The Ultimate Truth: The Ultimate Truth

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The Ultimate Truth Most people ponder on how to answer this difficult question, what is the relationship between knowledge and truth? The answer is simple and clear once you begin to see the whole picture. The answer is taking in lots of knowledge leads you to understand the truth. In the story “By the Waters of Babylon,” the narrator John is on a quest for knowledge. He says, “Nevertheless, my knowledge and my lack of knowledge burned in me - I wished to know more” (Benet p.312). This burning passion for knowledge leads John on his quest and in all the decisions he makes. Although, John believes all the knowledge he has is the truth because he has nothing to contradict it. John is the son of a priest and his quest for knowledge leads him to the forbidden lands of the gods. He travels far and wide to this forbidden place because he wants to acquire as much knowledge as possible. He says, “My knowledge made me happy -- it was like a fire in my heart” (Benet p. 312). This burning passion of knowledge ends up leading John to the forbidden place of the gods. John observes that the place of the gods is the opposite of the tales he heard from …show more content…

It caused a change in what he believes in and what knows as true. The ultimate truth John finds out is “That is all of my story….they had been men, neither gods nor demons. It is great knowledge, hard to tell and believe” (Benet p.321). The new and knowledge and truth empowers John making him want to right the wrongs of previous priests. He wants to teach the new truth to his people and help them believe. John lastly says “We must build again” (Benet p.321). This shows the passion John now has in his beliefs, along with the fact that John is ready to recreate the past. Lastly, the relationship of knowledge and truth is clear in this story. The reader learn through John, that receiving large amounts of knowledge leads you to finding and understanding new

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