Telling lies about yourself to bolster your position.

[kalt]

I’ve seen a few of what I think are lies that people are telling about their own credentials (experience, education, supposed study, etc)in order to give more weight to their side of the argument.

Isn’t that a sin? Maybe someone thinks that it’s a white lie, and if he/she enlightens just one person, God will forgive–the ends justifying the means.

I think these lies damage the poster’s credibility, and they shed unfavorable light on their otherwise (sometimes) valid arguments unnecessarily.

What do you think?

Is it OK to lie to hammer home what you think is an important religious point? Is it OK to lie to hammer home that point, if it brings someone to the particular religion that you think is the one.

 

[mercygate]

I’ve seen a few of what I think are lies that people are telling about their own credentials (experience, education, supposed study, etc)in order to give more weight to their side of the argument.

Isn’t that a sin? Maybe someone thinks that it’s a white lie, and if he/she enlightens just one person, God will forgive–the ends justifying the means.

I think these lies damage the poster’s credibility, and they shed unfavorable light on their otherwise (sometimes) valid arguments unnecessarily.

What do you think?

Is it OK to lie to hammer home what you think is an important religious point? Is it OK to lie to hammer home that point, if it brings someone to the particular religion that you think is the one.

This is, of course, a rhetorical question.

Any particular inflations you would care to draw attention to?

 

[Joysong]

Hopefully, these are not lies, specifically, but rather embellishments to enhance one’s authority and cause others to succomb to their eloquent point of view.

Sad to say, you are right that these statements, especially when the are continual, *“damage the poster’s credibility, and they shed unfavorable light on their otherwise (sometimes) valid arguments unnecessarily.” *

In the end, people learn just to bypass their posts and/or words, when maybe they had some positive points that will unfortunately be set aside. It never works to shove truth down another’s throat – it makes them gag!

I’m not so sure it is a sin, but as I heard this morning on a program, the consequence is that their pride prevents the manifestation of the Lord in their hearts, because He always resists the proud. So while they gain the whole world with their rhetoric, they have lost the “one thing necessary.” It is too precious a gift to sacrifice in the name of self-aggrandizement.

Amen, they have received their reward.

 

[b_justb]

I went to an Italian Restaurant last night. No, wait. I went to Italy. You know, Rome? No, the Vatican. Yeah, that’s the ticket. And, and I saw the Pope, yeah. And I, uh, talked him. He listened to my ideas. Yeah, He even liked them. And then he said he’d do what I told him. Yeah, that’s it.

 

[Scottgun]

Yeah, deliberatley telling falsehoods is objectively wrong, period. Appealing to authority is not wrong per se, but it is often fallacious. Particualy in an argument that can be boiled down to I’m-an-expert-therefore-my-argument-is-valid-and-sound.

The cure is to ignore that and establish facts.

 

[dolphinlove]

well i would’ve put my part time jobs are brain surgeon and astronaut, but that might overwhelm people

 

[Joysong]

Yeah, uttering falsehoods is objectively wrong, period. Appealing to authority is not wrong per se, but it is often fallacious.

Good point, Scottgun! Just like those who interpret scripture privately, and often wrongly, one may misinterpret the very authority they attempt to quote, based on the color of their own perceptions.

I heard a delightful pun on this, that I hope you’ll enjoy.

A man wanted to find out from God if he could lawfully marry another man’s wife, whose name was Grace. So he button-pushed his bible after praying about it, and found the perfect verse:

“GRACE and peace to YOU, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!”

 

[mercygate]

Well, on the Forums, self-misrepresentation is to some degree bearing false witness.

Where I work – a medical school – we recently expelled a student for inflating her credentials. She listed “published” papers that did not exist.

A faculty member who inflated his CV would be terminated for cause the minute the deception was discovered.

 

[Scottgun]

A man wanted to find out from God if he could lawfully marry another man’s wife, whose name was Grace. So he button-pushed his bible after praying about it, and found the perfect verse:

“GRACE and peace to YOU, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!”

Good one. I like the one about a man who named his dog “Anathma” so when he trained him he said, “Anathma sit!” (Latin nerd humor.)

 

[Mighty_Q]

It is wrong, it is a sin, and God will not overlook such actions.

I should know, since my PhD dissertation in theology was on falsehoods.

 

[zaffiroborant]

Good one. I like the one about a man who named his dog “Anathma” so when he trained him he said, “Anathma sit!” (Latin nerd humor.)

Please explain the humor, I tried to find the Latin meaning for sit but couldn’t. I’m sure I’d like the humor I just lack the Latin:blush:

 

[mercygate]

Please explain the humor, I tried to find the Latin meaning for sit but couldn’t. I’m sure I’d like the humor I just lack the Latin:blush:

sit is the subjunctive for “is”. It means “let it/him/her be.”

 

[zaffiroborant]

sit is the subjunctive for “is”. It means “let it/him/her be.”

Thanks!

 

[1ke]

I’ve seen a few of what I think are lies that people are telling about their own credentials (experience, education, supposed study, etc)in order to give more weight to their side of the argument.

Of course lieing is a sin.

However, I must say that I have been posting here since the beginning of this forum, and I have had almost no cause to doubt the credentials of posters who put forth some sort of credential in their posting or debate.

Charity should prevail in this area, I would think.

 

[LaMar]

I’ve seen a few of what I think are lies that people are telling about their own credentials (experience, education, supposed study, etc)in order to give more weight to their side of the argument.

I tend to see people in the context of their ideas, and in the application of the ideas which they purport to espouse. I don’t pay too much attention to claims that aren’t directly relevant to whatever the immediate discussion entails.

Someone who pretends to follow the teachings of Jesus, while indulging in hostile banter and profaning the religious leaders of other traditions is not a person I’m going to take seriously. Such a person may have a medal and grant in the name of Alfred Nobel, and she’s still a chucklehead based upon the only criteria that matters. If anything, lofty credentials make such a person look even more ridiculous than otherwise.

Some of the most cogent and insightful articles I read here are written by people of limited education and experience. What makes such articles worthwhile? The underlying sincerity and depth of conviction which is evident. An author here can claim anything she wants. The lack of underlying ideals betrays his lack of humanity and depth immediately, and in that context any claims he makes of educational achievement is irrelevant.

LaMar

 

[NDfan]

I’ve seen a few of what I think are lies that people are telling about their own credentials (experience, education, supposed study, etc)in order to give more weight to their side of the argument.

Isn’t that a sin? Maybe someone thinks that it’s a white lie, and if he/she enlightens just one person, God will forgive–the ends justifying the means.

I think these lies damage the poster’s credibility, and they shed unfavorable light on their otherwise (sometimes) valid arguments unnecessarily.

What do you think?

Is it OK to lie to hammer home what you think is an important religious point? Is it OK to lie to hammer home that point, if it brings someone to the particular religion that you think is the one.

Kalt you are so on point with this. I’ve seen people claim to have triple majors in theology, say they spent some time at seminary etc. etc. But then they’re responses show that they probably just read newadvent.org or some other RCC or Christian web site. Or even worse they quote right from Wiki then proceed to say “I should know I went to seminary”.

People like that are the ones that are not open to learning whether it’s a Roman Catholic trying to understand a Protestant or vice versa. They’re also the ones that end up creating the most uncharitable posts because they’re trying to prove that they are right and you are wrong.

PEACE