Religious beliefs are an individual reality that takes precedence over objective truth. There are many reasons that people adopt religious beliefs. But the decision to adopt religious beliefs is rarely, if ever, an informed decision with all the facts.
If you think truth prevails over lies, you have some lessons to learn because what people believe prevails over the truth. Belief is a counterfeit substitute for dealing with reality. Faith and belief are the mechanisms of myth and superstition that have deep roots in popular culture.
Objective Truth in Public Discourse
You’ll never hear a cult or religious leader tell their followers to research things themselves and see if what I’m telling you is correct. No, it is quite the opposite. Instead, cult leaders tell you that you must believe what they tell you without question.
For example, the creation stories of the Lenape and Iroquois Indians taught that the Earth rests on the back of a great sea turtle. They believed this was a valid position because it was a sincerely held belief. This is not understanding reality for truth; rather, it is pretending something is true to substantiate a belief.
The Church taught that the Earth was flat. They imprisoned Galileo Galilei for heresy for teaching the Copernican theory of the universe. The Church’s sincerity was backed by its divinely inspired text and its authority to punish those who challenged it.
Unfortunately, mythology is still used as a substitute for objective truth in public discourse. This comes from magical thinking, which mistakes myths for facts. Magical thinking often starts with counterfeit reasons to believe in god.
Understanding Individual Truth from Reality?
Sincerity is all that counts. It’s a widespread modern heresy. Think again. Bolsheviks are sincere. Fascists are sincere. Lunatics are sincere. People who believe the Earth is flat are sincere. They can’t all be right. Better make certain that you’ve got something to be sincere about and with. — Tom Driberg
Some spiritual teachers use less-than-truthful tactics to substantiate their claims. These proofs often involve circular reasoning and substituting fiction for facts. But, the central linchpin in their arguments focuses on the belief in a higher power, but not just any spirit being, their god. If you buy this, they can program anything. There is no truth in public discourse allowed in the Church.
1. Divinely inspired texts (requiring interpretation they are contradictory and illogical)
2. The need to believe in their version of a higher power (exclusivity and tribal identity)
3. The teacher’s religious pedigree and charisma (religious authority affiliation)
4. Number of followers in the cult (cultural mass)
Stop for a moment and consider the three most popular religions of the Abrahamic tree: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Do they not all use these tactics to substantiate and justify their worldviews?
See if you can prove me wrong. If it cannot be proven, then it is false, a lie. Tell me again how truth prevails over lies in modern culture. Organized religion blurs the lines distinguishing individual truth from reality. It makes it easier for them to manipulate people.
Thought is so cunning, so clever, that it distorts everything for its own convenience. — Jiddu Krishnamurti
Watch any speech by Donald Trump. He lies faster than any fact-checker can work. He proves the lack of truth in public discourse undermines the credibility of everyone associated with him.
Looking For Objective Truth in Religion
If your truth is rooted in myth, then the only thing you will find will be facts about myths. As fun as this might be, it has nothing to do with the truth. Objective truth refers to a statement or fact that is independent of personal opinions, biases, or perspectives. Truth exists regardless of individual beliefs or feelings. It can be verified through evidence, observation, or measurement.
Through a commitment to understanding reality for truth, we expand knowledge. As we cultivate intellectual curiosity, we grow intellectually and spiritually. Truth always leads to more questions. Philosophers have long debated objective truth in everything from absolutism to zeteticism. Some argue that truth is relative, others that absolute truths exist, such as in mathematics, logic, and scientific laws.
Objective truths are often considered universal, meaning they apply to everyone everywhere. These truths are not dependent on cultural, social, or personal contexts. This contradicts almost every tenant of Western organized religion. Their strategy is to substitute religious mythology for truth. It’s sad but true. What people believed 400 years ago is still a major part of our dominant cultural narrative.
Subjective truth deals with statements based on personal opinions, biases, and perspectives. It is relative to the individual or group (religion) and can vary. Emotions, experiences, and cultural programming often influence subjective truths.
How, then, can we distinguish between what is real and what is not? The answer is to keep reaching for what is true. Keep learning.
Understanding individual truth is about recognizing the core elements of our nature. It is understanding that our experiences and perspectives are subjective in nature. This gives us the perspective to realign what we believe when we encounter additional facts about reality. As we gain more facts about reality, we should change our minds. A healthy mindset can change when we encounter new information.
Errors vs Deception
Deception and error are two different things.
An error is an unintentional mistake or inaccuracy. There are some common factors that cause errors.
