Lying - Is it Ever Acceptable?

[lynx]

If lying to a killer would save your own life would you do it?
If lying would give comfort to a dying friend would you give it?
If lying would convince a suicidal man to live one more day would you tell it?
If lying would save a relationship with the person you loved would you lie to their face?
When, if ever, would you lie, and where do you draw the line?

Recently, I was speaking with someone who says they would not lie under any circumstance. I can honestly see some good reasons to lie and I personally would lie if given most of the above scenarios. At the very least, I feel the saving of a life is a worth a lie.

 

[onmywayagain]

If lying to a killer would save your own life would you do it?
If lying would give comfort to a dying friend would you give it?
If lying would convince a suicidal man to live one more day would you tell it?
If lying would save a relationship with the person you loved would you lie to their face?
When, if ever, would you lie, and where do you draw the line?

Recently, I was speaking with someone who says they would not lie under any circumstance. I can honestly see some good reasons to lie and I personally would lie if given most of the above scenarios. At the very least, I feel the saving of a life is a worth a lie.

You would seriously lie to a dying friend? Would you lie to a suicidal man to save his life? What if the suicidal man finds out that you were lying, would that not even make him want to take his life more, because of your deception? If you lied to save a relationship of someone you love, then you actually don’t love the person you are in the relationship with.

Lies are done to only decive people, what good could actually come out of a lie?

 

[I_R]

I feel that if a lie is for the greater good then its ok. most of the examples you gave are not just reasons. although, in the extreme case a good person would lie to nazis about the location of Jews

 

[lynx]

I feel that if a lie is for the greater good then its ok. most of the examples you gave are not just reasons. although, in the extreme case a good person would lie to nazis about the location of Jews

The reasons above are a broad range of scenarios. I thought some of these would be my best chances to see if someone would lie.

 

[Padraig1972]

No, because when i become catholic i swore that even if it would require my life, i would speak the truth.

 

[lynx]

You would seriously lie to a dying friend?

I don’t know, I haven’t been there, but I suspect if it would help them find peace I would. My intent is to focus on the result, and not the implied morality of the action. My implicit question being if a lie does more good than harm do the ends justify the means?

Would you lie to a suicidal man to save his life? What if the suicidal man finds out that you were lying, would that not even make him want to take his life more, because of your deception?

Perhaps, but if you don’t lie to him today he will kill himself now. This is the underlying assumption. If you knew a suicidal person would kill themselves if you did not lie to them, would you lie to them? They might kill themselves tomorrow, but for the purpose of this scenario they will survive the day, guaranteed. It’s understandable if you don’t like the scenario, i’m just trying to see where the limits of people are.

If you lied to save a relationship of someone you love, then you actually don’t love the person you are in the relationship with.

Lying to someone, and loving them are two separate things. I can lie to someone and love them. Take for instance the dying friend, if I lie to them to give them a sense of comfort I could be doing so out of love. There are lies designed to hurt, but there are also lies designed out of love and respect. The main issue you seem to take is with the act of deception, that deception under at least these circumstances is completely immoral.

Lies are done to only decive people, what good could actually come out of a lie?

Lying to Nazi’s about where Jews are located might save a Jewish person’s life.

 

[Catholic90]

You need a more “real life” question.

“Honey, do these pants make my butt look fat?”

 

[lynx]

No, because when i become catholic i swore that even if it would require my life, i would speak the truth.

Even if it means the life of others? What if it were someone you loved for deeply. Would you lie to save their life, or risk their death?

 

[lynx]

You need a more “real life” question.

“Honey, do these pants make my butt look fat?”

Well the answer to that is of course not, your butt makes your butt look fat. At which point you should be running

 

[I_R]

If lying to a killer would save your own life would you do it?

this is situational, generally its ok

If lying would give comfort to a dying friend would you give it?

No, this is very bad. As a Catholic, after they die they will know anyway. you as an atheist will think that the will go to nothingness as it will not even matter

If lying would convince a suicidal man to live one more day would you tell it?

No, this will make thing worse latter. he can probably be convinced through better measures

If lying would save a relationship with the person you loved would you lie to their face?

very, very selfish

 

[PJM]

=lynx;7608191]If lying to a killer would save your own life would you do it?
If lying would give comfort to a dying friend would you give it?
If lying would convince a suicidal man to live one more day would you tell it?
If lying would save a relationship with the person you loved would you lie to their face?
When, if ever, would you lie, and where do you draw the line?

Recently, I was speaking with someone who says they would not lie under any circumstance. I can honestly see some good reasons to lie and I personally would lie if given most of the above scenarios. At the very least, I feel the saving of a life is a worth a lie.

GREAT QUESTION:

IF one were to ask :“WHAT WOULD JESUS DO”? Here is the answer:

James 5:12 “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation.”

