Of truth and honesty

What is truth’ asked a doubting Pilate when facing the Judean teacher and would not stay for an answer. This enigmatic person, the man from Nazareth in whom he found no fault, perplexed him. What manner of person was this Galilean, accused of being a rabblerouser, a demagogue, showing no sign of resistance standing there motionless, like a lamb for the slaughter.

If Pilate had momentarily cast away the sceptre of authoritarian Roman Imperialism, he would have realised that this person – whose preaching was circulating all over Galilee – was, in fact, alien to his kind of reasoning, for who in his right mind would suggest “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Never since man’s recorded history had he heard anything similar – not from the sects of philosophers of the later school of the Grecians and certainly not, for that matter, from his Roman philosophical compatriots.

Even more bewildered and confused did Pilate feel when, in response to his question, Jesus replied that his kingdom was not of this world. In essence, he was deifying himself. The Roman world of worship and habits believed only in the pantheon of the gods that they had in- herited from the Greeks. During the Pax Romana, the Romans worshipped their gods not by faith but by paying tributes – by means of sacrificing to the gods – to gain benefits.

Are there any similarities in today’s worshiping habits? The Romans have bequeathed to our present system of society and civilisation the same acts of ceremonies, reverence and respect to the many gods they have invented – both religious and political entities to suit their needs. We have idolised gods into human saints and politically involved individuals into demi-gods, whom we worship to cater for our every need and necessity in our lives just as the Romans worshipped their idol gods at the pantheon where Psalm 115 describes such: ‘Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hand. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: they have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet they have, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is everyone that trusts in them.’

Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life: no one comes to the Father but by me. Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrew 11.6). “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrew 11:1). When Jesus declared: “My kingdom is not of this world” apart from stating that He Himself personified God, He was also inferring that the word ‘world’ referred to a system of a corrupt society and civilisation. Since the dawn of history, man’s collective efforts of activities have resulted mostly in an evil and oppressed system.

The prevalent trait of evil motives harboured by man, such as greed, jealousy, lust and revenge, has resulted in wars, crime, violence, suffering, corruption, oppression and dishonesty on the part of practically every organisation, be it personal, social, religious, scientific or governmental. Our motives in much of what we say, think and do is to praise and exalt oneself. Quoting Sir Francis Bacon: “Some in their discourse desire rather commendation of wit, in being able to hold all arguments, than of judgement in discerning what is true; as if it were a praise to know what might be said, and not what should be taught”.

One can watch such an art of deception primarily during the Parliamentary debating sessions, especially by those who have much to lose, and then the parroting goyim follow suit by negating voraciously any wrongdoing. Hitler once said: “If you tell a lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.” Organised bloggers all over the media spew venom – bitter and vindictive malice, showering insults and brandishing as traitors whoever asks pertinent questions.

In this dog-eat-dog competitive world of ours, we have succeeded in totally deceiving ourselves. Most of us have adopted the idea that there is no need to worry because ‘nobody is honest anymore’. The saying goes ‘it has been done before, why not me?’ Denial is the name of the game.

Has any political party in parliament past or present ever apologised and shouldered the responsibility for a policy gone wrong? If so, I stand to be corrected. Very few are able to turn the mirror around and see themselves as possessing those evil motives we attribute to others such as trickery, dishonesty, and deceit. One of the hardest things in human nature is to admit when one is wrong and to correct it. It is even more difficult when it is shown to be wrong and one consistently and defiantly insists on one’s rightness. “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing,” Edmund Burke.

■ Francesco Simon Mercieca