An old Buddhist parable goes something like this. A father is walking home from the fields one day. Looking across the valley he sees his children thorugh the upstairs window of his home. He then is sickened to see the downsatairs on fire. He knows that if he yells "fire!" his children will panic and probably die. So he yells "I have toys!" and they come running to him. Obviously he was "bearing false witness". Was his act immoral?
2006-08-15 07:47:34 · 27 answers · asked by neil s 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I dont think so,it was a act of love to save his children.So how can that be wrong?
2006-08-15 08:04:56 · answer #1 · answered by Crystal Y 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey Neil,
i'm not a Buddhist and while the story is a parable the point of the story is hard to catch.
In terms of analyzing the situation and hand... his act seems noble and right. Although i think the wisest thing to do is to go and risk one's own life to save the children.
Your definition of bearing false witness is being taken out of context. The idea of bearing false witness is lying with an intent to harm. It wouldn't have been unloving or wrong either for the man to yell 'fire'. In this case it's not bearing false witness because you wouldn't be "lying" with a malcious intent.
Off course there are times people lie to "protect" other people but really they are trying to protect themselves. The kid who says, oh my dad is so stressed out so i won't tell him about the trouble i got into at school is "lying" with a malicous evil intent.
i hope that answers what you're getting at... but i think you are definitely twisting the context of what it means to 'bear false witness.'
Nickster
2006-08-15 07:57:10 · answer #2 · answered by Nickster 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In a way, it's immoral. But maybe we need God to act like that to us, their children. Maybe we could die if He yells at us "Downstairs in fire". But in Christianity, Catholicism, We see the fires more than we see Heaven, when we read. But we cannot believe every thing that we read. There were supposed to be more than 30 Gospels, and only four were chosen for the Bible. Some people need to approach to God, others need to walk away from that. It's just a balance.
2006-08-15 07:59:54 · answer #3 · answered by tenndev 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How would this act me immoral? He saved the child's life by using a clever solution. If the child died, then s/he would never be able to have toys in the future.
2006-08-15 07:52:29 · answer #4 · answered by Mrs. Pears 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The act of him saving his children isn't immoral, but what came out of his mouth was a fib. All he ahas to do is ask for forgiveness of his lie and repent, but all God wants is what is best for all of us. God is all knowing and for surely the point of immorality he will judge righteously. God knows the intentions of the heart.
2006-08-15 07:55:42 · answer #5 · answered by 4me2no&u2findout 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Bearing false witness" refers to speaking against a person (witnessing). He was simply saving his children, not telling someone else a false thing about a third party.
2006-08-15 07:54:07 · answer #6 · answered by Brian McC 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"bearing false witness" is a Christian concept.
No, his act was not immoral. He saved the lives of his children.
Blessings )O(
2006-08-15 07:59:43 · answer #7 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bearing false witness seems to apply more to accusing your neighbor of something he didn't do, than of trying to save life.
2006-08-15 07:53:08 · answer #8 · answered by Rjmail 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a parent's responsiblity to take care of thier children...in order to protect them he had to tell them something they could relate to in a possitive way~ which is the toys. He was taking care of the children God gave him.
2006-08-15 11:22:44 · answer #9 · answered by noneofyourbizwax 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't mean to offend buddhists, but to me that sounds stupid. If your religion questions whether that is immoral, then something seems to be wrong. Just my initial response, not meant to offend.
2006-08-15 07:52:29 · answer #10 · answered by youngest1000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