Is it always wrong to lie?

J

JustAnnie

~Annie~
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I'm just wondering what people here think. I started the same topic on another forum once, but that didn't go too well.

I don't think it's always wrong. Sometimes the truth can hurt more then it will do good.
What do you guys think?
 
No, I don't think its always wrong. It really depends who you're lying to, IMO. For example: If the world was going to suddenly end in exactly 7 days time, I would bloody well want to know. But that's just me. I know that some of my friends think differently, and would rather live the rest of the week without that hanging over them. So it depends on them, rather than you, because it's possible to lie for the good of all concerned. It depends on the circumstances.
 
Yeah, but what if the person would want to know, and we assumed they didn't? Is it really up to us to decide if a person can handle the truth? (I sound like my teacher...he asked me the same question once! lol)
 
The problem is that the Truth is irreversible. It's not about judging whether or not they could handle it, it's more about respecting their right to blissful ignorance if that's what they would want. If we have the Truth, and the other person doesn't, it is our responsibility to assess how that person would want us to act. If we're then wrong, we were wrong with good intentions.
 
well said Jill_Valentine... some good points...

i think it's wrong to lie, but in some situations, like with what we call "white lies" it's not always wrong to not tell the the whole truth... :nibble6:
 
Jill_Valentine said:
The problem is that the Truth is irreversible. It's not about judging whether or not they could handle it, it's more about respecting their right to blissful ignorance if that's what they would want. If we have the Truth, and the other person doesn't, it is our responsibility to assess how that person would want us to act. If we're then wrong, we were wrong with good intentions.
Click to expand...

That's very true. I wish I could go back in time and give that answer to my teacher...lol
As long as people do what they think is right for the other person, a lie doesn't have to be bad. That's what i think.
 
I think it's ok to lie about something that wouldn't hurt someone. Like, lie about not doing the laundry, that won't kill anyone. But, if you lie to the cops than that's wrong.
 
I hate to quote scripture in a secular context, but I believe that "charity . . . rejoiceth in the truth" seems apropos here. Certainly one may be tactful, but I'm reticent to condone deception.
 
Hero said:
I think it's ok to lie about something that wouldn't hurt someone. Like, lie about not doing the laundry, that won't kill anyone. But, if you lie to the cops than that's wrong.
Click to expand...

yeah... that's a good exaple! i agree with that! i wouldn't lie if it would have bad consequences.. i know a couple of people who lies so much.. to the point that they can't stop lieing cause they have told so so many, and they might not even really know what is true and whet is not.. and you can't believe a word they say... so in that aspect lieing is very wrong.. but f it's small, very smal, white lies, iyt might not be that wrong...

ChasingCharisma: well, i think that deception is wrong too, but i don't think that small lies are always deseetful(sp?) if you know what i mean... but i won't tell a lie if i know it's wrong to do it(acording to my morals... LOL that sounded a bit bad 😉 i hardly ever lie, the only times i do.. i am avoiding to tell the truth.. like when it comes to my mom and my father.. my mom has some insane bitterness with my father, and she always puts him down when she talks about him. so if i'm going to his house to visite when i am staying in my home town, i don't tell her where i am going... i try to avoid telling her anything about that, and if i feel she will be a bit mean, i will lie to avoid the situation. but i don't think that's wrong! cause it does't hurt her! it will hurt me more to tell the truth, and it might even hurt her... it's a bit complicated 😉 ) :stpatty:
 
I've just been convinced through hard experience that whenever we conform our lives to correct principles we're the happier because of it. And personally, I've found that life is worse when things are left unsaid; while I understand the motivation to protect one's own feelings as well as others', I wonder if it wouldn't be better to kindly, tactfully, etc. address at least a few of the problems and/or traumas in which we all become immersed, one way or another, especially in our families.

If we cannot speak to our own families so openly, then to whom do we go (aside from God, for those who do) for clarity? A psychic? An associate?

I've just seen how that particular "misdirection" is harmful. While I wouldn't call it "lying" to keep our feelings and/or concerns buried deep, I'd say it may be just as pernicious.
 
I think people would be the happiest if they always try to do the right thing, but to me that doesn't mean always telling the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts more then a lie. Most of the time, telling the truth would be best, but not always.
 
well it was just an exampel... small lies... that dosen't hurt annyone is still not wrog to me.. but i do see you point...

justannie: i totaly agree with that!!!! well said!
 
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