Absolute Truth

 

On Pages 80 and 81, of this book The True Believer, Eric Hoffer discusses absolute truth; I quote him and then respond to what he writes.

 

Hoffer (H after this): “                         58

 

To be in possession of an absolute truth is to have a net of familiarity spread over the whole of eternity. There are no surprises and no unknowns. All questions have already been answered, all decisions made, all eventualities foreseen. The true believer is without wonder or hesitation. ‘Who knows Jesus knows all the reason for all things.’ The true doctrine is a master key to all the world’s problems. With it the world can be taken apart and put together. The official history of the Communist party states: ‘The power of the Marxist-Leninist theory lies in the fact that it enables the Party to find the right orientation in any situation, to understand the inner connection of current events, to foresee their course, and to perceive not only how and in what direction they are bound to develop in the future.’ The true believer is emboldened to attempt the unprecedented and impossible not only because his doctrine gives him a sense of omnipotence but also gives him unqualified confidence in the future. (See Section 4.)”

 

My response: “The true believer is not in the possession of the absolute truth, indeed it is closer to being an absolute lie, in part because it is part bias and part hallucination. And his fanaticism and emotionalism make his states more mendacious. Where one is more moderate and reasonable, there goodness and truth abide.

 

The true believers is convinced that he possesses the absolute truth so he has ready answers for every question. He feels invincible so he can tackle and do anything.

 

H: “An active mass movement rejects the present and centers its interest on the future. It is from the attitude that it derives its strength, for it can proceed recklessly with the present—with the wealth, health and lives of its followers. But it must act as if it had already read the book of the future to the last word. Its doctrine is proclaimed a key to that book.”