The Nature of Narrative Truth

"Truth, God, and Embracing a Reasonable Spirituality" Series, Part 2

I used to watch Star Trek: Deep Space Nine religiously (pun intended). One of the scenes that has stuck with me through the years is where the human Dr. Bashir was talking with the Cardassian Garak. 

In the scene, Dr. Bashir told Garak the story of “The Boy Who Cried ‘Wolf’”. The doctor said (and I paraphrase), “The moral of the story is clear. Don't tell a lie.” 

Garak said, “That's not what I get out of it.”

Surprised, Bashir asks Garak what he thinks the moral of the story is, Garak replies, "Don't tell the same lie twice."

In the world of Star Trek, human culture is one of abundance and optimism. Meanwhile, Cardassian culture is much more warlike and pessimistic.

This is an excellent example of how your personal and cultural stories shape how you experience your world and the meaning that you find in it.