I know that for most religions, telling a lie is wrong according to the Ten Commandments. I'm a religious person, but I have a question about lying. If it is a sin to lie, in a case in which you can prevent something worse happening, should you lie? Example: A man is being chased by a murderer and you see the man go into a house. The murderer stops to ask you if you saw where the man went. If you tell him where the man went, the man will undoubtably be killed. If you lie to the murderer and send him in the opposite direction, the man will live. In a case such as this, is lying permissible?
2007-02-26 10:48:42 · 7 answers · asked by mrb1017 4 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
EDIT: Okay people, if you didn't notice the word EXAMPLE...you should reread the question. I'm not giving a realistic situation, just trying to get a point across. Would it sound better if I said, "Is it okay to lie when the consequences of lying are better than the consequences of telling the truth?"
2007-02-26 10:59:59 · update #1
I think by giving "false witness" means to give false testimony of or about someone or something. Basically a witness who makes false allegations, fabricates or distorts information about someone or about what that person did or didn't do. Basically a unethical and immoral person. I think flattering someone by telling them that you liked their cooking though you really didn't would be a lie and immoral, in the sense that you deceived them. But telling people you saw someone you knew hit someone, when you really didn't would be false witness. Or telling people that you saw "John" hanging at the coffeeshop, so he couldn't have been the one who vandalized the boss's car would be false testimony. And I think, personally, quite immoral and unethical. So telling someone you loved them when you really didn't would be a lie, telling someone that you saw "John" kill "Bill" when you didn't or lying about something you did would be false testimony. Hope this helps! Well, this is my understanding but you should take up with your pastors for more certainty.
2007-02-26 11:13:54 · answer #1 · answered by bleu 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is an example in the bible of a similar incident. Sometimes people just should not be told the truth.
You could point in another direction. You could not give a direct answer. In any case, lying would save a life, so I think God would understand and want you to protect a life.
I'll try to find the example for you, but I promise it's there.
.
.
2007-02-26 18:53:17 · answer #2 · answered by OhWhatCanIDo 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How do you know the man is a murderer? is he threatening you with the same knife he plans to use on the other guy? or do you just sense it?
A lot of details are missing here, cause every detail affects the outcome...
Lying is a sin, lying to save your life or someone else's isn't cause life more valuable than harm the lie causes in itself.
2007-02-26 18:55:06 · answer #3 · answered by White 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well, if I knew the guy was a murderer, I would probably kill him. I think that's better than lying to him.
Seriously, the scenerio you presented is a little unrealistic don't you think? I believe you are misinterpretting the definition of bearing false witness, in which case you would probably be under oath or swearing to God. I am not sure that any thing you said to a killer would be held against you.
2007-02-26 18:54:54 · answer #4 · answered by John P 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yah, if lying will bring something good out of it, it would be ok to lie.
2007-02-26 19:04:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can lie whenever you want as long as you don't get caught.
2007-02-26 18:54:04 · answer #6 · answered by Awesome-O 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Jesus is magic!
2007-02-26 18:52:03 · answer #7 · answered by popcorninmytooth 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