Is exaggerating a grave sin?

[Holly3278]

Hi everyone. Is exaggerating a grave sin? I feel that it may be a form of lying and therefore could possibly be grave matter. What do you think?

 

[Neil_Anthony]

Hi everyone. Is exaggerating a grave sin? I feel that it may be a form of lying and therefore could possibly be grave matter. What do you think?

For lying, the gravity of the sin has more to do with the harm that it causes to the person lied to. Did your exageration cause someone to lose their job, or did it destroy a marriage, or cause someone else to commit a sin (for example by becoming angry or hateful)?

 

[Joe_5859]

Hi everyone. Is exaggerating a grave sin? I feel that it may be a form of lying and therefore could possibly be grave matter. What do you think?

Exaggerating is absolutely, positively the worst, most horrific sin one could ever, ever, ever commit!!!

Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating.

I don’t think that exaggerating constitutes grave matter in the same way that lying does. However, some exaggerating could be considered lying. I think it depends on what you’re doing exactly.

Is a woman exaggerating about what a married man said to her in order to imply that he was coming onto her and thereby destroy his reputation? (I would consider this to be lying more so than exaggerating as the person’s intent is to mislead others from the truth.)

Or is someone exaggerating an anonymous person’s virtues or vices in order to make a better story when they’re teaching a class? (I would consider this to be harmless exaggeration done for pedagogical purposes.)

In short, exaggeration would be sinful because it is lying, not simply because it is exaggeration. This is my theological opinion anyway. I have no Church documents to cite on the matter.

 

[tjm190]

oh ya, it’s a HUGE sin.
(that was more sarcasm rather than exaggeration so my parody is invalid… woops)
I guess it depends on the situation- Saying the fish you caught was THIS BIG OMG OMG OMG with some elaborate hand motions is probably not a grave sin, while telling your insurance company that a multimillion dollar family heirloom was lost in the fire when it was in fact a family photo is different

 

[Joe_5859]

oh ya, it’s a HUGE sin.
(that was more sarcasm rather than exaggeration so my parody is invalid… woops)
I guess it depends on the situation- Saying the fish you caught was THIS BIG OMG OMG OMG with some elaborate hand motions is probably not a grave sin, while telling your insurance company that a multimillion dollar family heirloom was lost in the fire when it was in fact a family photo is different

Thank you for your examples. I was trying to think of some good ones to make my point, but I like yours better.

 

[Holly3278]

For lying, the gravity of the sin has more to do with the harm that it causes to the person lied to. Did your exageration cause someone to lose their job, or did it destroy a marriage, or cause someone else to commit a sin (for example by becoming angry or hateful)?

Oh ok. No, I did not cause any serious damage.

 

[PJM]

=Holly3278;5492723]Hi everyone. Is exaggerating a grave sin? I feel that it may be a form of lying and therefore could possibly be grave matter. What do you think?

***maybe?

It depends on intent, fore-knowledge and consequences.***