A series of experiments in the 1950s showed that people often do whatever the people around them do—even when they know the group is wrong.

This experiment, called the Solomon Asch Experiment, is a famous example of the temptation to conform to a group. Understanding the science behind conformity should help us understand that going along with the crowd is dangerous. It is far better to conform to what is right, not just to what everyone else is doing.

In the experiment, a test subject was placed in a room full of actors whom the subject assumed were other participants. The men were seated around a table with the test subject at the end of the lineup. A series of diagrams were shown to the group—the diagrams consisted of one isolated line on the left side of the board and three other lines, numbered from one to three, on the right side. These three lines were varied in length, and only one exactly matched the line on the left. The two non-matching lines were clearly too long or too short. It was very obvious which of the three lines matched the isolated line.

Next, a scientist asked each man to identify which line they thought matched the isolated line. In 12 out of the 18 rounds, the actors deliberately gave the same incorrect answers. For example, if the correct line was number two, all the actors would call out number one. The test was to see if the subject would cave in to the pressure of agreeing with everyone else—or if they would choose what was clearly the correct answer.

In the 12 trials where the actors gave wrong answers, three quarters of the test subjects conformed to the group once or more. They succumbed to the pressure to fit in with the other participants, even when they knew that the group was wrong.

Romans 12:2 says, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Conforming means to comply with rules, standards or laws. When it comes to God’s laws, conforming is a good thing. God’s laws are absolute, and we should try to adhere to them as closely as possible. But what about when conforming means compromising with what you know to be right? What about when conforming means embracing what is wrong?

Whether it is a small fact we have proven or a weightier matter of the law, standing up for what is right is important.

A research article from the Public Library of Science proposed that going against the group feels more uncomfortable and unpleasant, while conforming provides a sense of security. It can even feel rewarding.

Herbert W. Armstrong’s encounter with a librarian also exhibits this comfortable conforming mindset. After his six-month, night-and-day study into the Sabbath day and the theory of evolution, Mr. Armstrong wrote a short article that proved evolution to be totally false. He showed it to the head librarian of the technical and science department at a large library in his area. But even after he provided irrefutable proof against evolution and she admitted that he was right, the librarian could not give up the theory of evolution. She felt like she had to keep believing it because she was too steeped in it to change her beliefs. It was popular opinion, and she felt more comfortable with conforming than with going against the academic crowd.

Experiments centered around conforming have been used to justify the actions of the Nazis in World War ii. People have reasoned that if everyday people are willing to buckle under minimal pressure from their peers or a researcher despite knowing what the truth really is, then of course soldiers, who have facts hidden from them, would submit to a tyrant like Hitler.

Referring to a study conducted by Stanley Milgram in the 1960s, Cari Romm wrote, “If the Nazis were just following orders, then he had proved that anyone at all could be a Nazi.” What do you think: Are people who shot, burned and found multiple other ways to murder others not guilty just because someone else told them to do it? Are people who actively choose the incorrect line not wrong because others around them also choose the incorrect line?

Conforming will often feel like the best option. It is less stressful, it feels more rewarding, and it provides a sense of security. It is easier to join the pack than it is to be the lone sheep among wolves. Following the crowd can be dangerous, though. Man is fallible and can’t be trusted to lead perfectly. Just because a lot of people believe something doesn’t make it right.

There is only one infallible authority—God. God has given us the Bible so that it can serve as the foundation of all our knowledge. The Bible, not popular opinion, should determine how we live. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is the inspired Word of God, and we should base our decisions on its instruction.

The people in the Solomon Asch Experiment knew the correct answer. But they chose to conform to the group rather than stand up for the truth. As the book of James says: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22). Knowing what is right is only a part of the test. You need to stand up for what the Bible says is true. If others stand with you, that’s only an added benefit. There most likely won’t be many people who will back you up if you stand up for the truth. But if you refuse to conform, and you stand up for what is right even when nobody else does, God will stand with you.