Why We Lie

ACCORDING TO SURVEYS, on paper, about half the american people attend church regularly. IN reality, about one fourth, twenty five per cent do. Church atttendance turns out to be the topic about which americans lie the most, but certainly not the only topic about which they lie a great deal.

Dental hygiene, especially the use of dental floss, is high on the list. Then of course there's sex, to no one's surprise. Americans, and perhaps other cultures as well, tend to lie about sex. Americans do lie about church attendance more than europeans, however.

Exercise and money round out the list, in both cases, as in sex, the lies involve exaggeration of quantity. And this is really no big deal, of course. If folks want to lie about these things, then why shouldn't they? Its no one's business, anyway. Don't ask, don't tell.

church attendance throughout the western world seems to be decreasing, but dental floss use is up, as is amount of money. But, unfortunately, not exercise. in america in particular we need more exercise per capita. much more.

And even though we have more money, it isn't worth as much, not nearly as much, as it was even a short time ago, so, increasingly, people ask, "what good does it do?" We feel insecure, uncertain about our personal well being in this turbulent world, so we practice deception to enhance our chances of successful survival.

And this is all, so, totally... human.