The ‘truth’ should not face expulsion

"WITHOUT FREE SPEECH no search for truth is possible, without free speech no discovery of truth is useful, without free speech progress is checked and the nations no longer march forward toward the nobler life which the future holds for man." That's by Charles Bradlaugh (1833-1891), a "British social reformer, a secularist," says the Columbia Encyclopedia.

Poor William had never heard of Bradlaugh until he used Google to search for what people had to say about the "search for truth." PW likes what the Brit said, but he doubts a "secularist" would enjoy the recent "Truth Project" viewed by quite a few Odessa-Midland residents (including PW and Miss Kitty).

The "Truth Project" is a 12-part series on DVD put together by Dr. Del Tackett of Focus on the Family. Dr. Tackett was at Mid-Cities Community Church last Sunday to conclude his brainchild "live and in person."

The "Truth" series has been undertaken by groups and individuals all over the country. No one can just buy the lecture series at Amazon or Barnes and Noble; it requires direct contact with Focus on the Family to set up a "facilitator" for a group to view each one-hour "tour."

PW strongly recommends doing this as it is the most provocative "biblical worldview" presentation imaginable. Since the DVDs are of Tackett's lectures (which keep viewers awake), it probably would be better in the public schools than what's being fought over.
While the "Project" undoubtedly is aimed more for those who profess to be Christians, there's much to be learned from it by anyone who would watch it. As it says on the Focus website, "The Truth Project begins by defining truth as ‘that which conforms to reality.' But it's much deeper than that. It's about one's personal worldview, which we define as ‘the set of individual truth claims which I embrace so deeply that I believe they reflect what is really real - and therefore they drive what I think, how I act, and what I feel.' "
How many people even think this deeply? Wouldn't it be better if people took time to decide what they believe reality REALLY is instead of making up their own new version day by day or week by week?

In other words, aren't most people due a "reality check?"

STRANGELY ENOUGH, on the heels of "The Truth Project" just presented here is another national presentation aimed at uncovering the truth. It's "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" by Ben Stein, one of PW's all-time favorite individuals.

Here is what Dr. Tackett said on his blog about Stein's new documentary film: "... the controversy it tackles is the hidden, but deep hostility that exists in science and academia toward those who dare raise problematic issues with evolutionary theory or thought. Ben documents the consequences that have fallen upon even evolutionists who have raised honest questions - questions that the scientific method is supposed to embrace. If evidence exists that contradicts a hypothesis or theory, (then) that evidence should not only be allowed into the discussion, but its discovery should be celebrated. The problem is that modern science has sequestered itself within the walls of the cosmic cube. Any evidence that would point to a transcendent force beyond the natural realm is forbidden and banned from consideration."

This made PW think of something Tackett said on one of his Truth Project DVDs: "Darkness does not overtake light. Light overtakes darkness ... if it doesn't, then someone is hiding the light."

Although PW hasn't seen anything but TV clips of the Stein film, it undoubtedly is about those who would attempt to hide the light of truth. That means it also would be good for school systems, public or private.

Students should be exposed to all sorts of opinions and information to determine for themselves as "truth" or something less. But, are subjects that would be raised by the likes of Tackett and Stein routinely (or ever) seen and heard in anything but private schools?

As Bradlaugh said, restricted speech makes a "search for truth" impossible.

OF COURSE, TRUTH CAN be stranger than fiction. If you remember Brigitte Bardot, what do you think she would be up to nowadays?

Well, at 73, the former sex kitten (and devout animal-rights activist) is "back on trial (fifth time) in France, facing charges of fanning discrimination and racial hatred against Muslims." The story PW read on the Internet said that in a letter, Bardot "accused France's Muslim population of destroying France."

There is little doubt that the ultra-liberal French and burgeoning population of ultra-conservative Muslims must be clashing. It all comes down to an old, true saying, "You can please some people sometime, everyone sometime but you can't please everyone every time."

And PW would add, governmental laws never are going to make people get along.

HAVE A SUPER SUNDAY and a wonderful week!