Is Joking a Lie?

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BrandonR

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Hi, I’m just wondering about whether or not a joke can be a lie. Like if your hanging out with your friends and you try to trick one of your friends into thinking something thats quite obviously not true; for example, you try tricking your friend into thinking that the television is turned on even though its obviously turned off (sorry for the bad example). Would this be a sin? Or if it is a sin, could it be mortal?

Thank You,
 
BrandonR said:
Hi, I’m just wondering about whether or not a joke can be a lie. Like if your hanging out with your friends and you try to trick one of your friends into thinking something thats quite obviously not true; for example, you try tricking your friend into thinking that the television is turned on even though its obviously turned off (sorry for the bad example). Would this be a sin? Or if it is a sin, could it be mortal?

Thank You,
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I’m not up to date with the Catholic opinion on this, but I can’t imagine this would be a sin. And if it is, it DEFINITELY wouldn’t keep you from going to heaven.

I am constantly joking with people and getting them to believe things that aren’t true. I hope its not a sin, because otherwise I would be in bad shape 😉
 
St Thomas Aquinas once said, “Playful deeds and jokes are a requisite for life.”

There is nothing wrong with having fun and joking, but me must be aware that jokes can be taken the wrong way and have bad concequences if we are not careful. Always make sure people whom you play jokes on know at the end that they are ment to be in good humor and that you’re not really being a jerk or something. 🙂
 
It’s a bad habit to get into.

After a while, the jokes become more personal and it only takes ONE to put you over the line, where you accidentally hurt someone or stretch the truth just a little too far. Eventually, the person hurt will be you. Guaranteed: it will snap up eventually to bite you in the end. Better to be known as being too serious and trustworthy than as a jokester who cannot be trusted and who is unpleasant to be around.

Cultivate the habit of saying nice things about people. “He’s a hard worker.” “She’s the smartest person I know”. That sort of thing. Work at it. It doesn’t come naturally to some people, but it is greatly appreciated and makes everyone feel better. Develop the ability to say constructive, positive things. You can do it.
 
BrandonR said:
Hi, I’m just wondering about whether or not a joke can be a lie. Like if your hanging out with your friends and you try to trick one of your friends into thinking something thats quite obviously not true; for example, you try tricking your friend into thinking that the television is turned on even though its obviously turned off (sorry for the bad example). Would this be a sin? Or if it is a sin, could it be mortal?

Thank You,
Click to expand...
What you describe is not a sin of any description. If having fun becomes a sin then the whole world will have a miserable future.
 
I have friends who LOVE to joke; however, they really get upset, angry, when they are on the receiving end of someone else’s joke.
 
A true lie - oxymoronic pun intended - exhibits (2) defining characteristics:

1.) It involves falsehood
2.) Its purpose is to deceive

Jokes, inasmuch as they are borne of a jovial spirit, typically do not meet the second criterion. Were it to remain a matter of falsehood alone then every loving parent who lulls his/her children to sleep with fanciful stories and nursery rhymes would be guilty of lying to them.
 
Joking is absolutely, 100% a mortal sin of the most serious variety. All people with a sense of humor are hell bound. In fact, I think there’s a special place in hell reserved for stand-up comedians and those who collaborate on hidden camera shows.

Okay, maybe I’m just joking around. 😛 😃
 
prettylarge said:
I’m not up to date with the Catholic opinion on this, but I can’t imagine this would be a sin. And if it is, it DEFINITELY wouldn’t keep you from going to heaven.

I am constantly joking with people and getting them to believe things that aren’t true. I hope its not a sin, because otherwise I would be in bad shape 😉
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All you need to do is ask God to save you!!😛 and upcoming is reformation day! Long live Martin Luther!!!
 
Practical jokes are OK but I’m not fond of them, as too typically their object is to make the person the joke is played on look foolish - which is hardly a Christian attitude.

I wouldn’t say they’re sinful even so. There’s a certain implicit understanding between friends that jokes will happen, and so that things may be told that aren’t strictly true for the sake of a bit of humour.
 
LilyM said:
Practical jokes are OK but I’m not fond of them, as too typically their object is to make the person the joke is played on look foolish - which is hardly a Christian attitude.

I wouldn’t say they’re sinful even so. There’s a certain implicit understanding between friends that jokes will happen, and so that things may be told that aren’t strictly true for the sake of a bit of humour.
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Ummmmmmmm I am! Check my religion! And why pray to virgin Mary when she was never perfect in heart and soul? and also you acting like I am catholic when I am not!
 
Hey, the last person to post on this thread 10 months ago was me! I guess I killed the thread with my attempt at humor.

Thanks to new user kktoyou (welcome! 👋) for resurrecting it, even if in so curious a manner. 😛
 
Padre Pio was a joker, used to make weird noises in the night near the rooms of the other friars and pretend to be a ghost hence scaring the rest of them, and he’s now a saint.
 
fultonfish said:
It’s a bad habit to get into.

After a while, the jokes become more personal and it only takes ONE to put you over the line, where you accidentally hurt someone or stretch the truth just a little too far. Eventually, the person hurt will be you. Guaranteed: it will snap up eventually to bite you in the end. Better to be known as being too serious and trustworthy than as a jokester who cannot be trusted and who is unpleasant to be around.

Cultivate the habit of saying nice things about people. “He’s a hard worker.” “She’s the smartest person I know”. That sort of thing. Work at it. It doesn’t come naturally to some people, but it is greatly appreciated and makes everyone feel better. Develop the ability to say constructive, positive things. You can do it.
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Um hang on mate, you’re saying practical jokes are a bad thing to get into? :rolleyes:

Yes ok, well done.
 
Joe_5859 said:
Hey, the last person to post on this thread 10 months ago was me! I guess I killed the thread with my attempt at humor.

Thanks to new user kktoyou (welcome! 👋) for resurrecting it, even if in so curious a manner. 😛
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Your welcome!🙂
 
Talking of practical jokes, when I was younger I remember in the night I used to swap my neighbours plants around. I moved one neighbour’s plants to another’s, and vice-versa.

So in the morning, I’d watch outside and see them arguing over “theft” of plants, accusing each other. 😃 I did it to a few more neighbours before I got caught, they chained my bicycle to the garage and when I came out out the house several times they waited and hosed me with water from several directions.

Fun times.
 
Hello, This is kk’s mom. This is why a son should not leave his laptop open and on the Internet for his baby sister to get a hold of. I’m sorry if she offended anyone. This said 10 year old child will be spending time in the corner. Sorry…Mom of KK
 
Several_Flies said:
Talking of practical jokes, when I was younger I remember in the night I used to swap my neighbours plants around. I moved one neighbour’s plants to another’s, and vice-versa.

So in the morning, I’d watch outside and see them arguing over “theft” of plants, accusing each other. 😃 I did it to a few more neighbours before I got caught, they chained my bicycle to the garage and when I came out out the house several times they waited and hosed me with water from several directions.

Fun times.
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That’s awesome! 😃
kktoyou said:
Hello, This is kk’s mom. This is why a son should not leave his laptop open and on the Internet for his baby sister to get a hold of. I’m sorry if she offended anyone. This said 10 year old child will be spending time in the corner. Sorry…Mom of KK
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No problemo. If she was going to do that on any thread, it certainly seems most appropriate for this one considering the subject matter of jokes. 😉
 
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