Garbage In, Gospel Out

Garbage In, Gospel Out: A phrase used to describe the process in which false or misleading information (the "garbage") is entered into official records, documents, or systems and then treated as absolute truth (the "gospel") simply because it has been recorded. The phrase highlights how once incorrect data is documented, it gains an undeserved level of credibility and authority, often leading to manipulation or deception. This is commonly seen in legal, medical, and institutional contexts where fabricated or false information is accepted as fact and used to discredit individuals or cover up wrongdoing.

"Officer John Jacko Romero wrote a completely fabricated police report, claiming an incident occurred when absolutely nothing happened. There was no contact, no 911 call, and I was out shopping the entire day. I only found out about this false report when I was later served with a temporary restraining order that included it. This is a perfect example of garbage in, gospel out—he invented the report out of thin air, and now it’s treated as if it’s the truth."