Periodically I am asked why I keep voicing my opinions in letters to the editor. The simple answer is I feel compelled to offer hope to those who are seeking political and/or religious answers to life’s uncertainties.

I continue to get phone calls from people encouraging me to keep writing. Frequently someone will approach me on the street, in the grocery store, in restaurants or other public locations. Most of them call me by name. They say, “You don’t know me, but I know who you are from your letters to the editor. I look forward to your words of wisdom; keep it up.”

My intent has always been to share the truth. Our consciences and commonsense are good indicators of truth. However, the interpretation of script by the scribes of such works as the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bible are best understood through the minds of the authors. Recently the new international word of the year was added to the Oxford Dictionaries. The word is Post-Truth. While I am open to an understandable interpretation of this word, it better be good!

The following are an intellect’s definition of the word: Untrue; an unhesitating liar; dishonesty and deception. Collins Dictionary says, “Unhesitating liar can be King (President). The more brazen his dishonesty, the less he minds being caught with his — pants down.”

I just finished drafting this letter when my wife Kate who was reading the Cd’A Press said, “There is an interesting letter to the editor by Michelle Lippert regarding the new word ‘post-truth.’” I was intrigued by her remarks regarding misinformation and the rejection of the facts. She emphasized the importance of seeking, researching, and analyzing the data before determining what is truth. Unfortunately, there are people who purposefully reject the truth for fear of what the truth might reveal.

We in America place enormous emphasis on education. Whether it be science or the arts, the goal should be to seek truth. Many of our educators have failed their students (our children). They teach that everything is relative and the students are free to choose or manufacture their own truth.

As a child I was taught it was wrong to tell a lie. As I got older I came to understand that truth is absolute; it does NOT change. From the perspective of the Author of Truth there is no such thing as post-truth. Truth is the same in the past, present, and future.

Mike Reno in his letter to the editor titled “Hail Fakebook” when comparing the newspaper with the Facebook said, “Facebook has a much looser relationship with the truth.” In other words, a low priority is placed on truth. Yet too many of our public school students are allowed to spend more time on Facebook than they do reading the books allocated by their teachers.

My goal is to differentiate between absolute moral truth and that which man feels is relevant to the issue at hand. The following are a few examples: We violate our own conscience, reject God’s truth, and refuse to call abortion, murder. Those who deny the truth close their minds to the horrific slaughter of innocent babies. Abortionists rip the baby from the womb piece by piece with a vacuum, by injecting a chemical into the womb that scalds the baby, or by forcing scissors into the base of the skull to kill the baby before removing it from the womb.

Another example is mankind violating his conscience and God’s Word regarding His creation of two genders of male and female and the beautiful plan of the marriage union. Man has chosen to reject God’s plan in favor of same-sex unions of which God called an abomination. Webster Dictionary defines abomination as a vile or shameful act.

While the purpose of post-truth is to minimize absolute truth, the same God who calls deviant behavior an abomination offers HOPE and forgiveness to those who embrace the truth.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life.” He also said, “The TRUTH will set you free.”

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Ron Vieselmeyer is a Coeur d’Alene resident