My Perspective on Truth

Megan McKim
We live in a culture and a world where truth is often sought. Many deny what they
know to be truth and hope that their findings provide the reassurance. To tell the
difference between what we know and see and what we can't know for certain or can't
ever see, it provides a barrier between many would see as truth and what others would
call a lie.
One of the most heatedly discussed topics of all time would be the nature and
reliability of truth. Many have often wondered what truth is, how we know is truthful and
what is not. This is a hard question to answer, mostly because we dont know what truth
is. What one would call truth or what one would say is a lie is all biased, based on their
own personal opinion woven together through their experiences. In a world filled with
many different views and opinions, truth is hard to find and hard to decipher.
Many would describe truth by its definition. The definition of truth is being in
accordance with fact or reality; a fact or belief seen as true or reliable and being
accurate or proven. If we take truth by this description we would see that truth isnt more
than we can prove. Truth has to be evidence or accurate.
To provide examples of truth in the real world, I looked to a modern band named
Mumford and Sons. Many of their songs contain a snippet on what truth looks like or the
lack of. In their song I gave you all it says How can you say that you're truth is better
than ours? Shoulder to shoulder, now brother we carry no arms. Truth is argued and
often debated. Mumford is saying that they stand alongside each other putting aside the
anger, the differences, and the arguments. Everyone is going to say they know what is

true but no one will ever know for sure. In another one of their songs, Feel the Tide the
chorus states But you and I now we can be alright, Just hold on to what you know is
true, you and I now though it's cold inside feel the tide turning. When life gets hectic
and falls apart, holding on to hope and what one believes to be true is the only way to
fight through and continue on. Thats one reason why many are adamant to knowing
what is truthful; they want to be sure that what they are spending time and energy on,
what they trust and believe in, is true.
In a newer song they wrote Tompkins Square Park they sing I only ever told
you one lie, when it could have been a thousand, it might as well have been a
thousand. One lie is all it takes to break trust. Truth is just as valuable and hard to
obtain as trust. One lie loses all truth. Telling one lie, it ruins purity of the once held truth.
Truth is also a well known topic when it comes to literature. Pip, in Charles
Dickens Great Expectations, struggles to find truth in his actions. He has a hard time
finding out who he truly is and who around him will help him find the truth in his life. Pip
struggles to find how true his intentions are to become a gentleman, who his true
provider is, and who his true friends are. With each new mystery in his life, Pip struggles
to find the truth in each one.
In Perelandra by C.S. Lewis, the Lady only knows what she is told, whether its
Ransom or Winstons words, she holds them at face value or as truth. She doesn't know
right from wrong, lie from truth. Ransom as a Christian believes and values the truth of
the bible. Winston, as a nonbeliever, believes that Ransoms truth is nonsense or made
up. He views truth as proof and faith as foolishness. Deciding what each person wants

to believe as truth is one of the biggest obstacles a person must overcome. It also
dictates their path in life.
A persons background, childhood, and religion will dictate their views on truth.
Truth is trust but its also faith. Its not always religious-faith, but it is a faith that what you
are putting hope into is truth and reliable. Truth in our society today is just as valued as
the ancient Romans valued it. Through their sciences and studies, the Romans strived
to find truth in all instances and cases. Truth was knowledge and it was power. This is
why Jesus often said Truly I say to you. He knew how to gain their attention and how
to direct them on his course. Some bible verses that state truth are John 8:31-32 So
Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly
my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his
glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Truth is perspective and outcome. Truth for beliefs and truth for morals are two
different things. And while one person can define truth as one thing, the person next to
them is going to believe the opposite. What is truth is heavily debated because there is
no facts, there is no set in stone. Truth is all what we perceive it to be. What each
person believes to be true is due to their upbringing and their environment. We each
believe in different truths because we are each unique.
Truth doesn't always have to be proven to be true. Truth is like trust. It's hard to
find and gain, easy to be stripped away and thrown out the door. What is true and what
is not isn't known until proven. Finding truth and proving truth is one of the greatest
mysteries mankind has ever known. And the truth of the matter is that we will never

know until we find it. One has to look at the facts and evidence at hand and from there
make a step of faith, and trust that what they are reaching for, is true. We may never
know what is true and what is not, everyone has their own view but by looking at them
combined we can create our own truth. Thus leading each of us towards what we know
is reliable or accurate, what we view as proven and reality.