Thinking in a Post-Truth World

Recently, I began to reread C.S. Lewis’ Surprised by Joy when I had to stop a reflect on a part of his story where he is describing his father’s false perception of the boarding school, Belsen, that he had chosen for his two boys.  A school run by a man Lewis refers to as Oldie.  Lewis knew his father and that the choice would not be made without careful consideration, but the choice was bad one. He looks back on this period and writes:

                Beyond doubt he would have prolonged deliberation till his hundred-and-first; and they would be infallibly and invincibly wrong. This is what always happens to the deliberations of a simple man who thinks he is a subtle one.  Like Earle’s Scepticke in Religion he ‘is always too hard for himself’.  My father piqued himself on what he called ‘reading between the lines.’ The obvious meaning of any fact or document was always suspect: the true and inner meaning, invisible to all eyes except his own, was unconsciously created by the restless fertility of his imagination. While he was interpreting Oldie’s prospectus, he was really composing a school story in his own mind. And all this, I doubt not, with extreme conscientiousness and even some anguish.  It might, perhaps, have been expected that this story of his would presently be blown away by the real story which we had to tell after we had gone to Belsen. But this did not happen. I believe it rarely happens. If the parents in each generation always or often knew what really goes on at their sons’ schools, the history of education would be very different. At any rate, my brother and I certainly did not succeed in impressing the truth on our father’s mind.  For one thing (and this will become clearer in the sequel) he was a man not easily informed. His mind was too active to be an accurate receiver.  What he though he had heard was never exactly what you had said. We did not even try very hard.

His mind was too active to be an accurate receiver.

That was the line I got to when I had to put the book down and do some self-reflection.  And then, pick it back up and reread the section.  Ah the irony…  I willfully chose NOT to repeat the deliberation of self-reflection for the hundred-and first time!

It is not just parents who have experienced the confusion of sending their children to school and have been faced with the clash between expectation and reality, but the children who live through that conflict that are left to mature into some sort of reconciliation of the matter. 

There is so much to say in this area about Education… Communication… and Generational Assumptions. 

Lewis’ brilliantly written reflection, many years after the experience, shows wisdom, forgiveness, reconciliation, and maturity.  His words brought to my own mind so many experiences with teachers, schools, my children’s experiences, the experiences of their classmates and the choices we get to make. Self-righteous commitment or willingness to receive the truth? Blame or forgive?

James warns us that not many of us should be teachers.  I suspect that only the humble can accurately receive the truth in such a way to share it with others.

My concern is the idea of subjective-truth. My truth vs. Your truth – a highly popular mantra in today’s culture. Lewis seems to have matured to the degree to understand his father’s love for his children as well as his weakness in his ability to discern with any accuracy what was best for them. This maturity allows Lewis to forgive and move on and to teach others from his experience. In a world of subjective-truth we seem to be condemning a generation towards division and blame instead of unity, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Under the guise of tolerance and acceptance, we seem to be promoting self-righteous commitment… prideful thinking and promoting the love-of-self. This does not lead to humility and this does not allow much room in our children’s lives for the maturity, growth and transformation that God wants for His children.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you believe that you know all truth, then you have no need for Jesus. 💔

If you believe that you and Jesus are tight – perfectly aligned in thought, then reread the Gospel of John. Especially the first chapter. (John 1) and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him…. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Do you read Scripture and recognize Jesus? Or, do you assume you know enough and that your imagined picture is true? If you have received Jesus, do you realize you have once-again become a child! You cannot take all the education you received before conversion and fit it into your new life. Nor, can you continue to listen to the same old teachers and expect to mature. When the disciples answered the call to follow Jesus, they dropped everything and followed Him… what are you holding onto?

Heavenly Father – You are sovereign and You are loving. Your ways are best. Guide us and reveal to us daily, through Your Word and Your Will, into Your Truth. We give you our lives, our thanks, and our praise in the name of our Savior and our Lord, Jesus. Amen.