Truth is worth more than today’s GOLD! Diamonds; even freindship; It must be treated respectfully. If one cannot reply in TRUTH; it seems EXTREMELY PRUDENT to keep ones mouth shut.

It’s kinda like thta old expression: “If you can’t say something good; keep quiet!”

God Bless you friend!
Pat

 

[Rascalking]

Ok or not, if I was hiding jews, I’d lie to the Nazis.

If you say it’s never okay to lie, then you have to say that life of Jewish people isn’t that important.

 

[RosaryFan]

If lying to a killer would save your own life would you do it?
If lying would give comfort to a dying friend would you give it?
If lying would convince a suicidal man to live one more day would you tell it?
If lying would save a relationship with the person you loved would you lie to their face?
When, if ever, would you lie, and where do you draw the line?

Recently, I was speaking with someone who says they would not lie under any circumstance. I can honestly see some good reasons to lie and I personally would lie if given most of the above scenarios. At the very least, I feel the saving of a life is a worth a lie.

Lying is sinful when the person is entitled to the information. When someone is not entitled to the information, I believe lying is not a sin. e.g. “No, Mr. Nazi Soldier - there are no Jews hiding in my basement”. Acceptable lie.

 

[Rascalking]

Lying is sinful when the person is entitled to the information. When someone is not entitled to the information, I believe lying is not a sin. e.g. “No, Mr. Nazi Soldier - there are no Jews hiding in my basement”. Acceptable lie.

I didn’t know this. Thank you.

 

[BornAgain2010]

Ive been pondering this topic as well.

From an objective point of view, lying is negative…regardless of consequences. Even in the act of so-called “white-lies”. White-lies are still lies. From a logical perspective, a lie is lie. It doesnt matter why one does it, it matters not the justification, as for reasons being as they are, the fact is one still did it. Same as whether you steal one dollar,…or one million dollars. Circumstances make no difference. The fact is you still committed theft. The same logic pattern applies here as well.

Yet, we still contradict ourselves. There are many examples of this. Humanity is flawed. We say its wrong. Yet, we still do it to advance ourselves. Not only do we lie to others, we lie to ourselves as well. We term this “Justification”, as it weighs less on the conscience than “Lying”.

There is a book I am reading at present called, “Bending the Rules: The flexibility of absolutes in modern life” by Robert A. Hinde

It discusses reasons of justification and why we tend to “bend the rules” even for the greater good. It also deals in what thought process and psychological reactions guide this process. It is rather interesting. That book may help to clarify things.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Sacred Scripture teaches, “Be not willing to make any manner of lie.” (Sirach 7:14).

Likewise, St. Thomas Aquinas taught that lying is always a sin. Some lies are venial, whereas others can be mortal.

See here: Is lying always a sin?

 

[thistle]

I don’t know, I haven’t been there, but I suspect if it would help them find peace I would. My intent is to focus on the result, and not the implied morality of the action. My implicit question being if a lie does more good than harm do the ends justify the means?

.

The end never justifies the means. In other words you may not do an evil to achieve a good.

 

[Rascalking]

The end never justifies the means. In other words you may not do an evil to achieve a good.

Thistle-I admire you for thinking this. Honestly though, what do you say to a Nazi who asks the “Are there any Jews here?” What if it was a Nazi looking for Catholic priests instead?

I am JUST asking the question. I mean nothing else.

 

[lynx]

The end never justifies the means. In other words you may not do an evil to achieve a good.

Why? If I can take evil and make something good from it what is the harm? This sounds like the perfect application of evil.

 

[Anthony_V]

If lying to a killer would save your own life would you do it?
No. Martyrdom is better than sin in any situation.
If lying would give comfort to a dying friend would you give it?
No. Comforting is a two way ordeal. You comfort them and you are blessed for caring for them. If you lye, you are not comforted or blessed, thus disordered.
If lying would convince a suicidal man to live one more day would you tell it?
No. If anything, the truth would keep a suicidal man from killing himself.
If lying would save a relationship with the person you loved would you lie to their face?
No. It won’t save a relationship because lying is sinful, therefore not oriented with God from whom all good things come, including relationships.
When, if ever, would you lie, and where do you draw the line?
Never lie, even to the death. Don’t pull a St. Peter.

It would be better for you to be silent, them to kill you or torture you until you are dead (if they really need that information) than you lie. When Jesus was on the cross, he didn’t say “oh hey, wait guys, changed my mind. Just take me down. I wanna go home.” He persevered to the end for our sake, and calls upon us to do the same when we are in any tough situation. Tempting as it might be, lying is NEVER the answer.

Lying is still a sin, even if you wrap it up in a nice little package. What do you think abortion is? It’s killing people, wrapped up in a nice little package because its “more efficient for our economy and will prevent over-population, carbon foot-print, and increase more goods for others which is all ultimately humanitarian.” Of course we’ve seen those alleged “benefits” in action.

“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”
John 15:12-17