Clearing up “fake news” on every front

The recent disclosures about "fake news" in the media illustrate that we need to be more alert than ever to discern if what's being said is fact or fiction.

Discerning what is true or false

The recent disclosures about "fake news" in the media illustrate that we need to be more alert than ever to discern if what's being said is fact or fiction.

We're actively seeking truth, rather than blindly accepting everything we hear or read as fact. Even in the smallest of affairs, the power and effect of honesty are felt and appreciated.

Honesty is not only desirable in our dealings, it's also linked to better health.

Research suggests that frequent lying, deceit, fabrication, or misrepresentation of the truth in our lives or in our conversations - or even accepting "fake news" as truth - can have unexpected ramifications, leading to stress and chronic pessimism.

One study at a university found that lying and cheating were common and even became quite acceptable as fellow-students were also seen to be lying and cheating.

Furthermore, behavioural scientist, Professor Dan Ariely from Duke University, postulates* that we all lie to some degree, with rationalisations for our actions including the desire to look clever or cooler to others (to be the person we wish we were) or to obtain some reward.

However, in the study, cheating decreased dramatically when participants were asked to swear on the Bible or sign an honour code, or try to list the Ten Commandments before the test. Then, not one cheated!

The results suggest that, when the presence of a higher power is brought to bear on the situation, it spurs us to identify ourselves with the truthful behaviours we associate with divinity. And, this, lifts us out of poor behaviours.

Our better nature is evidently detectable despite the "alternative facts" arguing how flawed we are. When reminded of our diviner nature, our innate honesty and goodness quite naturally take precedence.

The "fake news" phenomenon is not unique to this period in history. The practice of accepting those "alternative facts," and acting on them to our detriment, has been around since before the Adam and Eve story was first conceived; and, some surmise, is the basis for it.

The allegory presents man "as mutable and mortal, - as having broken away from Deity and as revolving in an orbit of his own," explains Christian reformer, Mary Baker Eddy.

"Spiritually followed, the book of Genesis is the history of the untrue image of God, named a sinful mortal. This deflection of being, rightly viewed, serves to suggest the proper reflection of God and the spiritual actuality of man, as given in the first chapter of Genesis."

Eddy saw that identifying the true record of creation is paramount to understanding our real nature. "And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good…"; it was honest and upright.

Having their origin in God, in Truth itself, these attributes are beyond human goodness. When claimed as ours, they give us dominion and heal what is not true or good in our lives - our poor behaviours, as well as our sick bodies.

When problems seem insurmountable, we're basing our assessment on the fable that we can be separated from good, or God. That belief is literally and figuratively "post-truth."

There was a time when I faced what seemed to be an insurmountable problem at work. I was appointed to a new role with managerial responsibilities in a large organisation, which also included working on a project with a team of other managers.

Unhappily for me, one of them treated me with utter contempt in this new role, as she believed I was less than qualified and the appointment process had lacked integrity.

Feeling resentful wasn't helping me or the situation, nor were efforts to try to prove myself. Events compelled me to turn from the Adam-dream outlook: meaning that every time I saw her or thought about her I worked hard to identify her divine nature; her honesty, integrity and kindness.

It became no longer credible that meanness or prejudice could be part of this lady, or that I could be a victim of misunderstanding.

Gradually, she responded to my quiet effort to "see" what was true about us: her behaviour towards me changed so that there was no more friction, and we ended up having a respectful and harmonious working relationship over several years.

If we each learn how to be more spiritually discerning, we can prevent a loss of trust in the wider society. We won't buy into fake news or images about colleagues, family, journalists and politicians; or, be tempted to copy them.

Research into lying: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2012/08/20/how-lying-affects-your-health
Video: (Dis)honesty-the truth about lies: http://netflixaustralia.org/movies/dishonesty-the-truth-about-lies/

Kay Stroud writes about the connection between spirituality, consciousness and health and trends in that field. She lives on the Sunshine Coast and practices Christian Science healing.

Originally published as Clearing up “fake news” on every front