Our perceptions dictate how we perceive reality. Although it might be an error, a misleading interpretation or our perspective how we perceive the truth dictates our personal reality. Plato points out that doubles can be doubles of one thing, and halves of another as an example of how things can have duel realities . The book section Jesus and Alinsky addresses how shades of translation, or not understanding the context, can affect the interpretation of the entire piece.
While writing the King James translation of the Bible, the translators rendered the Greek meaning of the word to resist according to the word felt was closest in meaning and applied it to the text. The interoperation of the phrase “Do not resist” implies passive acceptance. This is not consistent with Jesus’ actions in circumstances like the moneylenders in the temple. That interpretation to passively accept God’s will favors the ruling class that were paying for the translation. This encourages the acceptance that there are two courses of action available in that instance, flight or flight. However, Jesus was actually saying not to react violently, not to accept their actions as God’s will. . When viewed in the context of the laws of the time the instructions “turn the other cheek” and “go the extra mile” support this. However, it is not the course of passive acceptance; it is that of nonviolent resistance. In this, the “truth” changes when we look at the greater picture.
In view of the concept of reality, Plato addresses in “The Republic” and the shift in meaning addressed in “Jesus and Alinsky, the truth including the circumstances in which it is viewed makes a great deal of difference. The full knowledge of the truth, as understood in the context of the circumstances encourages two radically different courses of action.
Works Cited
Note to self: make sure References are Left Justified and Double Spaced
