Historical Records Cannot Be Entirely Trusted

Xuefeng

March 27, 2024

Relying solely on historical records to understand history is typical of those lacking independent thinking. Most people who explain history are merely mouthpieces for deception, and historical records commissioned by those in power are often unreliable.

The true nature of history is unknown to anyone who has not personally experienced it.

The poor cannot impartially evaluate the wealthy. The defeated cannot objectively assess the victorious. Those who seize power cannot fairly judge the achievements of their predecessors. Those who have suffered injustice cannot impartially reflect on objective facts. Most people evaluate others or events from the standpoint of their own class, status, interests, position, beliefs, and values rather than from an objective and fair perspective. Even those who respect people and facts may distort the truth due to the limitations of their understanding and the level of their consciousness. Consequently, the retelling may deviate from the original meaning—or even completely alter and lose its essence.

From this, it becomes clear that the information recorded in books passed down through the ages cannot be fully trusted. Even monumental texts such as the Bible, Buddhist scriptures, and the Tao Te Ching are not entirely reliable unless they were directly written by the authors themselves. Anything written from memory, copied, or compiled by later generations may contain distortions.

The most effective way to cover up wrongful acts is to invert right and wrong—to confuse truth with falsehood. Next comes intimidation, threats, or even the extermination of dissenting voices. Then, through the use of words, images, and edited videos, one can glorify one’s deeds. Over time, the truth becomes entirely obscured, and history presents only a “glorious” façade.

This understanding is not based on archaeological discoveries that demonstrate discrepancies between historical texts and reality, but on my personal experiences. For instance, there is a video online that misrepresents the Second Home created by Lifechanyuan as an “evil home.” Every claim in that video is fabricated and entirely contrary to the facts. Not only does it misrepresent the truth, but it also reverses it completely. This deeply reinforced my realization that historical records cannot be fully trusted. Similarly, no online statement can be entirely trusted—especially those from powerful circles, whose evaluations and definitions are even more suspect.

Only what we personally experience and witness can be considered real; everything else is difficult to verify as true or false. For example, a certain medicine might be praised in advertisements and endorsed by celebrities with exaggerated claims, but its actual efficacy can only be known through personal use and validation.

The true history of the past is something we can never fully understand because we cannot go back in time to personally experience it.

Most information online is untrustworthy because much of it is merely reposted and distorted hearsay, not firsthand accounts. Even firsthand accounts cannot always be personally verified or experienced by us.

If we believe, we risk being deceived; if we don’t believe, we might miss great opportunities. Ultimately, whether to believe or not rests on our own judgment.

It is better to read the “wordless heavenly book”—to read the sky, the earth, people, objects, and all phenomena in nature. Unlike human-authored books, the wordless heavenly book contains the words of the Greatest Creator.