Tuesday, 7th November, 2006

Interpretation and Religious Language

I was looking forward to this lecture but it was not what I expected. I have always enjoyed debates on literature and felt I was quite good at interpretation and able to grasp difficult constructs. I enjoy finding meaning. I often realize contact with God as more “Truths” are revealed through reflection. I see new meanings I had not initially seen as I place myself in empathy with other people’s lives. But one statement initially confused me, it was the statement “There is no such thing as fact” ref – Nietzche.

If fact is “truth” then I would have to disagree not only with Nietzche (Which I often do) but also with our lecturer Paul who was able to find agreement with this particular statement.

Fact, truth is essential to life, something we hold dear in our hearts. The meaning to life, a declaration we make in court, or even the sum 1 +1=2. The perception of the truth can be different from one view point to another, but fact is an account deemed to be true.

I visited a woman in her 90s in hospital recently who had lost her daughter 10 days earlier. She was unable to pray to God and had doubts. “Why would he take her instead of me” was her reply. After sitting with her for half an hour and listening, she found some comfort in the fact that I prayed for her.

This is a fact, a true account; there are no lies or hidden meanings. She was devastated and ready to pass on herself, but instead she had to face the death of her beloved child.

My Thought

“If there is no such thing as fact, then there are no lies or dishonesty!”