Much of what is maintained in religion and politics is based upon words and the truth of words. At times that seems to be an unstable foundation.

Words are notoriously slippery, ambiguous, even devilish at times. What assurance does one have that a word can accurately describe, explain or reveal reality and experience? Or that a spoken word is backed up by full honesty?

When does a word become a euphemism, a sweet-sounding word? When do we try to cover over a hard, uncomfortable word with a softer-sounding word?

Death becomes “;passing away”; or “;transition,”; “;in heaven now”; or even “;gone to sleep.”; Innocent civilian deaths become “;collateral damage.”; Refusing to control industrial carbon pollution becomes a “;Clean Air Act.”; Torture becomes “;enhanced interrogation.”; Allegations or indictments become “;smears.”; An MX missile becomes “;the Peacemaker”; or a “;damage limitation weapon.”;

When is a word true, accurate or adequate?

“;Let me be frank.”; Frequently when I hear that introductory remark, I begin to think the speaker is trying to hide something. Words can deceive as well as uncover what is real.

The Greek word for truth has the connotation of uncovering or unveiling. The implication is that something hidden is waiting or perhaps even seeking to be uncovered.

We might assert that we want to know the hidden truth. However, I think that the truth is often the last thing we want to hear. It could be too uncomfortable or threatening.

On the other hand, one can maintain that there is so much that we do not know about reality, there will always be something hidden, waiting for more adequate expressions of truth. Maybe all that we have is partial truth.

Someone has said “;there are no whole truths; all truths are half-truths. It is trying to treat them as whole truths that plays the devil.”;

I think that is true. Claiming to have or know the truth in an absolute way leads to intolerance, oppression and arrogance. Do my own words sound arrogant?

Words have a creative quality about them — and a destructive one, too. They can solidify the value of relationships, or they can erode their quality.

Rabbi Abraham Heschel's words are appropriate: “;The way to truth is an act of reason; the love of truth is an act of spirit.”;