Do most people follow truth?

[aball1035]

Do most people follow truth, or knowingly follow and believe what they know is false?

For example there are so many atheists and non Catholics in the world-do they think they’re following what’s right, or willingly believing something false, because it’s easier?

 

[meltzerboy]

Do most people follow truth, or knowingly follow and believe what they know is false?

For example there are so many atheists and non Catholics in the world-do they think they’re following what’s right, or willingly believing something false, because it’s easier?

I think most people follow what they perceive to be the truth in most areas, including religious beliefs. I don’t think most people make much of an effort to seek the truth, however. One of the reasons is their preoccupation with the daily chores, pleasures, disappointments, and material aspects of life. Another reason is their tendency to resist change, which is always difficult, and this relates to your statement that it’s easier to accept what may be false. We often cling to the beliefs we grew up with and that shaped our development.

 

[ACCT]

Most people follow truth that has a small “t.” This type of truth is ambulatory. It has legs on it and it moves around. I call it relative truth. This type of truth is passing.

We Christians believe in Truth with a capital “T.” This Truth is a person, Jesus Christ. This Truth does not move. It is the same for all generations and for eternity. It will never pass away.

 

[centurionguard]

As Christ’s disciples, we must tell the world that it is Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life; Tell the world the truth that will set them free, as in John 8:31-42

Gospel According to Saint John Chapter 8 Verses 31-42
drbo.org/chapter/50008.htm

[31] Then Jesus said to those Jews, who believed him: If you continue in my word, you shall be my disciples indeed. [32] And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. [33] They answered him: We are the seed of Abraham, and we have never been slaves to any man: how sayest thou: you shall be free? [34] Jesus answered them: Amen, amen I say unto you: that whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin. [35] Now the servant abideth not in the house for ever; but the son abideth for ever.

[36] If therefore the son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. [37] I know that you are the children of Abraham: but you seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. [38] I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do the things that you have seen with your father. [39] They answered, and said to him: Abraham is our father. Jesus saith to them: If you be the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham. [40] But now you seek to kill me, a man who have spoken the truth to you, which I have heard of God. This Abraham did not.

[41] You do the works of your father. They said therefore to him: We are not born of fornication: we have one Father, even God. [42] Jesus therefore said to them: If God were your Father, you would indeed love me. For from God I proceeded, and came; for I came not of myself, but he sent me:

Here’s an excellent writ about following the Truth.
You Will Know the Truth and the Truth Will Set You Free
ewtn.com/library/bishops/truthfre.htm

 

[In_Spiration]

I would say most do – definitely if they consciously know something’s true. But self-deception makes matters more unclear, especially given the paradoxes of self-deception, e.g.:

In general, A cannot successfully employ a deceptive strategy against B if B knows A’s intention and plan. This seems plausible as well when A and B are the same person. A potential self-deceiver’s knowledge of his intention and strategy would seem typically to render them ineffective. On the other hand, the suggestion that self-deceivers typically successfully execute their self-deceptive strategies without knowing what they are up to may seem absurd; for an agent’s effective execution of his plans seems generally to depend on his cognizance of them and their goals. So how, in general, can an agent deceive himself by employing a self-deceptive strategy?

 

[ThinkingSapien]

Do most people follow truth, or knowingly follow and believe what they know is false?

I think most people follow anticipated incentives with differing time targets for gaining those incentives (where an impulsive person aims for more immediate incentives while a person with a higher sense of delayed gratification aims for more longer term incentives). But we all have an imperfect understanding of the world around us and the outcomes of our actions and extremely limited knowledge of external factors that will interact with our success. I think your question was being asked in a religious context. It looks like my answer isn’t related, but it is. I’ll get back to this in a moment.

For example there are so many atheists and non Catholics in the world-do they think they’re following what’s right

Not necessarily. If I stay restricted to religious dispositions Catholicism isn’t the only religion that competes for one’s attention. If you were asked to choose 1 person out of a group of 5 to assist you with some task you may take all 5 into consideration before making a decision. If I were to ask you to choose a few people out of a group of 500 you may not bother to evaluate every one.

For those that are making a decision about a religion I don’t think it’s much different. Between all the religions and denominations of the world one might not take all of them into consideration. There are also biases that can be picked up from a number of sources such as upbringing. For example, in the community in which I grew up (Southern Baptist) Catholicism has been characterized, among other things, as " a religion of idolatry." Re-enforce that to a child and he or she may adopt that view and exclude that religion from consideration should he or she decide to stray from the religion inherited from their parent(s).

or willingly believing something false, because it’s easier?

A person may be following a religion not because he or she thinks it is true or false but because it is tied to some other incentives. If most of your friends or community belong to a certain religion or a certain church there may be social or occupational repercussions for moving away from it. Some find that scary. I think if the social punishments and rewards could be detached from one’s religion one’s hesitation in considering other religions might be lowered.