Research: Why do people believe in lies?
From a pagan source, Grethexis:
There are lies said out of kindness, lies we say about ourselves. However, there are also lies we use to manipulate others. The previous types come almost instinctively, but this type of lies require preparation, skills, and talent. This kind of liars make sure to know their audience inside out and are well prepared to serve their lies artfully. Then they can sell anything to almost anyone, no matter if they are salesmen or politicians.
From an analytical article by Sharon Begley for Newsweek 2009. quoting Steven Hoffman, University of Buffalo: “Rather than search rationally for information that either confirms or disconfirms a particular belief, people actually seek out information that confirms what they already believe. For the most part, people completely ignore contrary information and are able to develop elaborate rationalizations based on faulty information.
“We refer to this as ‘inferred justification’, which is a sort of backward chain of reasoning, which starts with something you believe strongly and works backward to find support for it.
Begley concludes: “There are legitimate, fact-based reasons to reject certain truths. But some of the loudest opposition is the result of confirmatory bias, cognitive dissonance, and other examples of mental processes that have gone off the rails.”
From God’s Book:
2 Thessalonians 2:11
(KJ21) And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie
(ASV) And for this cause, God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie
(AMP) Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie
(AMPClassic) Therefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false
(CSB) For this reason, God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie
(1599 Geneva Bible GNV) And therefore God shall send them *strong delusion, that they should believe lies
*A most mighty working to deceive them.
‘for this cause…’ What cause? The last part of verse 10, “Those who are perishing (going to perdition) because they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved.” 11, “Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion so that they will believe a lie.”
You might come back with, “So, you say, God did it?” My answer is a question (rhetorical to anyone who knows Him), “Do you know of anything that our God the only Doer in the Universe did not do?” If you think of something, let me know. (See Rom 11:32)
Why do people believe lies? The short answer, now that we’ve unpacked the Truth: By God’s design we will, like mindless puppets, automatically fall for flesh-hook lies, when we dismiss His tutorial for living.
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