While the topic should be relatively self-explanatory, as shown in the narratives discussion on stories, specifically consistency and universality, the nature is not quite as simple as one might expect. Since we live in a day and age whereby truth is relative, we need to examine the importance of truth.
The first aspect we have to review is the source of the narrative. When you know where something comes from, it gives you a basis to evaluate the consistency and universality of the practices, as well as evaluate the intentions and motivations of the author. When I was in High School, it used to be a part of the English curriculum in research papers to evaluate the source of material. When you examined the source, you looked at author, what was written, when it was written, the intent of the writings, and how it might apply to a cohesive narrative. The same was true in my college and graduate school writings. Every research paper required a thorough review of the sources, involving an annotated bibliography that referenced the sourced materials and validating why it should be used to assert a thesis. In the modern age of clickbait and internet fact checking, this type of criticism seems to have been relaxed, whereby people in positions of authority are given a pass of credibility without examining intention, and editorial mistakes aren’t really given the coverage as the potential false press release. I mean, why would you point out your flaws if you want to increase your readership and status as a trusted source?
Oftentimes the source, which is the basis of ontology, is important to validate truth. If you have no God or programmer to point to, life is essentially a blank canvas that carries nothing absolute (morals, dogma, beauty, value, meaning, etc.). For some that is an empowering thing, for others it is absolute hopelessness. How many times do we see genealogy studies and identity values populate the narratives today, yet these forms of identity do more to push us apart rather than unite us together? The issue is the source. The person casting out the narrative can more easily manipulate the one who abides by identity, as he can now control the blank canvas that becomes the narrative of life. Most universal messages are based in timeless wisdom, things that can apply to all people regardless of identity. Why is it that religious narratives, truly enlightened people (St. Augustine, Buddha, Ghandi, etc.) posited a message that remains of value even after they passed? Because wisdom and timeless teaching is based on an understanding of God in relation to those around you.
The other key to narrative truth is intention. When we evaluate what is being told to us, we should be evaluating what is the intended goal of the author. For example, is the pandemic and response a means to further public health, or a fear narrative used to create economic issues, restructure government systems and control people? Whether you believe fervently one way or another, it’s hard to argue the other side doesn’t have merit. It is horrifying to think that people would manipulate a health issue, but its blind to ignore that governments have shut down the economy, used the news to push personal health decisions, and made structural changes that have inhibited the notion of freedom. The same can be said of religious narratives. Are they used to control a population and tax them, or show them a life of freedom and love? Ironically, most ideologies of love are actually exclusive than inclusive. Even the pride positions of June are exclusive, since if you do not believe in their total ideology, you are seen as an outcast (which by nature is exclusive). BLM is exclusive, it predetermines that one type of human life carries more value than another. It’s hard to argue any life isn’t important and that injustices occur all the time (in a relative world, a person’s most highest authority is usually themselves). The only way to remediate it would be the opposite of how the world deems it, as instead of embracing an ideology that creates exclusion, we should abolish narratives that detriment people and seek to find unity outside of a point and time event (9/11, the world wars, COVID, etc.). However, I digress.
Truth and fiction are truly guided by these principles, that are shared within the nature of consciousness. These factors are consistency, universality, source, and intention, the building blocks of truth and falsity. Truth should be consistent, universal, with a credible unchanging source, and pure/honest intentions. Fiction tends to be inconsistent, biased towards one group of people or ideology, and with a less than accurate (or non-existent) source. If we begin to evaluate the things around us with these principles, we are on a better ground for understanding reality and the nature of being.
