In a world often described as “post-truth,” where narratives, power, and perception seem to shape reality more than facts, the concept of truth feels lost , if not nearly dead . As Michel Foucault observed, “regimes of truth” flow from structures of power, shaping what societies accept as valid or real.
Yet, the Christian narrative of Easter—centered on the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—offers a profound counterpoint: truth, even when crucified and buried, has an enduring power to rise again. Let us explores the position of truth in the context of Easter, drawing on the Indian philosophical concept of Satyam Shivam Sundaram (Truth, Divinity, Beauty) and the Christian proclamation that says that the “Truth is divine.
The term “post-truth” gained prominence in 2016, when Oxford Dictionaries named it the word of the year, defining it as an environment where “objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” In such a world, truth becomes malleable, subject to manipulation by those who wield power—be it through media, politics, or cultural narratives.
Foucault’s insight into “regimes of truth” resonates here: truth is not merely discovered but constructed, upheld by institutions, discourses, and systems that determine what is deemed legitimate.
This reality can feel suffocating. Misinformation spreads rapidly, amplified by algorithms and echo chambers.
Trust in institutions—governments, media, even science—erodes as competing narratives fight for dominance. In this context, truth appears fragile, easily crucified by skepticism, relativism, or outright denial.
Yet, the Easter story offers a radical hope: truth, though battered and buried, is never truly defeated.
At the heart of Easter lies the story of Jesus Christ, whom Christians proclaim as the embodiment of truth. In John 14:6, Jesus declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” This truth, however, does not conform to worldly expectations. It is not a truth of power, domination, or intellectual triumph. Instead, it is a truth revealed in vulnerability, sacrifice, and love—a truth that willingly submits to crucifixion.
On Good Friday, truth is mocked, scourged, and nailed to a cross. The forces of power—religious authorities, Roman imperial might, and a fickle crowd—conspire to silence it. The burial of Jesus in the tomb seems to seal truth’s fate, a final act of suppression.
But Easter Sunday shatters this illusion. The resurrection declares that truth cannot be contained by death or defeated by regimes of power. It rises in an unexpected way, defying the logic of the world.This narrative speaks directly to our post-truth age.
Truth may be suppressed, distorted, or buried under layers of falsehood, but it has an intrinsic resilience. As the Christian tradition holds, truth is not merely a collection of facts but a divine reality, rooted in the very being of God.
The resurrection is a testament to its indestructibility.
The Indian philosophical and spiritual tradition offers a complementary perspective through the concept of Satyam Shivam Sundaram—truth, divinity, and beauty. In this worldview, satyam (truth) is not just factual accuracy but a cosmic principle that aligns with the divine (Shivam) and manifests as beauty (Sundaram). Truth is sacred, eternal, and inherently victorious.
The ancient Indian maxim Satyameva Jayate—”Truth alone triumphs”—echoes the Easter message: truth, though challenged, will ultimately prevail.This convergence of Indian and Christian thought is striking.
For Christians, Jesus Christ is the embodiment of satyam—the divine truth that triumphs over death. The resurrection is not just a historical claim but a metaphysical assertion: truth is woven into the fabric of reality, and no force can permanently suppress it.
Similarly, in Indian spirituality, truth is not a human construct but a divine attribute, radiant and indestructible.
In a post-truth world, this perspective invites us to reimagine truth as more than a contested narrative. It is a divine force, beautiful and resilient, that transcends the regimes of power Foucault described.
Just as Sundaram reflects the aesthetic harmony of truth, the Easter story reveals truth’s capacity to inspire, transform, and renew.
The Easter narrative also emphasizes the unexpected nature of truth’s triumph. The resurrection was not a predictable outcome for Jesus’ disciples, who were scattered and despairing after the crucifixion. Truth emerged in a way they could not have anticipated—through an empty tomb, a risen Savior, and a message that would reshape history. This unpredictability is a source of hope in our own time.
In a post-truth world, truth often rises in unexpected places: a whistleblower exposing corruption, a marginalized voice speaking out, or a scientific discovery cutting through uncritically upheld dogma. These moments, though small, echo the Easter story. They remind us that truth, though buried under layers of distortion, has a way of breaking through.
As the Indian tradition affirms, satyam will win—not through coercion or domination but through its inherent alignment with the divine.
The Easter message challenges us to be bearers of truth in a world that often rejects it. This is not a call to wield truth as a weapon but to embody it with humility, courage, and love.
Just as Jesus’ truth was revealed in sacrifice, Christians are called to live truthfully through acts of justice, compassion, and integrity. Similarly, the Indian vision of Satyam Shivam Sundaram invites us to align our lives with truth’s divine beauty, creating spaces where authenticity and goodness flourish.Practically, this means resisting the temptation to succumb to cynicism or relativism. It means seeking truth diligently, even when it is inconvenient or costly.
It means fostering dialogue that bridges divides, grounded in a commitment to what is real and just. Above all, it means trusting that truth, like Christ, will rise again, even when all seems lost.
In a post-truth world, where regimes of power shape what is accepted as true, the Easter story offers a radical hope: truth, though crucified and buried, will always rise.
This hope is echoed in the Indian affirmation of Satyam Shivam Sundaram, where truth is divine, beautiful, and ultimately victorious. As we navigate the complexities of our age, the resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as a beacon, reminding us that truth is not a human construct but a divine reality, resilient and eternal. In the light of Easter, we are called to trust in truth’s triumph, to live it boldly, and to await its unexpected rising in our world.
