Inconclusive Truth

Systems of Belief

For as long as humankind has formed in social groupings, they have aligned themselves according to systems of belief. These beliefs have evolved over the millennia, sometimes blossoming through the progress of scientific observation, other times falling under the misguided spell of superstitious digression. Yet other times ideas have been adapted from the beliefs of previous cultures and mythologies, blended mysteriously into more recent systems of belief.

But through it all, it is that most elusive quest for truth that has been the guiding force illuminating a path for many. Unfortunately, that same quest has equally led some astray into strange beliefs, a few held strongly, in spite of the fact that they are without basis in observable reality.

Many adamant believers say one must have faith. Yet the halls of the learned are filled with those who have challenged blind faith, and shown that it is not enough, Copernicus, Galileo, De Vinci, Newton, Darwin, Einstein, Hawking. Each in their own way, have reshaped the things we believe about our reality, and have shined the light of knowledge on that path toward greater understanding of truth.

What We Want to Believe Vs. What We Know

There are many things I want to believe, but just because one wants to believe something is insufficient reason to do so. It is in fact irresponsible to simply believe something because it sounds like a neat idea, or because it is desirable to believe. To one who seeks truth honestly, belief must be based on knowledge. Anything else is wishful thinking.

The Consequence of Insufficient Knowledge Leaves Matters Inconclusive

That being said, my tendency is to channel what I believe through the conduit of what I know. If I have insufficient knowledge on any given subject, then that matter is left inconclusive, until I know enough to draw a conclusion. Even then, that conclusion is likely to be at best tentative in its nature. Consequently, when asked what I believe about life and death, most people don’t like my answer, since the majority want others to commit to a belief one way or the other. But how can I?

I have not experienced death, therefore I can not “know” the answer. It remains inconclusive, so my integrity dictates that the only answer I can give is that I believe either answer could be. We either could continue, or we could cease to exist. Personally, I’d rather that we continue in some form, but as long as I can not know with certainty, then I can not draw a final conclusion. So I can not say that I believe we continue.

I can only say that I believe it’s possible. Just as I can say, I believe it’s also possible that we do not continue. I could believe incorrectly, so until I absolutely know, it must remain inconclusive. I have no other choice. Inconclusive is the only answer I can give.

As Long as There is “Reasonable Doubt” it Can Not be Conclusive

It’s much like a court of law, as long as there is “reasonable doubt”, then a verdict of guilt can not be properly drawn. It is also quite like the scientific method of understanding reality. Gather evidence, determine a theory, then gather more evidence. If you can not disprove the theory, it is stronger, but not necessarily proven. As long as any other competing theory can also be supported by the same evidence, then the matter remains inconclusive.

Any of the possible theories could be the case. It becomes incumbent upon the scientists to continue gathering more evidence, until all but one theory have been disproved. Even then, the theory can not really be declared as fact, unless one is in possession of irrefutable proof, and frankly that kind of proof is hard to come by, with most matters.

The Most Tantalizing of All Truths, are Just Out of Reach

We can almost see them, but they’re too far from clear view. That which lies beyond the veil that separates us from knowing, may never be understood. But it seems to me that with what little we do know, the final answer is honestly inconclusive. What we may ask, are the tangible results of actually being inconclusive? From the middle path, I see consequences weighing something like this;

• Unexpected
• Either
• Neither
• Both
• Any
• Myriad
• All
• None

The Results of Being Inconclusive

You name it, the results of being inconclusive, are honestly any of the answers that still fit what is known. So, as long as it is inconclusive, for some of us, it is just simply that and nothing more. That means you keep searching in the secret spaces as well as the places in plain sight. Both science and the heart have paths leading to a common source. Some of us call that source, God, some call it the Universe or the Cosmos.

Whatever our zeitgeist may be at any given time, we must keep on whittling away at that inconclusive understanding, seeking to fill in our many gaps of discernment. Truth remains inconclusive, but the quest continues.