1. Lack of knowledge: Insufficient information or understanding can lead to errors.
2. Misinformation: Incorrect or outdated information can cause errors.
3. Cognitive biases: Biases in thinking and perception can lead to errors.
4. Accidents: Unforeseen events or circumstances can cause errors.
Once identified, errors can often be corrected or rectified, and they do not always imply malicious intent. If the perpetrator of the error refuses to acknowledge their mistake, it is no longer an error but an intentional act of deception.
Deceptions are intentional acts to mislead or deceive. Deceptive tactics have some common forms.
1. Lying: Deliberately providing false information to mislead others.
2. Withholding information: Omitting crucial information to create a false impression.
3. Manipulation: Using tactics to influence others’ perceptions or decisions.
4. Misrepresentation: Knowingly presenting false or misleading information.
Deception is often used to achieve a specific goal or gain an advantage, and it can damage relationships, trust, and reputation. The key factors between errors vs deception are worth noting.
1. Intent: Errors are unintentional, while deception is intentional.
2. Motivation: Errors are often the result of a lack of knowledge or understanding. But, deception is driven by a desire to manipulate or deceive.
3. Consequences: Errors can be corrected, whereas deception leads to more severe consequences. Deception becomes theft, damaging relationships and causing financial losses.
4. Trust: Errors can be forgiven, but deception can erode trust and credibility.
It is very important to distinguish between errors and deception. Recognizing errors can help improve communication and build trust.
Learning how to identify deception can prevent harm and promote transparency. Distinguishing between errors and deception can inform decision-making and prevent costly mistakes. Understanding the difference between errors and deception can help you avoid them. Start by understanding individual truth from reality. Then align your individual understanding with reality.
Identity and Belief
If what you believe is part of your identity, you will cling to your beliefs at any cost. Your identity would shatter if your beliefs are incorrect. And this is precisely why religious leaders want you to buy into the mythology and superstition, hook, line, and sinker. (1)
That is the idea — that we should all be wicked if we did not hold to the Christian religion. It seems to me that the people who have held to it have been, for the most part, extremely wicked. You find this curious fact, that the more intense has been the religion of any period and the more profound has been the dogmatic belief, the greater has been the cruelty, and the worse has been the state of affairs. In the so-called ages of faith, when men really believed the Christian religion in all its completeness, there was the Inquisition, with all its tortures; there were millions of unfortunate women burned as witches, and there was every kind of cruelty practiced upon all sorts of people in the name of religion. — Bertrand Russell
These religions need you to tie your identity to the belief system. Your religion becomes your truth. They say I’m a Christian. I believe my sect of Christianity is correct. If you ask them, why do we need religion? They will tell you because they would be lost without it.
If you accept a belief system as your source of identity, then those in charge of the religion can manipulate you into believing and doing anything. You can’t separate your individual truth from reality defined by religion.
So when people ask me if I believe God created the universe, I tell them that the question itself makes no sense. Time didn’t exist before the Big Bang, so there is no time for God to make the universe in. It’s like asking for directions to the edge of the Earth; the Earth is a sphere; it doesn’t have an edge, so looking for it is a futile exercise. — Stephen Hawking
The Power of Denial
Denial blurs the difference between errors vs deception. Denial is an unhealthy but powerful psychological tool. As a culture, we accept some people will live in constant denial. These are the people who choose to accept the programming of a religion. The fact is, they have established the legal right to believe in fairy tales.
They are proud to say they live by faith and not by sight. And, even if you can prove me wrong, I will still believe.
For we live by faith, not by sight. — 2 Corinthians 5:7 New International Version
The problem they create by holding onto a tribal paradigm becomes more clear during a global issue like a pandemic. You don’t have to belong to a religion to deny facts and science, but it sure helps. People deny scientific facts when they are influenced by fringe groups and believe in unproven theories.
Most of these groups are tied to the Abrahamic tree of religion. Identification with a group or leader becomes the driving force of thinking. Religion becomes an excuse to justify their hate.
Reasons to Believe in God
The need to believe is a psychological trigger. Belief is a powerful thought script. If you are a gymnast, you must possess a high degree of self-assurance in your ability to execute the desired move. Completing challenging gymnastics moves helps us build confidence in doing more complicated tricks. It connects with our emotions and makes us feel good that we have accomplished the maneuver.
Believing in a higher power creates an emotional high. It’s just like the gymnast completing a double-backward somersault. God becomes a catch-all imaginary being in which the believer places trust and confidence.
All the significant mythologies build their core tenets around the ideas of a supreme being or multiple beings. It goes back further than what people believed 400 years ago to about 6000 BCE. It’s the belief in a magical entity that provides everything for the asking, from health and success to a fantastic afterlife. But there is a catch: you need to pay your dues. The god that created the universe still needs your money. Sadly, many people buy into it, proving what people believe prevails over the truth.
