Is it better to tell the truth or lie?

Question

In instances where the truth might 'hurt' as it were, would it not be better to tell a lie if it were to shield a person from pain?
Furthermore if you could not afford medicine to save a life, would it be permissible in God's eyes to STEAL it?
A clash of emotions and principles i'd say.

Answer 1

You're right, that is a very hard question. In general, I vote for telling the truth. The trick is HOW you tell the truth. You can be blunt and cold or caring and supportive. In both cases, the person might be hurt, but in the latter scenario, you can help them through the truth rather than just shoving it at them.

True story: We have a friend whom we met after his wife died of cancer. He took great pride in the fact that he never allowed the doctors to tell her how seriously ill she was. He was protecting her from the truth, but by so doing he did not allow her to resolve any unfinished issues that she may have had in her life.

Telling the truth can hurt, but done right it can allow the person to grow.

Answer 2

It depends. For instance, if you had a grandparent with Alzheimer's who doesn't realize their spouse has been dead for years, I think it's best to simply say, "they'll come see you soon," instead of making them go through the grieving process every day as if they were just hearing the news for the first time.
However, if the person is mentally stable, then you should tell the truth, no matter how painful it is. Pain and learning how to cope with pain are a part of the life experience. Tell the person as gently as possible, but by all means tell them the truth.
As for stealing to save a life, in this day and age there are so many resources to help, that it seems like a cop-out to say there wasn't any other way around it. There are all sorts of charities out there willing to help with costs of medicines, etc.

Answer 3

If telling a lie would save someone's life, say, you've been waylaid by some weirdos/Government agents/DEA types and they're showing every sign of putting a cap in your a*s or someone your with's a*s, and a lie can extricate you from the problem...no harm no foul. But if your true love walks into the room and asks if this piece of clothing makes their a*s look fat, don't lie, tell them the truth. Never spare people pain when it will make them be better. As far as stealing medicine to save a life...then steal away...God's eyes...what the f*ck does that fantasy have to do with anything. Look around, we call it evolution, we see it's results everyday, in fact we're end users of evolution...I have never seen any god, let alone have to answer to a god for my actions. If I have to steal to feed my kids, I will, if I have to kill to save my kids or anyone's life I will, so the only clash I see here is in your mind. My emotions and principles live in very seperate postal codes, and I let neither rule. Hope that helps.

Answer 4

yeah they clash. I think mostly it's better to tell the truth. But like if ur protecting someone like protecting them from something bad like if someone is after that person and u lie and say that person is some where else to protect them from being harmed by that other person then I think that is ok. But if ur lieing to protect someone who had done something bad and like leing to the police then that is bad. I think I would steal medicine to save someones life. But hopefully if u explain to a doctor or something that u can't afford it they would help u. I think best thing is to tell the truth coz the more u lie more trouble u could get in to and lying can hurt people even more to.

Answer 5

No a lie is a lie no matter how innocent it seems to the individual! God has prepared a place to those who tell lies and steal and I'm telling you I don't want to be there! I'd find out if there were any places that helped out people who cannot afford proper medical attention such as county insurance or a free clinic by the hospital call your local hospital and tell them your situation see if you are directed to a place that can get you the help you need or direct you to a place that might help! Medicine for that person in need.

Answer 6

Remember that if you tell the truth you won't have to remember anything. One lie will bring another one and another one until you will trap yourself.
Telling a lie to protect someone, in the end it will not protect them because they will always find out. So it's best to say it straight away even if it hurts because it will hurt even more later.
Stealing is not acceptable: there is alway a way... where there's will, there's a way....

Answer 7

you are supposed to always tell the truth. even when it could hurt. that is a very hard one to live by! and no you should never steal either. if God feels their life needs to be longer medicine isn't needed.

Answer 8

The truth should be given at all times but white lies can be used in certain circumstances! Stealing on the other hand should never be tolerated!

Answer 9

it's obviously better to tell the truth...because you'll get into more trouble lying than telling the truth (i was the master of lying when i was little)....but if the time comes where u have to sheild the person from pain, u can always stretch the truth....but sooner or later you'll have to be completly honest

Answer 10

Honesty and integrity are good general guides, but there are circumstances in which they are not the best.

If the consequences of not lying are particularly bad, or if the consequence of lying is particularly good, and if the odds and consequences of getting caught are acceptable, then it makes more sense to lie. Same goes for theft or any other act generally considered 'wrong'.