Faith, religion, and us in 2026

Maintaining genuine faith can feel like navigating an obstacle course.

- BY CHULA GOONASEKERA

thought of compiling this after reading a leading editorial: “We live in a world of lies, damned lies, and AI hallucinations. A US publication calculated that Donald Trump told 30,573 lies in his first term as President. A lie, they say, travels halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on. Today, truth might as well stay in bed” (BMJ Editorial, 20th December 2025). Lies-in the form of fake news, videos, messages, and even telephone calls-try to lure us into traps that can cost us our assets, belongings, or even cash, often leaving the perpetrators untraceable.

The wisest approach is to keep faith personal, practise it sincerely, and follow a spiritual path informed by your own experiences. True faith thrives in authenticity, reflection, and mindful practice. In a world of easy exploitation, faith is strongest when quietly lived and genuinely felt.

Faiths and religions face similar threats.