Chapter 32: Hard Truths and Okay Lies
On The Good Place, Chidi tries to break up with Simone without telling her the whole story, and Jason faces the facts about his father Donkey Doug but bends the truth to save Pillboi. On the podcast, Dan Ross and Jon Spira-Savett use the episode to explore the midrashic interpretation of “truth sprouts from the earth” and attempt to clarify an understanding of truth and lies.
Yes, in Jeremy Bearimy style we released this episode before that one, but here it is if you want to listen in series order!
Texts
(Go to Jewish Lexicon on this site for more on Jewish terminology, names of texts and other background. The links here in the citations take you to the specific quotes in their full contexts.)
Midrash Bereshit Rabba 8:5
Said Rabbi Simon:
At the hour when the Blessed Holy One came to create the first human, the serving messengers/angels became different groups and different circles.
Some of them said: Let them not be created; and some of them said: Let them be created, as it is written (Psalms 85:11), “Kindness and truth met up, righteousness and peace kissed.”
Kindness (chesed) said: Let them be created, for they will do deeds of kindness.
And truth (emet) said: Let them not be created, for they are all lies.
Righteousness (tzedek) said: Let them be created, for they will do deeds of righteousness.
Peace (shalom) said: Let them not be created, for they are all conflict.
What did the Blessed Holy One do?
God took truth and cast it to the ground, as it is written (Daniel 8:12), “And cast truth to the ground.”
Said the serving messengers/angels before the Blessed Holy One: Master of all time and space, why are you scorning your chief of the garrison? Truth will rise up from the ground, as it is written (Psalm 85:12), “Truth will sprout from the ground.”
Learn more about both Jon and Dan, and how to follow them, on our Hosts page!
