? How is that measured? What is the standard you must meet?  As we age we discover the standard is ever changing and that causes consternation and doubt. That is unless we achieve the goal, the goal of absolute belief. Ironically we will then be labeled in some fashion. Stubborn, obstinate, old fashioned or set in our ways. We will be told we need to change our ways, adopt new ideas and standards for conduct. Discard those old, outdated ideas and get with the program. There is a new truth! Is there, really?