Well, this poem of yours surely drew an outpouring of varying responses, Ron. The power of writing shows itself most of all when it ‘reaches’ people, like this one of yours has. Poetry that leaves readers with little to say lacks the ‘response factor,’ which you solidly have here. And that is the goodness I find in compelling reading material. . . when it causes ‘response.’ No one fell asleep with this “The Truth.” And another strength of it is showcasing these very comments as the diversity within which we live. “It generates new theories continually to test.” ~~ djl

I remember my Dad once describing an argument he had heard to me…
He said there was HIS point of view, HER point of view,
and the RIGHT point of view…but as I got older I realised
that truth is often about perception only….and the “RIGHT”
point of view doesn’t exist…I was raised with a ‘black and white’
way of thinking and being…and what an almighty
relief it was to realise that there are ‘grey areas’…that are
just as valid…So the ‘truth’ is a slippery character…what is
one man’s truth is another man’s lies…
As Nietzsche’s words proclaim…
“The only absolute truth is that there are no absolute truths..”

Diana…

i love the passion and fire that envelopes the entirety of this piece, very articulately expressed.

No better way to live life then honestly open with the blinders folders off, though I got to admit, sometimes, I fleece my truth so I can breathe when it gets real bad, (?) still, I always appreciate a straight forward talk filled with truth, then a whole bunch of B S,
your poetry challenges me at times, I struggled with self revelation for so long, it took a very smart therapist, and a brave heart , but I got to the bottom of it, when I hit 50, ok, very late here, way past my bedtime, so I will say goodnight Ron, :)

Well, Master Poet your pen serves you well. When regarding truths, I find that there are many truths. Everything that someone believes is truth to them. It is sad that so much death, destruction and sadness is caused because of one truth being subjugated to others that see that truth as a lie. Well done.

PS

Religion is so often used to cover any truth that those believers choose not to accept. So I see great merit in your using such reality to show that belief is too often used to hide the truth from one's self. Such as your writing is not used to debunk one's ability to believe in something unprovable but in your ability to hide reality, the soul of truth, by papering it with belief. True belief never hides the truth! And ron, your poems are getting tighter in their balance.

Ron,

I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth. With my hand,
on this book of myth and moral stories,
of a time long ago, its sorrows and glories."

In the above, you begin your poem, “The Truth,” by calling the Bible, “. . . this book of myth and moral stories, of a time long ago, it’s sorrows and glories.” You promised to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Yes, you promised to do something right that your mother had taught you, and you tell us it has served you well. You have asked us to believe one thing but disbelieve another. That is, always be truthful, no matter what, but don’t believe the book that WE BELIEVE contains the teachings of truthfulness. I know how you loved your mother. You often speak about her in your writings with words of love and respect. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” TO ME, this is a message of comfort and assurance WHENEVER MY HEART is troubled. I feel confident your mother had a sense of peace, when she taught you as a young child, that
the Holy Bible is God’s truth.

Always a friend,

David Lee Thompson❤️

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps the same can be said about truth, at least in this day and ago.

The truth is, if it's the TRUTH, IT doesn't need propping up - period.
What are you hollerin' for help for - you ol' word-and-weatherbeaten wild war-horse ! You're doing darned well all on your own. I've just posted a piece, so have others. Now, get down to work and tear it all to pieces - PRONTO !!!

I welcome other viewpoints and their arguments. Most of them are easily proven wrong, but everyone has a right to their opinion and can express it. I don't look at them as attacks on my character. I feel sorry that they may be on the wrong track and time will surely prove them wrong like it has so many times before. But science warns us, in the case of global warming, time is running out, fast.

I would like to see the chariots come down and take away all of the devout people to wherever they want to go in the prophecied second coming. Being left behind would be nice for all of us that just want to live with other people exactly the way that John Lennon so beautifully wrote in his song, Imagine.

