Weekly Blog - 2 February 2024 - Post-truth
Post-truth
Increasingly it feels like we are living in a post-truth world. As the race for the Whitehouse begins to loom in the US, media attention is ever more on Donald Trump, infamous for ‘alternative facts’, and even outright and blatant denials of established reality, whenever the facts don’t support his cause. He is of course far from the only politician increasingly using such tactics. Across North America, Europe and beyond, populist political figures increasingly push their version of reality in the face of objective and demonstrable evidence to the contrary. Healthy political debate between divergent views is one thing, but outright denial of facts and reality, and deliberate misleading of the public is quite another. In Russia, President Putin’s regime has continually insisted there is no war in Ukraine, that Russia has done nothing, that it is the west that has instead attacked Russia.
Beyond politics, outlandish conspiracy theories continue to surround the existence and seriousness of Covid. Vaccine scepticism against vaccinations for multiple different diseases continues to grow. Similarly, scepticism about climate change continues to be widespread. All of this in the face of massive, overwhelming scientific evidence and unanimous consensus amongst the mainstream and credible scientific community. All of this is of course fanned and driven to more extreme levels through social media, where rumours and conspiracy theories, with no credible evidence, can quickly gain mass followings. Such post-truth agendas are not just harmless, they have real impact on our politics, health and the social cohesion of our societies. For those that continue to believe in facts, evidence, equal treatment for all, objectivity, fairness, rationality and truth it can seem impossible to know how to navigate or respond to this post-truth world. No matter how much robust evidence and objective facts are deployed to counter such damaging post-truth narratives, it is simply dismissed as biased and all part of the conspiracy. There is no openness to evidence, persuasion or rational discussion.
How should Christians respond to the post-truth agenda?
So, in the face of such growing post-truth narratives, how should Christians respond? One thing is clear, no matter how unfashionable it can sometimes feel, and even when it doesn’t seem to be working, Christians cannot abandon truth. We are told over and over again in the Bible that we are to hold to the truth. As Paul’s letters to the Corinthians say, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor 13: 6) and “we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth” (2 Cor 13: 8). Whilst in the Book of Ephesians we are told, “each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbour” (Eph 4: 25). Similarly in the Old Testament we are instructed, “Do not go about spreading slander among your people” (Lev 19: 16) and that we should “Have nothing to do with a false charge” (Ex 23: 7).
Even when it is unpopular, we are to stand on the facts, on evidence, and on truth, and speak that to the world. In the end, and in time, the truth will re-establish itself. Lies and misinformation cannot stand up to the light of evidence and reality forever. In the end, though it may take years, such misinformation and distortion is exposed for what it is, and the truth will shine through. As Christians we are to stand firm, keep speaking the truth to the world, no matter what swirls around us, and in the end it will be vindicated. Of course as we do so we should do so with love and respect for all those we engage with, no matter what their views. A large aspect of the mission and vision of Arise is to be part of doing that in the world at this time, to stand for facts and reality, for fairness, justice, equality and for a true and better world.
What policies could help society better stand the post-truth onslaught?
But are there policies that governments should take and laws that should be enforced that could make the task easier for all those who believe in and stand by facts, evidence, objectivity, fairness, rationality and truth in the face of post-truth narratives? The Arise Manifesto (Arise’s big picture, researched and Biblical vision for a better world) has a number of proposals that should help society deal with the most extreme and dangerous forms of the post-truth phenomenon.
In any society, freedom of ideas and freedom of speech and expression is incredibly important and must be preserved and maintained. However, that also has to be balanced with laws against slander and outright, deliberate, and often dangerous false representation of facts and misinformation. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the first of two major international UN instruments which operationalise the crucial Universal Declaration of Human Rights) captures this balance well when it states that “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.” But that this right of media freedom “carries with it special duties and responsibilities” including “respect of the rights or reputations of others”.[1]
Thus, it should be possible to prosecute the media, companies and even private individuals for slander and inaccurate, unfair and malicious allegations, and deliberate spreading of dangerous falsehoods. This is not about trying to silence views we find offensive or disagree with. That must be protected under free speech. It is about preventing the deliberate, malicious and intentional spreading of dangerous falsehoods and slander. Any media outlet, company or private individual found guilty must give the same amount and level of coverage to retracting a false story as they gave to initially airing it, and allow the aggrieved party to produce that content if they so wish, without any editorial control. Exactly the same laws and principles should also be applied to modern online social media platforms. Thus, genuine freedom of information and expression should be preserved on social media. But it should be possible to prosecute both the platforms themselves and their users for inaccurate, unfair and malicious allegations, invasion of privacy, or threats and abuse. Both public bodies and private individuals and organisations should not shy away from using such laws to prevent slander and the dangerous misuse of free speech (Arise Manifesto, pg 105 – 106).
The fact that private individuals so often do not avail themselves of such legal protection against slander, and damaging mistruths, is because the cost for ordinary people is often prohibitive. Furthermore, the time it takes a trial to complete is usually long. That the wealthiest in society can afford far more access to justice and legal protection than the majority, and that this means they can often get away with misinformation and slander, means that there is no true equality before the law. This is surely one of the most basic and fundamental inequalities and lack of freedom and justice that there can be. So too is the delay in a ruling, as is often said, “justice delayed is justice denied.” All of this is not only wrong and unjust in itself, it is also extremely dangerous for wider society. It creates a growing gulf between the rich who can afford access to law, and can get away with slander and misinformation, and the rest. It also creates a growing level of cynicism and disengagement.
Genuine free speech, ideas and free debate and robust exchange of views can be protected, whilst slander and deliberate misinformation and lies combatted, by ensuring the legal system is made fairer and requiring in law that the contesting sides in a legal dispute should only be able to spend the same amount on legal fees. In practice, this limits spending to the amount the poorest side can afford. Furthermore, ensuring a fast as well as a fair legal process is another requirement for socially just governments, which can also help to prevent slander and misinformation. Thus, a short timetable and limited amount of time for a legal ruling should be set (allowing reasonable time for each side to gather evidence, but otherwise as soon as possible after a charge has been made) to ensure justice is rapid and again to keep legal costs down (Arise Manifesto, pg 105 – 106). The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights again sets this out well when it states that every person who is charged with an offence should be “tried without undue delay”.[2]
Conclusion
As Christians, and as all people of good will, we must continue to stand firm for truth and against misinformation, lies and dangerous deception. There is much governments and society can do to pursue policies that make it easier for those who make that stand, and for the truth to shine in and break up post-truth narratives.
Find out more
Find out more about how God is at work in the world, and the role we all have to play in that work, in the Arise Manifesto. This report is Arise’s big picture, researched, Biblical, holistic and practical vision for a better world. It looks at what the Bible says, and what we can learn from the best data and the world’s leading experts on the five major areas of evangelism, discipleship, social justice, development and the environment. It then draws these lessons together into a practical road map for the changes we need to see in our world, which the Arise movement campaigns to achieve.
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[1] International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, UN, (1966), Article 19, www.ohchr.org/Documents/ProfessionalInterest/ccpr.pdf
[2] International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, UN, (1966), Article 14, www.ohchr.org/Documents/ProfessionalInterest/ccpr.pdf