Does the commandment "Thou shalt not bear false witness" include not spreading lies about public figures?

Question

So who's your neigbor? I always figured it meant your fellow man, anybody, anywhere, friend or foe. This isn't strictly a political question, but it's nice to think that the subject of morals and ethics has some importance in the area of politics. So, therefore, does this ninth commandment apply to what we say about prominent public figures as well? Is it alright to make statements that you know are false about people such as Bush, Kerry, Gore or Hillary? Do we have a responsiblity to question things that sound like they might be too incredible to be true before spreading them as being the truth? Is it really a lie if we believe what we're saying? When our error is pointed out to us, do we have an obligation to tell those with whom we shared our false claim or at least be a little embarrassed and admit to our ourselves the error of our ways? Does this include presenting stories a truth when there is no actual person being lied about, such as a fictitious testimonial?

I recieved a bogus claim about a prominent American political figure in an email. Afterdisptoving it and pointing it out to the person who sent it, He simply said, "Oh well. I just never have liked that person" and felt no emabarrassment for it.

I read two very obvious fictitious testimonials on http://www.tencommandments.org/, a site run by a fanatic Christian who wants to create a Christian theocracy in America. I asked him why, if the Bible were in fact the divine word of God, he felt that it couldn't stand on its own merit without his obvoius lies and fabricated stories. Is it alright to lie in order to spread the "truth" that one believes when lying violates the very rules you are trying to teach? Hell No!!

Answer 1

yeah, well said

Answer 2

By the questions you ask you indicate you already know the answer but seeking confirmation to what you know already to be truth. False means not true and neighbor is ones fellowman(fellow man has a worldwide,in other words everyone meaning).A public figure falls under the heading of fellow man and its Never alright to spread lies and if negatives occur to the person because of the lies that you repeat,spread about them then you are held responsible. If you're a thinking individual instead of robot then I would think your instinct is to question validity if it sounds too incredible. If you believe something to be truth then its not you lying-for lying is to deliberately tell a untruth.If you deliberately lied then you have a obligation to admit and tell and important reason why you should question validity before spreading. A fictitious testimonial and the emphasis is on testimonial should still be truthful unless one beforehand states is fictional untruth but then it can't be a testimonial for testimonial is usually you stating how something helped you,how you benefited-you stating your experience . Never really encountered a reason for a made-up untrue testimonial. If you or anyone lies in a testimonial then what is purpose of lie but to deceive and that is wrong. If you give untrue testimonial and people take as true then you are deceiving and never right. No matter how you dress it,angle it and son on a lie is a lie is a lie.

Answer 3

Lying is wrong, especially if you know it's not true. What does it matter if it's a political person or not. would you want someone to spread lies about you, whether they knew you or not? But if you don't know you are lying, then find out later it was a lie, you are of the hook as long as you remember to verify info before spreading it. Truth is not up for debate, it either is or isn't, so believing it does not make it true. Pathological liars think the lies they tell are true, but it does not make it so. Testimonials are supposed to be true stories, but if your lying about yourself, at least the only harm done will be to you.

Answer 4

It certainly does. We are not supposed to lie about anyone, including public officials. I take everything I hear about public people with a grain of salt. Don't repeat anything that you are not sure of. If you do find out at a later time that you have inadvertantly lied, you should do what you can to set the record straight. Telling stories as truth when it is not based on reality is still a lie. I also believe our neighbors are our fellow man.

Answer 5

it is a lie if you wonder about the truth of it but continue repeating it. you ask a good question, and one that i've wondered often. how can i tell when anyone who isn't me is being sincere?

it all comes down to intent i think, which is fundamentally unmeasureable. that is something only the bearer of the story knows, the rest of us must either trust him or contest his facts if we can. in fiction i think the intent is to use lies to help us sort out moral conflicts, like the story of david and goliath and king solomon with the baby. i don't know that those stories are true in the sense that they are verifiable, but they definitely contain a resonant truth that helps us determine right and wrong. so i am not sure that fiction is the same as lying because there is no intent to deceive.

in closing, as an agnostic i can say that the only evidence i see for god is the insistance of his followers. i am always a little suspicious that they are screwing with me, but i have absolutely no way of knowing the hearts and minds of men. i must rely on the words they choose to tell me and the way they allow themselves to seem.

Answer 6

Everyone is my neighbor, as well as yours.
The commandment is not discretionary in nature, it applies to everyone and all statements.
No, it is not right to make false statements about prominent people or any people for that matter.
The truth should be sought after.
It's hard to admit you own mistakes, but harder still to live a lie.
A fictional testimonial is bearing false witness, a lie wrapped up in fancy words.

Answer 7

Good point. But - things are simpler in this particular hour in human history. Evil no longer has a face to hide behind. World wide. To add to the fire, persons of a so called ' high category ' carry in themselves a far higher penalty than the common man. It is never eluded. By anyone.

Answer 8

Everything is included. Except for those little white lies (No, hon, it doesn't make your butt look fat.) we should strive to truthfulness in all we say.

Sure, we love to insult and taunt and exaggerrate and, yes, even fabricate (lie) here in Y!A. I suppose if we're telling jokes or such, then it is already established as fiction.

Answer 9

That statement means everyone, even the president. You should never lie about anyone at all. That's why we should make sure we have all the TRUE facts about anyone before making any kind of statement or forming an opinion about someone.

Answer 10

I think in the bible the term neighbour refers to anyone you come in contact with. in all sense. The 10 commandments is split into 2 parts. the first part concerning the worship of God and the 2nd part concerning how we should live our life, as Christ explained in the new testament Matthew 22:37 to 40.
In verse 37: Jesus said unto him, Thou shall love the LORD thy GOD witj all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.
in verse 38: This is the first and great commandment.
In verse 39 :"And the second is like unto it, thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself"
in verse 40: " on these 2 commandments hang all the laws and the prophets."
When we are faced with qns that we are unsure with, it will be best if we picture the person in qns as some one we love. ask yourself if you will be comfortable spreading any questionable things about your loved ones before doing it.
I think the context of right and wrong can be found in James 4:17
"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin"

Keep in mind we are all sinners but Jesus came and died for our sins. John 3:16 For GOD so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Answer 11

Even if the person is famous or not, as long as what you're spreading is a big lie, then you are violating the eight commandment.