Ron

As a person raised up on a menu of religious piety (at least according to the church) I felt at an early age the blatant brain washing of some religions. Backs to the people at Sunday service said in a language only they understood, incence and Children threatened with images of demons with pitchfork and people burning in hell. As I grew older though I realized that the bible was not the whole truth but was merely a collection of stories passed down, translated, edited and used to support the powers of men. I do believe in a higher power but not in any organized religion. I am sorry you came under such attack here for you should be able to write as you believe and if people do not like it they should just pass it by.

I like how your sheepy following parrots agree with you in unison without a doubt in their minds and repeat what you said like a bunch of parrots.

I guess your mother did not tell you not to attack any religions or anyone while you "think" you are telling the truth.

It's okay to voice your opinion but not to force your opinion on others and call non-believers names. It's also okay to voice your opinion but not to attack other people's beliefs. So you haven't learned that from your mother? Or your mother did not teach you that?

In my lifetime, I am convinced there is no truth in science, all are through guesswork, although I am glad that scientists have invented many things. But I have NEVER seen scientists proving anything to me. All they have been doing was presenting to me the CGI graphics of Mars landing, CGI graphics pics of the earth from space. I would be convinced if they told me and showed me A REAL PICTURE OF THE EARTH taken from a spacecraft, a REAL EVENT of the MARS LANDING (NOT CGI). Otherwise, it is all a HOAX.

At the same time, I am more aware and more convinced of THE FACT that many BIBLICAL SITES AND SIGHTINGS HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED and PROVEN OF THEIR EXISTENCE AND TRUE VALUES.

Facts are facts, and fakes are fakes! I will not believe in anything not proven yet to my satisfaction, presented by NASA, no matter how hard they try to convince me. They claim the discovery of something every year, just so they can justify themselves for acquiring the necessary funds from the government to operate. I understand their need to "claim" that they have found and done something every year, but they MUST MAKE THE EVENTS and THINGS more REAL and BELIEVABLE and not through CGI graphics.

I am not sure why you need to make a point about science but felt it necessary to trash other people's religions and beliefs. But I guess that is how religious wars started all through the centuries. Smh!!! People will never change!!!

Sandie

I'm sure you knew you would get blasted on this one! I love the line "Followers who like sheep love to be in the herd." They often know the truth but don't have the guts to say it or they think they are better served with the lie. I don't care how people feel about their religious beliefs until it carries over into politics.

I've watched as science and creationism battle it out in the hearts, minds, and souls of very fallible people and thought of something the late Carl Sagan once said. He said we shouldn't be either or because our religions tell us what happened while science tells us how it happened. I keep that in mind when someone tries to bring pressure to bear on me to believe only as they believe.

Rebecca

Your post is far from the truth. Don't be self-righteous all the time.

Sandie

Wouldn't trust a scientist as far as I can see one, the results of scientific research often favors the one who pays for it. They often also contradict eachother. Hardly the truth. Rather trust a book that has no scientific relevance anymore to the world, because of its age, but does have real power to heal cancer, deliver hard drug addicts, and is feared by people that are the worst criminals. For real! You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free..

You know me, Ron, as well and better than most that read what I write and you know that I am not a religious person... Not to say that I wouldn't pray for God to same me if I were huddled in a foxhole. But I think writing a poem calling all that do believe in whichever God they might believe fools for their continuing belief, if it gives these people comfort, and if their belief does not hurt me or the world around us, I think they have the right to believe however they wish.

Always your friend
Mark
The Conservative Republican

A treatise on "truth" that is liable to raise the hair on the back of extremists' necks. As you so perfectly lyricized, dishonesty, half-truths and yes, gossip, is a pandemic of mind-decay that will likely be with us for a very long time. Those "ancient blinders" seem to get renewed far too often. Maybe some of that 4 times the rate expected glacier-melt with wash some of the deceptions away... fat chance. Well thought out alert I hope many will read.

I like this very much - There's nothing quite like a good dose of reality to shake up the world...lol
--- Well timed too :-)