Faith vs Truth

[RMGuy]

This question was posed to me recently and I am interested as to what everyone here thinks. I know how I answered it...

So assuming you had to choose between maintaining Faith in something that brought you Joy or learning the truth regarding that thing, which would you choose. Let's make this something none threatening.....Santa Claus.

If you could rewinde the clock and have never found out the truth about Santa Claus becuase your faith in the guy in the red suit made you happy, would you choose to still believe in Santa or would you rather know the truth? Note that it is also the case to have Faith in something, and the truth can also support your faith rather than tear it down. For example, I can have Faith that the principles of the Gospel bring happiness.....the truth is that they do.

Alma 32 talks about this a bit. You have faith in something then the evidence and knowledge come. The question is, if you didn't know whether the truth would validate or shatter your faith, which would you pick...faith or truth?

-RM

[Connie]

The question assumes an erroneous definition of faith. Faith is hope for things not seen but true (see Bible Dictionary, Faith). It's not faith if it's not true. It's something else entirely.

"Faith is a road to truth, without which some truths can never be reached at all. The reason for its inevitableness in life is not our lack of knowledge, but rather that faith is as indispensable as logical demonstration in any real knowing in the world. Faith is not a substitute for truth, but a pathway to truth." -Pres. Hugh B. Brown (Oct. 1969 General Conference)

[JudoMinja]

The question is, if you didn't know whether the truth would validate or shatter your faith, which would you pick...faith or truth?

That is actually a very difficult question to answer... I like to think of myself as a seeker of truth, and the more truth I find the happier and more joyful my life becomes, as I try to align my behavior and decisions with those truths. But quite a bit of what I feel to be true depends on my faith. I've never actually seen God or Jesus... never been visited by an angel. Don't have any concrete proof that I've chosen the correct religion... I am fairly confident that should the opportunity come to be given the answers, my faith would be verified as having been placed in true principles. Besides, Alma even defines faith as the "hope for things which are not seen which are true".

But, since that moment of verification has not yet come, there is always the off-chance that I am wrong... (besides, there's a lot of people out there who don't believe the same things I do, so either they are wrong or I am) and if I am, would I want to know that I am wrong? That choice between faith and truth really only exists if I'm wrong, since- if I'm right- I then have both faith and truth. I think it would be a very severe blow, to find out that everything I've studied out and believe to be true actually isn't. But... I'd like to think that I'd quickly recover and move on, continuing to pursue what I now know to actually be the truth. I could chalk up everything I've done in the wrong direction as good experience that helped put me where I am today.

So, I think I would choose truth over faith. For now though, I just have faith that I am following what actually is the truth. :)

[Vort]

This question was posed to me recently and I am interested as to what everyone here thinks. I know how I answered it...

So assuming you had to choose between maintaining Faith in something that brought you Joy or learning the truth regarding that thing, which would you choose. Let's make this something none threatening.....Santa Claus.

If you could rewinde the clock and have never found out the truth about Santa Claus becuase your faith in the guy in the red suit made you happy, would you choose to still believe in Santa or would you rather know the truth? Note that it is also the case to have Faith in something, and the truth can also support your faith rather than tear it down. For example, I can have Faith that the principles of the Gospel bring happiness.....the truth is that they do.

Alma 32 talks about this a bit. You have faith in something then the evidence and knowledge come. The question is, if you didn't know whether the truth would validate or shatter your faith, which would you pick...faith or truth?

Faith in a false thing is not faith. A thing must be true in order to have faith in it, if faith has any useful and saving meaning.

I did not believe in Santa Claus growing up. My mother was emotionally distraught at learning the truth about Santa Claus, whom she deeply loved and revered, and determined that her children would not suffer the same fate. Interestingly, I enjoyed Christmas every bit as much as other children, and knowing the gifts from "Santa" really came from my parents didn't dilute my enthusiasm.

When we married, my wife and I discussed Santa. She loved the tradition and wanted to carry it on with our (then-future) children. I told her that she could tell them whatever she wanted to, but that I would never lie to them, even about Santa. She didn't much like that, but in the end, we used Santa as a game with our kids rather than try to pretend it was true. Again, I don't see that our children have been harmed by our appalling lack of Santa.

[annewandering]

I think that faith is a precursor to truth or in other words is on the road to truth. If given a choice I would want to be as far down the road as possible. Wouldnt preferring faith be like an admission that you really dont have faith so much as hope? First hope >faith>truth. Eternal progression.

[rameumptom]

Truth is always more important. Jesus told us that "truth shall set you free." Faith in something not true, is a false faith, and does not really benefit us in the long run.

Santa Claus may bring the little kids some fantasy fun, but it also teaches them about getting something for nothing, greed, and lots of other bad things (they always end up on the nice list, etc). SC also can lead people away from Christ. How many Christmas movies today have Santa in them versus how many are about Jesus?

I'd rather have the truth: Jesus is the Christ and we celebrate his birth on Christmas, than to believe in Santa and getting toys.

[Guest mormonmusic]

I never bought into the "faith is thing you believe which are true" definition as a useful, practical definition - notwithstanding any scriptures that say the that. As soon as someone believes something which isn't true, you say "that's not faith" and everyone thinks the conversation is over.

I like the term "belief". I have a belief in Christ, in God, the atonement, and at one time Santa Claus. To me, whether it is faith or not, is immaterial -- what matters is that I believe it.

Would I rather believe things that are not true and be happy? Or know the truth and be miserable? Well, that depends. On matters that are of great importance, such as salvation, the true feelings of my wife toward me, valid feedback in my work, olr items which require great sacrifice and time if true --I want the truth. On incidental things like how I look in a pair of pants, or what someone whose opinion is incidental to me, I would rather not know the truth.

Someone once said that half of what we tell ourselves isn't true anyway. And I think part of the healthy psychology is CHOOSING to interpret situations positively, when the actual truth of the situation is knot known. In situations I can do nothing about, and which are less important, I'm happy with the Santa Claus scenario.

[sister_in_faith]

truth. :)

[prisonchaplain]

I believe it was the Apostle Paul who said that if the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not true then we Christians are the greatest of fools, and to be pitied. People have told me, "If Christianity is not true, don't tell me, because it gives me peace, moral clarity, and joy." The sentiment is understandable. There is a sense in which ignorance can be bliss. However, ultimately, I agree with sister_in_faith...

TRUTH!

[skippy740]

Let's make this something none threatening.....Santa Claus.

If you could rewinde the clock and have never found out the truth about Santa Claus becuase your faith in the guy in the red suit made you happy, would you choose to still believe in Santa or would you rather know the truth?

Let's see... I can be good all year and have faith that Santa would reward me with everything in my list (that he checked twice). Then wake up on Christmas Day and find... absolutely nothing. My faith in a mythical figure has let me down.

I think I'd rather know the truth... than be deluded.

After all, why be so good all year if you don't have to, to please some mythical character who knows where the REALLY bad girls live?

[Guest tbaird22]

truth. my abuelo always said truth must be dealt with.