is it okay to do something that could be considered immoral to achieve justice (see details)?

Question

like stealing a medicine that you cant afford, if its the only cure for yours, or someone elses illness. lying to an authoritative figure about something thats none of their concern, or would use agianst you. escaping jail, because you were wrongfully imprisoned. calling in sick for a job at a store or restaurant, because its on a holiday. lying about your age, because you were wrongfully discriminated.

Answer 1

Do these examples evoke moral, ethical, pragmatic and/or legal issues?

Who defines justice?

Any manifestations of these examples would be unique occurences entailing a series of causes and effects, and, crucially, intentions.

Ultimately, each individual with the capability to make such decisions is responsible for examining all factors and accepting any consequences for the choices he or she makes or advocates, both in the environment and within his or her own conscience.

Answer 2

Okay is a subjective term...if you are asking if there can be any justification for an immoral behavior, I would say no. If the behavior is immoral, then the reason is an explanation not a justification. An explanation may mitigate the consequences (punishment if you prefer), but it doesn't alter the immorality of the decision.

Stealing medicine you can't afford...immoral...stealing is an immoral act. It suggests that you (your wants/needs) are more important than someone else (the person whose medicine you stole). Furthermore, stealing is illegal...if you steal for this reason, you might get a reduced or even a suspended sentence in court, but you would still be guilty of stealing!

Lying for any reason...immoral. If an authority figure asks something that is none of his/her business or that they could use against you, plead the fifth! Lying in court is perjury...all other lying involves deceiving another person...this is wrong. "That's not your concern", or "I have nothing to say about that" isn't lying or immoral...and in the long run is a far better strategy than lying!

Escaping jail if you were wrongly imprisoned...not immoral...certainly illegal to escape from jail, but no person is obligated to be a victim...an innocent person imprisoned for a crime he/she didn't commit is the victim...escaping is his or her right!

Calling in sick if you aren't...immoral...see lying above. When you accept a job, you've essentialy agreed to a contract...if the contract specifies that you will work on a specific date, you're obligated to do so. Calling in sick is fraud...it hurts the employees that came to work and have to work harder because you're not there to do your assigned job and it can hurt the company if your absence affects customer service.

Lying about your age...see lying above. What do you mean by "wrongfully discriminated"? If someone discriminated against you for your true age and that discrimination wasn't illegal (e.g. it is totally legal to restrict access to a bar to people 21 or older, it is illegal to deny promotion to a 50 year old man in favor of a less qualified younger person) then there was nothing wrongful about it.

Answer 3

Sometimes. In the case of the medication, I would ask for it first. Perhaps some charitable soul might be willing to help you. Stealing would be the last resort and I would be willing to face the consequences of my action if need be. No need to lie about something that is none of anyones concern. If it is none of their concern, I'd just say so. I don't see the connection between morality and the escape from jail. Yes, it is immoral to imprison someone unjustly. The jailers face that issue, not the one jailed. The one jailed faces a legal issue of whether or not to escape. Call in sick when you are sick. If the holiday in question is one that is religious for you, appeal to your employer on that basis. Decide for yourself if missing work that day is worth possibly losing your job for. Why lie about this when the employer probably knows you are not sick. A persons age could also fall under the category of none of anybody elses business. Point is situations where one MUST act immorally are very, very rare. These type of questions lead to our excusing ourselves instead of looking for a way to do the right thing.

Answer 4

No. You would not be living by faith. You would be teaching your kids the same faithless acts. we are called to live by faith. God will take care of us, sometimes we need to wait on the timing, or on God to heal us, after we ask, of course. God tests us to see what we will do. If we do steal, then we lie, and we go to jail for theft.

You can lie, but why? Lying will only put less power behind our words. You words become weaker and weaker, until it is totally useless. Others are watching us, not just God. Others see what we do, and can mimic us, but they will not trust you after that. That is why. If you are innocent, and wrongfully imprisoned, you were meant to be there, and maybe share your truth to them. God has reasons for everything. If He sees that only truth crosses your lips, there will be a really good reward for you. Not only in the life following this, but in this life as well.

If you get fired for asking for a Holy day, you will be given a better job that deserves such a good person as you.

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

No. It's not.

It's hard to steal medicine for a cure since it's behind the counter with a pharmacist.

It is never right to lie to others.

Escaping from jail? No, you'd be better off staying there and getting good behavior.

Calling in sick- Questionable. It depends upon how much one has been working. If your position can't be filled by someone else, then it's wrong.

You shouldn't fib about your age. That will only come back to haunt you.

Answer 6

Sometimes, the means justify the end....but not all the time, I can agree with stealing the meds...for you or someone else...I can kinda agree with the authoritative figure and lying to him, but only if it's something you KNOW didn't happen or something...but most the examples, I don't usually agree with, not unless there is an extenuating circumstance....

Answer 7

There are several instances in the bible where the writer claims that god blessed a "sin." In the OT, Even though sorcery is forbidden, a king summoned a ghost, and was blessed. A lie about the whereabouts of a person was blessed by god sparing that life. In the NT, the writer claims that Peter lied about knowing jesus, yet he was the rock of the church. Moral? Just because it may be immoral, doesn't mean god won't bless it. LOL.

Answer 8

If you do something immoral for your survival, I suppose that is understandable, but it's still wrong.

I wouldn't call escaping from jail when wrongfully imprisoned to be "immoral," and ditto for lying to some fantastical construct called an "authoritative figure."

Answer 9

yes and no. YOu state a variety of scenarios. Some are justified and some seem selfish. You have the right to protect yourself from harm and to not incriminate yourself. It is also honorable to sacrifice of yourself to help others.
Ask these 3 questions:
1) have I thought it out entirely what all the consequences might be
2) Will it hurt some one else
3) Will it make the situation better than it current is (for society in general)

Answer 10

Would Jesus Christ ever do anything immoral?

No. Then go and do likewise.

It is not right to promote truth, beauty or goodness by ungodly means.

Peace and progress,
Brother Dave, a Jesusonian Christian Truthist
http://www.PureChristians.org/ Gospel enlarging website,
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