So far

[Mystic]

I think it goes beyond money anyway. Yes, they want to make money. But oftentimes today it seems people have some kind of an agenda. And they believe in their agenda so much that it affects the research they do.

I think we are all better off when we are always trying to find the truth, even if the truth might be unpleasant. I would like to know the truth about things. Now sometimes, when you do find out the truth about something, that truth may not be what you would like for it to be. But if it is the truth, without question, you must accept the truth.

When people have some kind of an agenda and are willing to color their research because of their agenda, no matter what that agenda is, there is always trouble. But the truth has a way of coming out no matter what sort of games people play, and the man or woman who can speak the truth looks noble and good and worthwhile and the real winner in the end, even if they were not considered the winner while they were alive.

When I was in junior high school and I was taking journalism classes and a reporter for the school newspaper, my instructor stressed how important the truth was. I never forgot. I don't know what they teach in journalism classes today but agendas often seem to influence news stories. In the end the great reporter will be the man or woman of courage who can speak the simple truth, even if that truth might be unpleasant, or not what we had wanted it to be.

The same is truth of researchers. Do not follow what is currently 'in' or 'hip,' search for the truth. The researcher who finds the truth will be considered the great man or woman in the end. And the truth does have a way of coming out in the end, no matter what the machinations of people at the time.

If this current research was truly impressive and actually did offer proof that this man (whose name we cannot speak here) really did have his remains in that tomb, we would have to accept that truth. But I don't think, based on what I have found out, that is the truth. If it is not the truth and if it is fairly easy for others to show that it is not the truth, these researchers will have their credibility destroyed forever.

And if it is not the truth, I have a question for those researchers. Was it worth it?

 

[MarkC]

Here's the thing that usually holds true when regarding "news", etc. If something supports your point of view, it's fact. If it contradicts your view, it's biased.
Read something like that on a Starbucks cup the other day.

 

[Mystic]

Well, that is how a lot of people feel. But I feel there is always a truth. And I think the truth is probably located somewhere between the extreme points of view. There will usually be an extreme leftwing viewpoint, and there will usually be an extreme rightwing viewpoint. Normally somewhere between those extremes is the truth.

If this research in the Middle East turns out contrary to what I would hope it would turn out, but there is no question that they have discovered the truth, then I will have to accept that truth, even if it is unpleasant.

Some people turn everything into a gray area where the truth cannot be located. The truth becomes malleable depending on someone's viewpoints. I believe that the real truth can be found somewhere.

I don't think I will be surprised by how this research turns out. I can already see major problems with the statistical evidence. But somewhere is the truth. It can be located.

 

[ekpolk]

CAUTION guys. There's a line nearby. If this veers a little more in the wrong direction, I'll be happy to find it for you. . .

 

[Mystic]

I took quite a few science classes when I went to college. The impression I came away with was that a scientist seeks the truth.

There was a time when the 'truth' was that the Sun and the planets went around the Earth. Then people learned more and came to realize that such was not the case. People have been harassed and even put to death for having a point of view different from what is accepted.

Hopefully our current view of the Universe is more accurate then what people knew in the past. Personally I will not be surprised to learn that the Universe is deeper still than what many people think.

I will always believe that there is truth somewhere to be found. Some people prefer everything to be a kind of gray area where they can make up their own truths-whatever is convenient for them and makes them happy. Maybe we have to be willing to accept truth even if we don't like what the truth is that we find.

 

[Mystic]

That last post I came out with went up about the same time that you gave your warning. I am done. Sorry if I went too far.