How to distinguish truth from untruths?

Sir, – Regarding his statement that "believing in the supernatural is one of the most misleading untruths in western society", may I ask David McConnell (Rite & Reason, August 31st) to enlighten us on how to distinguish truths from untruths.

I ask because the history of scientific discovery is replete with discarded theories which we were once convinced were corroborated by “facts”, and the results of recent experiments in the sub-atomic world appear to question the laws of physics.

As the late, great Stephen Hawking put it, for all we know now, we could conceivably be living in a giant goldfish bowl.

So please, share your knowledge with us; as an avowed humanist, you will surely welcome the opportunity to enhance mankind’s capacity to recognise the truth. – Yours, etc,

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JOHN McGRATH,

Ashford, Co Wicklow.