There are no good reasons to believe in God. ― Daniel Dennett
If we analyze these religions, we find they are metaphors, ways to describe attributes and abilities. They need to believe that these attributes belong to a divine intelligent being is the focal point of religion.
There are two groups of people who get “hooked” on things with no credible proof. First are those who have continued exposure to the brainwashing techniques of religion. The second group is driven by an insatiable curiosity, constantly seeking controversial or counter-culture ideas.
Both groups gravitate towards unproven ideas. In modern times, the term conspiracy theory has become associated with those who believe in far-right ideologies. But, this is a misuse of the term.
A conspiracy is a group of people acting together in secret. For example, you can conspire to hold a surprise birthday party for someone. A theory explains how something works. The theory of gravity is an example of how we explain gravity, how it works, and why.
Why do people believe in things that have no factual basis? It’s the same as the reasons to think the Earth is flat, the same reasons to believe in God or the Devil.
1. Lengthy exposure to propaganda and groupthink manipulation tactics
2. Family, ethnic, or racial tradition
3. Association with a group of like-minded believers becomes a part of personal identity
4. It provides a shared worldview and boundaries to protect
5. The need to belong to a tribe
6. Adhere to a sense of family or cultural tradition
7. Out of fear because it is a mandatory element of the culture/tribe
8. They place their trust in unfounded allegations we refer to today as “conspiracy theories.”
These factors are why it’s difficult to change someone’s mind. What people believe prevails over the truth because they are subject to one or more of these factors.
Understanding Reality for Truth
Learning about reality to uncover the truth is the opposite of asserting that something is true based on beliefs. Understanding reality involves recognizing the distinction between our perceptions, beliefs, and reality. If you cannot make this distinction, then you can be misled into believing anything.
Our perceptions are shaped by our beliefs and experiences, which are often based on flawed cultural values and cognitive biases. When cognitive distortions taint one’s worldview, it leads to inaccurate subjective interpretations of reality. To uncover the truth, we must strive to separate our personal perspectives from objective facts. Several approaches can aid in understanding reality for truth.
1. Develop Observational Skills and practice being present. Gather data and test hypotheses rather than rely solely on intuition or authority.
2. Encourage a Health-Skeptical Mindset. Approach claims with a healthy dose of skepticism. Question assumptions and require evidence to support conclusions.
3. Cultivate Interdisciplinary Exploration by studying multiple fields, such as philosophy, science, history, and social sciences. You will gain problem-solving skills and a more comprehensive understanding of complex issues.
4. Question the Cultural Narrative and engage in systematic and logical analysis of information, evaluating evidence. Consider multiple viewpoints to form a well-rounded understanding. Understanding reality for truth requires a willingness to challenge assumptions and confront uncomfortable facts.
5. Open-mindedness: Remain receptive to new ideas, perspectives, and evidence, even if they challenge existing beliefs or understanding. Self-reflection can help you understand individual truth from reality in a way that is not threatening to your ego.
6. Reassess Your Path: Regularly examine your own biases, assumptions, and thought processes to ensure you’re not perpetuating misconceptions.
Some of the key challenges in understanding reality and seeking truth include identifying and overcoming any cognitive biases. We can be programmed with cultural biases that can distort our perception of reality.
Information overload is a problem in modern society. The sheer volume of information available can make it difficult to discern fact from fiction. Failing to identify misinformation and disinformation led to the upset in the 2016 presidential election.
The spread of false or misleading information can lead to confusion and undermine our understanding of reality. The complexity of many issues that affect society makes it too easy for some to get sidetracked by propaganda and conspiracy theories.
Ultimately, understanding reality and seeking truth is an ongoing process that requires dedication, intellectual humility, and a willingness to revise and refine our understanding as new evidence and perspectives emerge.
In Conclusion
We are not the first to note that belief has the power to overcome facts. Human nature has not changed in thousands of years. Religion uses politics as a tool against the facts and the truth. The distortion between fact and fiction intensifies the more religious ideology infiltrates politics. Distinguishing errors vs deception is more important now than ever.
What people believe prevails over the truth. — Sophocles (496-406 BCE)
Understanding individual truth is an important aspect of who we are. With knowledge of the self, we can change, grow, and become a better person. Spend your time understanding reality for truth and discoveries that make society better. Be cognizant of the constant battle between errors vs deception in our culture.
References
(1) Why Facts Don’t Change Our Minds: newyorker.com
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