So my friend "Rabbit" made a good point, one that I forgot. I think there is a difference between honesty and always telling the truth. The ninth commandment is "do not give false testimony" and though I am not willing to check cultural differences of the -1300ths (right now), I do not think that Jesus was saying "do not lie". I believe that it would make the most sense if it is understood that you do not deceive. If at any point you are saying something for personal gain, even if it is a half truth, that is not good.
When I tell stories I have a loose relationship with the truth. I can justify that because I believe I am a storyteller and lies make the tale more interesting. Case in point: Jeordie didn't really peel his fingers from the arm rests and I never wear underwear when I'm driving. But, it's just more entertaining that way. I'll probably never change that. Most of the things I say are ridiculous. If I am relaxed and with people who like to laugh I start to say things that don't even make sense. I'll get goofy and then there's no bringing me back. I also like sarcasm which on the literal translation isn't too truthful.
The problem is those gray zones. You lie when you make a joke but you're really protecting yourself. I hope that at the very least, you know the different for yourself.
So here's a truth question. You are in Nazi Germany and the SS knock at your door (they decided to be polite). You are harbouring a Jewish family upstairs and they are hidden, to your knowledge. There are Jewish kids, maybe this is the family of Anne Frank. They ask you if you are hiding Jews. What do you say?
5 comments:
Without hesitancy I lie to protect them.
Forgetting all other factors (whether you knew what the Nazi's were doing in the work camps) I would have to agree and lie to protect them...however, I don't have a specific reason why yet...I will have to ponder that one.
This question dips into the idea of doing something "bad" for the greater good. On the one hand one could say that it is important to always tell the truth but this seems completely ridiculous. Telling the truth to the Nazis would also in a sense be lying because by taking the Jews into your home you are promising to do your best to protect them and exposing them would not be. I guess if you're trying to stick to the "never lie" idea you're at a standstill. I would suggest looking at the moral questions, such as, "are these people a danger to the world" (not just to society because activists could be considered this as they often disrupt the imbalance of power.) I would conclude that life is valuable and in this case saving them may in danger my life but it is consistent with the idea that all life is sacred and one should do one's best to nurture it.
"The problem is those grey zones..."
Agreed, if there was only black and white this world would be simple to understand. It would also be a lot less interesting.
I'll tell you guys what I think about this question in a later post.
Post a Comment