Learn to express convictions in such a way as to encourage others to listen.
Once upon a time I taught high school English. I allowed my students to express their thoughts, feelings, and convictions in written form—even if they were contrary to everything I hold as true.
BUT.
And here is the big thing. If you are going to argue a point, you must support it with valid, verifiable, and reputable sources.
Your sources may not be the same as my sources. But I know what I believe, why I believe it, and where my beliefs come from. Can you say the same?
If you believe in something believe in it. But you should also be able to explain why—not with mere conjecture, knee-jerk reactions, social media posts, or urban legends—but readable, referable, reproducible information that helped you form that belief.
American author, Henry David Thoreau touches on truth in his essay Walden. He states, “Any truth is better than make-believe.”
I would tend to agree.
I believe in truth. Or more accurately, I believe in Truth. Therefore, on closer inspection I doubt we mean the same thing.
When I consider his statement in context of his entire work, and from what I have learned about Thoreau in my studies, I suspect our agreement is superficial at best.
Thoreau concludes Nature is not confined by man’s constructs of truth. He scoffs, “As if Nature could support but one order of understandings…” From a Transcendentalist perspective, he believed that an individual’s truth is derived from intuition and imagination.
From a Christian or more accurately a Biblical perspective, I believe truth is a much more narrow path.
“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there’s any praise – dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8
