Negotiated Truth Vol 1

Man's behaviors are driven by beliefs and truths. So, how do we believe? Why do we believe? And what do we believe (or not)? When beliefs are unfounded and truths are negotiated and no longer true, man's behavior becomes hostile, violent, chaotic, and cruel, not because man realizes he has been duped - he does not - but because man believes fervently in the altered reality that has been presented to him - that has given him power over others. You can see evidence of such behavior throughout man's history - imperial domination driven by cruelty, violence, greed, slavery, and various forms of "manifest destiny". We see it in the group identities permeating history; the chosen people, the "immortals" the one true church, the master race, and divine guarantees - "ethnocentric" all. Victor and vanquished co-exist in misery for no other reason than the perceived superiority of one or both parties. The blame and the cause lie with realities engineered to favor superiority - negotiated truths. So, what is truth? Is your truth my truth? Is there truth at all? But correction of our faulty truths is still within reach if we recoup our reality. "If you would change the world, you must change yourself." We can start with our beliefs. So, this volume explores the process of believing and beliefs, both sacred and secular. Other volumes will explore scriptures, religions and rituals - they are among the breeding grounds for negotiated truth.