Diogenes was searching for an honest man. The Wisdom Literature of the Judeo-Christian-Muslim Scriptures say we shall know the Truth, and the Truth will make us free. (Therapists know that first it will make us miserable.) The foundation of Western Culture’s judicial system is in telling the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth. Superman fought for Truth, Justice and the American Way. Wonder Woman had her lasso of Truth. In Dragnet, all that was wanted was the facts, ma’am, just the facts.
Paradoxically, we also have the lie: the Emperor’s New Clothes, the Boy Who Cried Wolf, and Pinnochio. Humans wander through life between the Truth and the Lie, living with the Light and the Dark Wolf deciding which to feed.
Thanks to Nancy M. who reminded me of the 18th century legend of “The Truth Coming Out of the Well” and the classic painting of that theme by Jean-Leon Gerome.
According to a 19th century legend, the Truth and the Lie meet one day. The Lie says to the Truth: "It's a marvelous day today"! The Truth looks up to the skies and sighs, for the day was really beautiful. They spend a lot of time together, ultimately arriving beside a well. The Lie tells the Truth: "The water is very nice, let's take a bath together!" The Truth, once again suspicious, tests the water and discovers that it indeed is very nice. They undress and start bathing. Suddenly, the Lie comes out of the water, puts on the clothes of the Truth and runs away. The furious Truth comes out of the well and runs everywhere to find the Lie and to get her clothes back. The World, seeing the Truth naked, turns its gaze away, with contempt and rage.
The poor Truth returns to the well and disappears forever, hiding therein, its shame. Since then, the Lie travels around the world, dressed as the Truth, satisfying the needs of society, because, the World, in any case, harbors no wish at all to meet the naked Truth.
What is the current vernacular meaning of the word “Myth”? Originally, mythology was the pre-literate collection of cultural wisdom, stories told to convey and to teach the Truth. If you choose to be a Truth Seeker, or worse a Truth Liver or Truth Sayer, then be prepared for the backwash of society saying, “oh, that’s just a myth”.
Where is Truth? Coming out of the well.
How are You? I am Well.
[Comments, questions, disagreements, snide remarks and silly stories always invited and welcomed. Especially so if naked.]